Independent power producers (IPP) ramped up production over the last four years, from a few hundred megawatts to nearly 3,000 MW at the end of 2017.

EGAT accounts for "...most of the country's domestic lignite production, which is mainly supplied to its own power plants.

Along with the PDP, the MOE produces several subsidiary plans that roll up into the PDP:[18]: 1–1 PDP2015 begins with the assumptions that:[18]: 2–3 PDP2015 projects the following changes in Thailand electrical power generation fuel mix over the period 2014-2036:[18]: 2–1 PDP2015 projects that Thailand's CO2 emissions from power generation will rise from 86,998,000 tons in 2015 to 104,075,000 tons in 2036.

[7] On December 3, 1991, The Cabinet of the Royal Thai Government passed a resolution approving the establishment of the Demand Side Management Program (DSM) as a new department of EGAT.

5 initiative to promote the use of energy efficient clothes that were wrinkle-free after washing and thus didn't require ironing.

"[7] EGAT continues to press forward with plans to construct six new coal-fired power plants by 2025[8] in spite of institutions such as the World Bank halting funding for new coal projects except in "rare circumstances".

"[25] EGAT "...has—in TV commercials—ridiculed renewable energy as expensive and insufficient to deal with rising electricity demand.

"[26] A persistent criticism of EGAT is that it has paid scant attention to the demand side of the energy equation.

Rather than build more carbon-powered plants, working to reduce demand and use existing supplies more efficiently has taken a back seat to network expansion.

[27] Opportunities for big savings exist: on 29 March 2014, Thailand observed "Earth Hour."

[28] EGAT's plans for future developments have been dogged by protests by local residents: In mid-2015, government plans to build an 800 megawatt coal-fired electricity generating station (EGAT Coal-Fired TH #3)[29]: 13  in Krabi Province have generated protests and hunger strikes by those opposed to the plant who say that it would endanger Krabi's relatively pristine environment.

Opponents of the plan say their demands—which include a three-year waiting period to see if the province can produce 100 percent renewable energy—have been ignored.

[30] In August 2015, the prime minister ordered the formation of a commission composed of state agencies, EGAT, and citizen activists to find solutions to the power plant conflict.

It was agreed that the government put a hold on consideration of the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Health Impact Assessments; that EGAT postpone bidding for the plant and the seaport; and that all parties allow Krabi to try to produce 100 percent renewable energy for three years with government support.

EGAT broke the agreement as it proceeded with the bidding process, won by the Power Construction Corporation of China[31] and Italian-Thai Development PCL.

The new assessments are expected to take at least two and a half years to complete, which means the Krabi power plant will be delayed to 2024 from its original schedule of 2019.

[34] In February 2018 the Ministry of Energy put the Krabi coal-fired power plant "on hold" for three years pending additional EHIA (environmental and health impact assessment) and EIA (environmental impact assessment) studies.

Some attendees admitted being transported to the hearing by local village leaders, who also provided them with gifts and food coupons.

The Bangkok Post commented that, "These...assessments turn out to be just another rubber stamp for operators — in this case...EGAT...."[23] ONEP responded to criticism by defending its approval.

[39] In February 2018 the Ministry of Energy put the Thepha coal-fired power plant "on hold" for three years pending additional EHIA (environmental and health impact assessment) and EIA (environmental impact assessment) studies.

Much of this electricity is expected to come from planned hydro-power projects on the Salween River ("Thanlwin" in Myanmar).

[41] Coal-fired power plants such as Mae Mo can release up to 150 million tonnes of CO2 over their design life of 20–25 years, according to Greenpeace-Thailand.

[43] Several days earlier, the court had ordered EGAT to return its Mae Mo golf course, adjacent to the open pit lignite mine, to woodland in order to help clean up the air pollution caused by EGAT's Mae Mo operations.