It was established on 1 August 1958 by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority Act 1958 (BE 2501).

[2] The first recorded use of electricity in Thailand was the lighting of the Chakri Maha Prasat Hall of the Grand Palace on the occasion of the birthday of King Chulalongkorn on 20 September 1884.

The king took a great interest in electricity, particularly its potential for street lighting.

It was later sold as concession to Siam Electricity Co. Ltd., a Danish company led by Aage Westenholz which at the time also operated the trams.

In 1950 its concession expired and it was taken over by the government, renaming it Bangkok Electricity Authority, operating under the aegis of the Interior Ministry.