Apartment electricity charges

[Why Me]

I rent in a building near Victory Monument and am being charged 7b/unit flat. I got this figure from the electricity portion of my rent last month 7679b. divided by consumption of 1097 units. Adding this info in case some pay on a sliding scale. Would like to know if this rate is typical/high/low for city apartments?

[asiasurfer]

I think 7 Baht/unit is about normal. The landlord still makes a profit although actually doing nothing for it. As far as I know, they are actually not supposed to do it. But then... Can you argue...?

[Bob A Kneale]

19 hours ago, Why Me said:

I rent in a building near Victory Monument and am being charged 7b/unit flat. I got this figure from the electricity portion of my rent last month 7679b. divided by consumption of 1097 units. Adding this info in case some pay on a sliding scale. Would like to know if this rate is typical/high/low for city apartments?

Whatever the "typical" rate is, it's illegal.

[Why Me]

3 minutes ago, Bob A Kneale said:

Whatever the "typical" rate is, it's illegal.

That's helpful:-) So where do you rent and what is your rate?

[Bob A Kneale]

1 minute ago, Why Me said:

4 minutes ago, Bob A Kneale said:

Whatever the "typical" rate is, it's illegal.

That's helpful:-) So where do you rent and what is your rate?

Glad you appreciate it.  I rent a condo in Bangkok so I get the real bill from the MEA and pay the official MEA rate.

[Why Me]

1 minute ago, Bob A Kneale said:

Glad you appreciate it.  I rent a condo in Bangkok so I get the real bill from the MEA and pay the official MEA rate.

Ok, so I guess you rent from an individual owner who simply gives you the bill to pay. I am in a rental building owned by one entity and all apartments rented out by the same. So my my meter readings and electric charges are shown in my monthly statement. I don't get to see the MEA bill.

 

Which raises the question if the building gets one giant bill from the MEA or individual ones per meter. I suspect I know the answer.

[JensenZ]

20 hours ago, Why Me said:

I rent in a building near Victory Monument and am being charged 7b/unit flat. I got this figure from the electricity portion of my rent last month 7679b. divided by consumption of 1097 units. Adding this info in case some pay on a sliding scale. Would like to know if this rate is typical/high/low for city apartments?

There is a scale, but for your consumption, which is about 200 kWh higher than my monthly bill for May, your government rate would be around 4.50 baht/kWh. Mine is slightly less at around 4.35 due to my lower consumption. There was a big discount last month. I saved about 700 baht - of course your landlord pocketed that and charged you full rate. You should ask him for it - probably about 800 baht.

 

[JensenZ]

Here's where you can work out exactly what your landlord pays for your usage:

 

https://www.pea.co.th/Portals/1/demand_response/Electricity Tariffs Nov61.pdf?ver=2018-11-21-145427-433

 

 

[Why Me]

6 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

There is a scale, but for your consumption, which is about 200 kWh higher than my monthly bill for June, your government rate would be around 4.50 baht/kWh. Mine is slightly less at around 4.35 due to my lower consumption. There was a big discount last month. I saved about 700 baht - of course your landlord pocketed that. You should ask him for it - probably about 800 baht.

 

Thanks for the info. Especially about the discount. But little chance I will get it.

 

I'm already battling the owner to replace the AC in my bedroom with a newer one. That is definitely the power sink. It's an older unit which never brings the temp below 28C all night even though I set it at 24 (a few years ago it would bring it down to 24 in 30mins). Which means it never cuts off plus I have to run a fan otherwise I am not going to be comfortable. All in all a huge power drain.

 

But the man wants me to pay half the price, about 15k, for a new AC. Which I don't think is justified given it'll be his. I offered 5k. Might have to swallow my pride and up that to 10.

[Why Me]

2 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

Here's where you can work out exactly what your landlord pays for your usage:

 

https://www.pea.co.th/Portals/1/demand_response/Electricity Tariffs Nov61.pdf?ver=2018-11-21-145427-433

 

 

Terrific. Thank you. Btw, I see it is PEA. Would the MEA (that would be Bkk, right?) be the same rates?

[JensenZ]

6 minutes ago, Why Me said:

Terrific. Thank you. Btw, I see it is PEA. Would the MEA (that would be Bkk, right?) be the same rates?

