Some of my neighbors [5] had something done to the electric meter to avoid large bills.

 

From what I am told, you can have the meter altered to produce a specific bill each month.

One neighbor runs 2 ac units 24/7 and the bill is B750 every month.

Another is running 4 ac units 24/7 and had their bill set to B1200.

 

The guy that did this for them charges B2500 per ac unit which I don't under stand. One would think that electric runs through the meter and will increase based on demand. If you had the meter altered to produce a specific monthly bill, why should it matter how many ac units you are running.

So how are they doing this? I have noticed that those neighbors meters run very slow compared to mine. Are they using magnets to slow the meter down? If so how are they getting a specific monthly bill.

These neighbors have been doing this for years. Why doesn't the electric company know what's going on? Does it not sound strange to get the same bill every month. I know mine fluctuates. 

Some of you Sparkys may have incite to what's going on.

Well, this is a criminal offence, should they get caught, and they will be, i suspect criminal proceedings hefty fines and probably a jail term, not worth it..

3 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Well, this is a criminal offence, should they get caught, and they will be, i suspect criminal proceedings hefty fines and probably a jail term, not worth it..

You would think so but I am told that the electric company has no idea how much electricity has been stollen, they never press charges and just negotiate a settlement. They will not reinstall the meter till the settlement is paid. 

Perhaps it's just the question if you connect your aircons before or after the meter. 

Chill.  Go to the PEA and ask them to do the same for your bill.  It's called cost averaging.  Available in Thailand and other countries.

3 minutes ago, Beggar said:

Perhaps it's just the question if you connect your aircons before or after the meter. 

Perhaps but doesn't seem logical. 5 AirCons would mean 5 lines. That would be very noticeable. Plus, how are they getting a specific bill?

15 minutes ago, kokesaat said:

Chill.  Go to the PEA and ask them to do the same for your bill.  It's called cost averaging.  Available in Thailand and other countries.

Yep! That's what I thought too... 750/1200 baht with 2/4 aircons running 24/7 sounds quite low though. Unless they're running them at a pretty high temperature so they don't work too hard. Or is there periodic  "corrections" where if you are short you just pay to settle it?

30 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Well, this is a criminal offence, should they get caught, and they will be, i suspect criminal proceedings hefty fines and probably a jail term, not worth it..

 

In your home country maybe that is the case. In Thailand ?? It's often just a matter of passing the savings up the line, no pun intended ie the PEA staff get a small cut...

6 minutes ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

In your home country maybe that is the case. In Thailand ?? It's often just a matter of passing the savings up the line, no pun intended ie the PEA staff get a small cut...

I tend to doubt it. If they were involved, you wouldn't need a 3rd party to do whatever they are doing to the meter. 

Plus, this is not a small village, this is a large city with hundreds working at the PEA Office.

54 minutes ago, Jeffrey346 said:

Perhaps but doesn't seem logical. 5 AirCons would mean 5 lines. That would be very noticeable. Plus, how are they getting a specific bill?

This is an interesting story and hopefully we get an answer here. In respect of the same amount every month. We had this with water meters in our condo complex. They simply were to lazy to check the meters and so always took the same amount. But of course it might be a completely different story in your described case. Especially since a strange guy charged them 2500 per unit for his special service. 

3 minutes ago, Beggar said:

This is an interesting story and hopefully we get an answer here. In respect of the same amount every month. We had this with water meters in our condo complex. They simply were to lazy to check the meters and so always took the same amount. But of course it might be a completely different story in your described case. Especially since a strange guy charged them 2500 per unit for his special service. 

Not the case. The meter reader is her the 18th of each month like clockwork.

1 minute ago, Jeffrey346 said:

Not the case. The meter reader is her the 18th of each month like clockwork.

 

Paid to record the meter reading but not to paid enough to notice that it's the same every month..

Remember that the school system here does not encourage critical thinking or questioning  of things.

 

Meter read and units recorded = my job is done

2 hours ago, Jeffrey346 said:

2 hours ago, Beggar said:

Perhaps it's just the question if you connect your aircons before or after the meter. 

Perhaps but doesn't seem logical. 5 AirCons would mean 5 lines. That would be very noticeable. Plus, how are they getting a specific bill?

you can use a single connection and split it inside the home to serve a dozen aircons or more.

It sounds like the man is tampering with the electricity meter in some way, probably with (as suggested) magnets.

 

Of course this is illegal and is theft pure and simple. The fact that the PEA/MEA doesn't press charges if the thieves get caught is neither here nor there.

 

The forum rules forbid the discussion of illegal activities :-

 

Quote

3) You will not post about activities or links to websites containing such material that are illegal in Thailand. This includes but is not limited to: gambling, betting, pornography, illegal drugs, fake goods/clothing, file sharing of pirated material, pyramid schemes, etc. Discussion of the above is permitted only as news items, but never as a "how to" topic.

 

So I'm afraid I'll have to close this.