Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA)
Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) is the Thai state-owned electricity distributor serving Bangkok metropolitan area, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan provinces with approximately 3.7 million customer accounts. Operates last-mile distribution grid; sources bulk power from Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Co-exists with Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) which serves the rest of Thailand. Reports to Ministry of Interior.
Profile overview
Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) is the Thai state-owned electricity distributor serving Bangkok metropolitan area, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan provinces with approximately 3.7 million customer accounts. Operates last-mile distribution grid; sources bulk power from Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Co-exists with Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) which serves the rest of Thailand. Reports to Ministry of Interior.
Business segments
Distribution
Bangkok metro electricity distribution
Last-mile electricity distribution to approximately 3.7 million customer accounts across Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan. Sources bulk power from EGAT at regulated wheeling tariffs and distributes at NERSA-approved retail rates.
Smart grid
Smart meter and grid modernisation
MEA smart-meter rollout and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) programme covering Bangkok metro. Smart grid investment supports EV charging infrastructure integration and demand-response programmes.
Data centre power
Commercial and industrial power
Bangkok's data-centre boom creates high-load commercial accounts requiring dedicated sub-station allocations. MEA grid-capacity constraints are the binding constraint on data-centre build-out timelines in Bangkok.
Peer comparison — Thai electricity distribution utilities
MEA
Customer accounts
~3.7M
Geographic coverage
Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan
Parent ministry
Ministry of Interior
PEA
Customer accounts
~21M
Geographic coverage
All provinces outside Bangkok metro
Parent ministry
Ministry of Interior
Customer accounts
Wholesale (MEA, PEA, direct IPP)
Geographic coverage
National transmission grid
Parent ministry
Ministry of Energy
| Utility | Customer accounts | Geographic coverage | Parent ministry |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEA | ~3.7M | Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan | Ministry of Interior |
| PEA | ~21M | All provinces outside Bangkok metro | Ministry of Interior |
| EGAT | Wholesale (MEA, PEA, direct IPP) | National transmission grid | Ministry of Energy |
| Private licensed | Industrial estate zones | EEC, WHA, Amata estates | NEPC licensed |
Watchpoints 2025–2026
Data centres
Grid capacity for hyperscale demand
Bangkok data-centre operators require hundreds of MW of additional grid-connected power. MEA's ability to allocate sub-station capacity and upgrade distribution infrastructure is the gating factor for Thailand's data-centre sector.
EV charging
EV charging infrastructure rollout
Thailand's EV adoption wave (targeting 30% EV share by 2030) requires MEA grid upgrades to handle residential and commercial EV-charging loads without grid-stability degradation.
Tariff reform
Retail tariff structure adjustment
Thailand's NERC is reviewing the electricity-tariff structure to better reflect time-of-use costs and enable demand-response pricing. Tariff reform affects MEA's revenue model and industrial customer economics.
Related Market profiles
Peers, parents, partners, agencies, and other Electricity Distribution actors.
Competitor
Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA)
Thai state-owned electricity distributor for all provinces outside Bangkok metro; ~21M customers.
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Competitor
Heineken Thailand
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Reports featuring this profile
Thailand Smart City IoT Municipal Tech 2027 Market Intelligence
Bangkok-metro smart-meter, EV-charging integration, distribution-level smart-grid.
Open report →
Sits alongside 6 other Atlas profilesThailand EV Charging Infrastructure 2027 Market Intelligence
Bangkok metro utility-sponsored network; smart-charging tariff pilot
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Sits alongside 8 other Atlas profilesThai Electricity: EGAT, MEA, PEA, and the 2025 PDP Power Development Plan
Thai state-owned electricity distributor for Bangkok metropolitan, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan; ~3.7M customers.
Open report →
Sits alongside 5 other Atlas profilesRelated Market profiles
competitor
Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA)
Thai state-owned electricity distributor for all provinces outside Bangkok metro; ~21M customers.
competitor
Heineken Thailand
International premium beer operator competing in Thailand's concentrated beer market.
competitor
Zuellig Pharma Thailand
Major healthcare distributor serving pharmaceutical companies and providers in Thailand.