Sorry, I'm not sure about that - I live in Pattaya. Maybe your rate is different.

 

Crossy is the resident expert on all things electric. Maybe he will set the record straight here.

[JensenZ]

10 minutes ago, Why Me said:

Thanks for the info. Especially about the discount. But little chance I will get it.

 

I'm already battling the owner to replace the AC in my bedroom with a newer one. That is definitely the power sink. It's an older unit which never brings the temp below 28C all night even though I set it at 24 (a few years ago it would bring it down to 24 in 30mins). Which means it never cuts off plus I have to run a fan otherwise I am not going to be comfortable. All in all a huge power drain.

 

But the man wants me to pay half the price, about 15k, for a new AC. Which I don't think is justified given it'll be his. I offered 5k. Might have to swallow my pride and up that to 10.

I was in exactly the same position in a previous apartment. I had a poorly installed air conditioner that was using a terrific amount of electricity. The compressor was probably always on, but it was so far away I couldn't tell. I had bills of over 5000 baht more than 10 years ago at a kWH charge of 6 baht.

 

Your landlord could be making 1000's of baht per month just with that air conditioner. He doesn't have much incentive to replace it. I'm sure my previous landlord was making about 2000 or more a month on mine in the hot months.

[timendres]

14 minutes ago, Why Me said:

I'm already battling the owner to replace the AC in my bedroom with a newer one. That is definitely the power sink. It's an older unit which never brings the temp below 28C all night even though I set it at 24 (a few years ago it would bring it down to 24 in 30mins). Which means it never cuts off plus I have to run a fan otherwise I am not going to be comfortable. All in all a huge power drain.

 

But the man wants me to pay half the price, about 15k, for a new AC. Which I don't think is justified given it'll be his. I offered 5k. Might have to swallow my pride and up that to 10.

Might be time to move. One of the advantages of renting.

[JensenZ]

3 minutes ago, timendres said:

Might be time to move. One of the advantages of renting.

An argument over the air conditioner is the reason I left LOL

[pineapple01]

39 minutes ago, Bob A Kneale said:

Whatever the "typical" rate is, it's illegal.

So get the legal rate n up goes the rent.

[Why Me]

5 minutes ago, timendres said:

Might be time to move. One of the advantages of renting.

I see your point. But it's a nicely run building otherwise. And the location is great. Ah, well. I'll give diplomacy a bit more time before pressing the nuclear button.

[Bob A Kneale]

27 minutes ago, Why Me said:

Ok, so I guess you rent from an individual owner who simply gives you the bill to pay. I am in a rental building owned by one entity and all apartments rented out by the same. So my my meter readings and electric charges are shown in my monthly statement. I don't get to see the MEA bill.

 

Which raises the question if the building gets one giant bill from the MEA or individual ones per meter. I suspect I know the answer.

Yes, as I said, a condo.

 

The MEA bills the apartment operator with individual bills based on the meter reading of each of those apartments, that's how they're able to advise you of the number of units you, specifically, has used.   If bills are unpaid the entire building doesn't get cut-off, just the apartment that hasn't paid.

[Bob A Kneale]

26 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

Here's where you can work out exactly what your landlord pays for your usage:

https://www.pea.co.th/Portals/1/demand_response/Electricity Tariffs Nov61.pdf?ver=2018-11-21-145427-433

That link doesn't go anywhere.

[JensenZ]

2 minutes ago, Bob A Kneale said:

Yes, as I said, a condo.

 

The MEA bills the apartment operator with individual bills based on the meter reading of each of those apartments, that's how they're able to advise you of the number of units you, specifically, has used.   If bills are unpaid the entire building doesn't get cut-off, just the apartment that hasn't paid.

In which case the landlord has an obligation to offer the government discount for last month, and 2 more months. It was offered to help all people out in these tough times, not greedy landlords.

 

As a guide (it varies with consumption), my last bill was 932 kWh. I got a discount of 166 kWh, paying only for 766 kWh. (17.8% reduction). That worked out to a saving of about 700 baht. On top of that there is a after-tax 3% discount that everyone is currently getting, so the total discount was about 800 baht.

 

 

[JensenZ]

6 minutes ago, Bob A Kneale said:

That link doesn't go anywhere.

Just checked - it works for me. Using Chrome.

