"We decided not to expand the scope of the existing regulatory board, as doing so could violate some existing laws," Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand said yesterday.

A Cabinet resolution passed last year gave the body the authority to oversee both industries, but the Electricity Generating Board, established in the Thaksin era, was limited to only electricity.

The existing board was criticised because some members were seen as close to former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. After the coup, four members stepped down and the last three, including chairman Yongyuth Vichaidit and Anant Asvabhokin, quit on Wednesday.

Piyasvasti said members of the new board could be outsiders - representatives from private companies or civil servants representing the state agencies involved in natural gas and electricity.

"The resignation of the seven members is not a big deal compared to the resignations of those independent regulators such as the National Telecommunications Commission," Piyasvasti said.

"The board is not independent and is intended to serve temporarily. It is assigned to make decisions on some issues but regulatory power has not been transferred to the body. So far, the real regulatory power has been in the hands of the Energy Policy and Planning Office."

A law is needed to support the establishment of an independent board, as regulatory power would be transferred to the board. The board needs a permanent office and attractive remuneration to draw capable people, he added.

Details of the new board will be part of the energy business law, which is expected to be enforced no more than a year from now, in order to ensure supervisory independence.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation