Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered government officials and state enterprise workers to begin working from home, except those responsible for public services, in an effort to save energy because of the impact of the Middle East war.

According to the Prime Minister’s order, government agencies and state enterprises have also been instructed to suspend overseas trips; only important international meetings will be allowed. Training programs or study tours should be arranged in the country, instead of traveling overseas for the purpose. 

The Cabinet, during its meeting on 10 March 2026, acknowledged measures to reduce the use of energy in government offices. For instance, officials should wear short-sleeved shirts without neckties, except during ceremonies. The measures also seek to reduce air-conditioning use, turn off unnecessary electrical appliances, and promote online meetings.

The Government Public Relations Department has been assigned to coordinate with radio and television stations, as well as online platforms, in launching energy-saving campaigns in all sectors of society.  

If the energy situation becomes more severe, additional measures will be proposed and become mandatory. These include the closure of petrol stations and a limit on billboard brightness from 22.00 hr onward. The Cabinet heard a report that a cutback in oil consumption by 5 percent would save about 10.45 million baht per month, while a cutback in electricity consumption by 5 percent would mean that 31 million units of electricity would be saved per month.

In other measures, the Ministry of Energy proposed that government agencies set air-conditioning temperatures at 26-27 degrees Celsius, install energy saving systems for computers and electrical equipment, reduce the use of elevators, replace the use of paper and copying machines with electronic copies, and promote carpooling.

The Government emphasized the efficient use of energy in order to reduce energy expenses in the public sector and serve as a role model for other sectors of Thai society, as well as strengthening Thailand’s energy security in the long run.