 

[Bob A Kneale]

1 minute ago, JensenZ said:

8 minutes ago, Bob A Kneale said:

Yes, as I said, a condo.

 

The MEA bills the apartment operator with individual bills based on the meter reading of each of those apartments, that's how they're able to advise you of the number of units you, specifically, has used.   If bills are unpaid the entire building doesn't get cut-off, just the apartment that hasn't paid.

In which case the landlord has an obligation to offer the government discount for last month, and 2 more months. It was offered to help all people out in these tough times, not greedy landlords.

 

As a guide (it varies with consumption), my last bill was 932 kWh. I got a discount of 166 kWh, paying only for 766 kWh. (17.8% reduction). That worked out to a saving of about 700 baht. On top of that there is a after-tax 3% discount that everyone is currently getting, so the total discount was about 800 baht.

What are you telling me all that for?  I've had my discount.

 

 

[Bob A Kneale]

3 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

10 minutes ago, Bob A Kneale said:

Yes, as I said, a condo.

 

The MEA bills the apartment operator with individual bills based on the meter reading of each of those apartments, that's how they're able to advise you of the number of units you, specifically, has used.   If bills are unpaid the entire building doesn't get cut-off, just the apartment that hasn't paid.

In which case the landlord has an obligation to offer the government discount for last month, and 2 more months. It was offered to help all people out in these tough times, not greedy landlords.

What do you think the chances are that an apartment owner who is already deliberately screwing his tenants by overcharging them on electricity is likely to pass on that discount?

[JensenZ]

1 minute ago, Bob A Kneale said:

What are you telling me all that for?  I've had my discount.

 

 

Everything I'm telling here is for the OP's benefit or anyone else that would like to know. If it doesn't concern you, ignore it.

[Bob A Kneale]

1 minute ago, JensenZ said:

4 minutes ago, Bob A Kneale said:

What are you telling me all that for?  I've had my discount.

Everything I'm telling here is for the OP's benefit or anyone else that would like to know. If it doesn't concern you, ignore it.

Ok, I get that but why you addressed it to me and attached my comment to it is why I asked.

[david555]

I pay 5 baht a unit in Pattaya 

[scubascuba3]

1,000 units a month is very high, how big is your apartment? 200m2? i pay 8 baht so 7 baht is ok, govt is around 4 baht. AC would need to be on 24\7 for a very big apartment

[cyril sneer]

20 hours ago, asiasurfer said:

I think 7 Baht/unit is about normal. The landlord still makes a profit although actually doing nothing for it. As far as I know, they are actually not supposed to do it. But then... Can you argue...?

7 baht a unit is most likely an illegal rate, and has been so since the new law was introduced in May 2018

 

it's made zero difference since then though, apartments where I live are still charging 7-10 baht to profit off it

 

owners must have made a fortune in April, I was given a revised bill telling me I didn't have to pay anything, but I guess it depends on usage and province

 

It's a disgrace that it hasn't been cracked down on, especially during covid with reduced or zero baht bills

[tonray]

If you use your AC a lot (as your bill apparently indicates) it is a much better option to rent a condo where you pay the government rate directly to the  MEA. If you pay say 6500 baht rent for a studio apt room...and 7600 in utilities...your total is over 14,000 baht....a small condo with gym, pool and better amenities can be had for same or not much more.

[theonetrueaussie]

14 hours ago, Why Me said:

Ok, so I guess you rent from an individual owner who simply gives you the bill to pay. I am in a rental building owned by one entity and all apartments rented out by the same. So my my meter readings and electric charges are shown in my monthly statement. I don't get to see the MEA bill.

 

Which raises the question if the building gets one giant bill from the MEA or individual ones per meter. I suspect I know the answer.

they get individual rates and then charge you extra to cover the extra fees they have to pay....where do you think all those 7% rental return guarantee money comes from....Some of it will be from charging nearly 2x electrical rate to you... I currently pay about 3.7 or 3.8 right now. I have aircon running 24/7 and 2 laptops running 24/7 and my electric bill is 1100 month!

Btw I rent in an apartment complex too, nice one with pool and gym but through a agent.

[stouricks]

34 minutes ago, theonetrueaussie said:

I have aircon running 24/7 and 2 laptops running 24/7 and my electric bill is 1100 month!

Aircon = 1200 watts, laptop = 20 watts.