Electric supply for small village

[mran66]

 

We have a small 'village' of 10 houses. Electricity supply (due to historical reasons, which is another long story) is arranged so that there is one transformer with one meter and one supply contract that is in name of a third party company. Each house has own meter, and every month the one PEA bill is divided proportionally to each house based on the units recorded in meters of each house. Actually I am not familiar about the ownership of the transformer itself whether it is owned by the 3rd party (a service co) that takes care of the PEA bill or by PEA (are both possible, or transformer always customer property or PEA property?). Anyway, the transformer is the same that was installed for the site development long time ago, just transferred to 3rd party long time ago when the developer walked away from the project. Main 3phase power line is underground from transformer pole to each house, and each house has power meter where the underground main line terminates.

 

Now, we are pondering what options would there for future (due to potential issue with the 3rd party that 'owns' the current supply contract), and writing to this forum to get some guidance prior to going to talk PEA about the situation.

 

Ideally, every house would have their own contract with PEA, with PEA meter installed to each house at the termination point of the undergound main cables replacing the current own meters. Would that kind of setup be possible for PEA using existing main underground cabling (that has been in place almost 10yrs without any problems), either by acquiring the existing transformer, or buy a new one in case the legal owner would not be agreeable to transfer the ownership? Or is it so that new main cable supply would be needed to each house? How about sharing one transformer in the first place - or would each house need to get own if new setup (sounds crazy)?

 

In general, who/how determines how many houses can be supplied from single transformer? Would it be possible to hook up to another transformer (on side road of our village) that supplies to another 3 house village (have not asked about the status of that transformer from other village owners), or is it so that each village effectively have their own transformer, and sharing not

possible in normal circumstances?

 

Is it possible to have 2 transformers in same concrete pole, or is it so that if would need a new transformer, would need to setup new pole for it as well?

 

In general, what is the magnitude level of the cost of a new transformer (supply 10 small houses with usage per house around 500 units per month when house in use). 

 

Thanks

[bankruatsteve]

Do you own your plot?  Is it registered?  The "3rd party" may hold the book for the whole "village" and needs to be plotted and registered.  (?)

 

The PEA normally determines how things are set up otherwise.

[mran66]

7 minutes ago, bankruatsteve said:

Do you own your plot?  Is it registered?  The "3rd party" may hold the book for the whole "village" and needs to be plotted and registered.  (?)

 

The PEA normally determines how things are set up otherwise.

 

yes every house owner owns the land plots under them, with separate chanotes and xxx/yyy address, and house book. currently all in company name.

 

3rd party is just a service company that hosts the contract with PEA (and possibly owns the transformer unless PEA own it). no relationship to land or house ownership

 

originally this was supposed to be a village of something in neighborhood of 20-30 houses, however when the financial crisis hit, only part were ready, and the land planned for the rest was sold off due to financial issues.

 

I actually dont know what was the original plan for electric supply arrangement, however know that the transformer & meter that provides the elecricity, is the one that was set up and used to get electricity for the development site, and later just let be there to supply electric to the complete houses as described above,

[bankruatsteve]

2 minutes ago, mran66 said:

currently all in company name.

That could be your issue.

[mran66]

1 minute ago, bankruatsteve said:

That could be your issue.

...hmmm...how that would limit the supply arrangement? PEA policy or practicalities dependent on whether owner is natural or legal person?

 

[bankruatsteve]

Dunno.   But an answer is not likely to come from a forum.  You should stop in and talk to your friendly PEA.  ????

[mran66]

4 minutes ago, bankruatsteve said:

Dunno.   But an answer is not likely to come from a forum.  You should stop in and talk to your friendly PEA.  ????

 

yes will have to go talk there anyway,  it's just that would be kind of easier if would know how things work prior to go there, just for language reasons.

 

just thought if someone who had been involved in village development would happen to have some experiences on the practicalities around the topic...

[bankruatsteve]

If the company name is on the house book and the land title, what gives you ownership?  Not sure which is used for PEA to install meter and set up billing (I think the house book).  How does your partner (assuming) register for anything without her name on the house book?

[mran66]

5 minutes ago, bankruatsteve said:

If the company name is on the house book and the land title, what gives you ownership?  Not sure which is used for PEA to install meter and set up billing (I think the house book).  How does your partner (assuming) register for anything without her name on the house book?

 

sorry I was not clear on the legal terminology...none of the residents own the land nor house, rather they own 49% of the company that owns land and house, and are the sole directors of the owning companies.

 

so all houses owned by company, and currently all occupied by the company director,

 

for reference, water supply contracts are  all direct to PWA, and are all in the name of the companies owning the land

[bankruatsteve]

Ouch.  Good luck man.

[Crossy]

OK task A. is to determine who actually owns the transformer rather than just owning the bill.

 

It should be possible to transfer the bill to your joint company rather than a 3rd party (but it would probably need the agreement of the existing bill owner).

 

As to whether PEA will adopt the existing wiring and transformer and/or place individual meters is likely going to vary office to office and be subject to a condition survey.

 

You are definitely going to need a Thai speaker who knows the current position.

 

I'm sure this is not a unique arrangement, but is likely a first for the forum. Please keep us informed how it goes.

 

[rickudon]

If the 'bill' is a commercial one, what KWH rate do you pay? Might be substantially higher than those for individuals

[mran66]

5 hours ago, rickudon said:

If the 'bill' is a commercial one, what KWH rate do you pay? Might be substantially higher than those for individuals

 

we are on PEA price plan 1.1.2. Average monthly unit price incl taxes, discounts etc is 4.5 baht per kWh, so not too high.

 

price plan is not our issue, rather the possible future discontinuation of the current setup (one bill, supply hosted by the 3rd party, private meters in all houses).