Elderly couple gets 500 baht electricity bill for a single fan - video

[snoop1130]

 

A TikTok user discovered an unusually high electricity bill for an elderly couple who used only a single fan. The bill amounted to 500 baht, raising suspicions among social media users about potential electrical issues or misuse.

 

TikTok user @bank_waiyaphat, who works as an electricity bill distributor, posted a video highlighting the anomaly in the electricity usage of a home inhabited by an elderly couple. Despite only using a single fan, their bill soared to 500 baht.

 

The video shows the TikTok user discussing the matter with the elderly homeowner, although communication was challenging due to her hearing difficulties. Assistance from neighbours was necessary to facilitate the conversation and understand the situation.

 

The perplexity stemmed from the fact that the household only operated a fan, suggesting that the bill should not have reached such a high amount. This sparked a wave of online discussions, with many netizens expressing their doubts.

 

Several suggested possibilities, such as someone possibly siphoning electricity from the couple’s home or an electrical leakage. There were calls for the TikTok user to investigate further, to which he agreed.

 

 

One comment compared the situation with another household’s experience:

 

“My parents live in a rural area with a fan, fridge, and TV, and their bill is only about 400 baht. I pay for their bills from Bangkok, so why is this grandmother’s bill so high?”

 

Some netizens were willing to help alleviate the couple’s financial burden by offering to pay the electricity bill. However, the TikTok user clarified in a comment that the woman’s son, who works in the southern region, had already covered the payment.

 

Despite this, the underlying cause of the exorbitant bill remained unaddressed. Additionally, the TikTok user received commendations for his diligence in spotting the irregularity and his proactive approach to assisting the elderly couple.

 

“Well done to you for noticing the problem and stepping in to help rather than ignoring it,” one commenter remarked.

 

The incident drew attention to the broader issue of electricity billing discrepancies and the challenges faced by elderly individuals living alone, reported KhaoSod.

 

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-11-20

 

 

[John Drake]

I'm pretty cheap about my utilities. I try to save as much as I can. Operating a fridge, a computer, a TV, and a couple fans only last month (only 2 days using the aircon at night), I was still stuck with a bill for 995 baht. Just a year and a half ago, the same sort of usage would have got me a bill for less than 800 baht. I keep a record of electrical units I use and I'm sure this is the case. Prayuth was much better for electricity prices.

[ModdaPunk]

Corporations scamming old ladies.

No shame :D

[Patong2021]

43 minutes ago, ModdaPunk said:

Corporations scamming old ladies.

No shame 😄

 

How do you know? You have no facts but are quick to accuse. You are the worst type of person to have in a community because you stir up trouble just for the sake of  personal agenda.

 

The electricity bill covered what period of use? 

Are you certain  someone else was not connected to their  electrical grid?

 

The consumer received a bill. It is up to the consumer to accept or to contest the invoice. A high invoice can be caused by many reasons, none of which you have verified, but there you are to point your accusatory finger. It is not just unfair, but nasty and malicious to accuse when there is no evidence to support the claim.

[ModdaPunk]

39 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

you stir up trouble just for the sake of  personal agenda.

 

You forgot to take your meds again...

[frank83628]

My bills back in 07,8,9 were 500 for a fan 24/7, electric shower x 2 per day, and what everelse was plugged in. What's the big deal now?

[Patong2021]

2 hours ago, ModdaPunk said:

 

You forgot to take your meds again...

Why are you accusing the utility of "scamming old ladies"?  Where is your  evidence?

You just toss out whatever you nastiness you feel like doing, and then when held accountable try to avoid responsibility. Always the same M.O. It is an anti-social behaviour.

[Celsius]

4 hours ago, John Drake said:

I'm pretty cheap about my utilities. I try to save as much as I can. Operating a fridge, a computer, a TV, and a couple fans only last month (only 2 days using the aircon at night), I was still stuck with a bill for 995 baht. Just a year and a half ago, the same sort of usage would have got me a bill for less than 800 baht. I keep a record of electrical units I use and I'm sure this is the case. Prayuth was much better for electricity prices.

 

2 aircons, washing machine twice a day, bathtub with hot water once a day....1600 baht

 

living the dream

[Homburg]

I wish my electricity bill was only 500 Baht!

[watchcat]

7 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

The electricity bill covered what period of use? 

 

Normaly one month?

[arick]

My mom lives in a one-bedroom in Canada in British Columbia Canada and she doesn't pay that much for the entire month. Electric cooker electric heat electric stove TV in each room.

[rwill]

What happened to the free electricity if less than 50 units per month?  Did they do away with that?

 

Anyway,  maybe time for a new fan.

[BE88]

9 minutes ago, rwill said:

What happened to the free electricity if less than 50 units per month?  Did they do away with that?

 

Anyway,  maybe time for a new fan.

 

And new electrical cables in the house.

[dinsdale]

9 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

 

How do you know? You have no facts but are quick to accuse. You are the worst type of person to have in a community because you stir up trouble just for the sake of  personal agenda.

 

The electricity bill covered what period of use? 

Are you certain  someone else was not connected to their  electrical grid?

 

The consumer received a bill. It is up to the consumer to accept or to contest the invoice. A high invoice can be caused by many reasons, none of which you have verified, but there you are to point your accusatory finger. It is not just unfair, but nasty and malicious to accuse when there is no evidence to support the claim.

Something tells me this "thought" of yours wasn't very well developed in your mind before blurting it. IF someone was tapping into their electricity do you really think the bill would be BT500? As for the article itself something doesn't quite gel with me. Only one fan? Maybe. It would also have been good to know what their previous bills have been.

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, ModdaPunk said:

Corporations scamming old ladies.

No shame 😄

A very wild sccusation.

[Rotweiler]

1 hour ago, arick said:

My mom lives in a one-bedroom in Canada in British Columbia Canada and she doesn't pay that much for the entire month. Electric cooker electric heat electric stove TV in each room.

500B/month?  In BC?  ummm  forget that this conversation is about Baht not dollars?

[Dave0206]

25 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Something tells me this "thought" of yours wasn't very well developed in your mind before blurting it. IF someone was tapping into their electricity do you really think the bill would be BT500? As for the article itself something doesn't quite gel with me. Only one fan? Maybe. It would also have been good to know what their previous bills have been.

Yes could be as simple as a mistake from previous month under reading and as another post wrote would give more sense if previous bills was posted

 

[Crossy]

A bill of 500 Baht equates to around 120kWh per month.

Use https://eservice.pea.co.th/estimatebill/ to check.

 

A constant load of 170Watts would do that.

 

An old (inefficient) fan on high 24/7 plus a light (don't tell me they don't have a light) particularly if an old incandescent lamp, would come pretty near that.

 

Of course we don't know what previous bills were.

[john donson]

install the app and you see the history of this year plus compared to last year...

[kimamey]

I would have thought the best thing to do would be to turn off the fan, and anything else they have and then look to see if the meter is moving. Try that at different and then call the electricity company. It could be down to power other than for the fan or it could be a faulty meter.

[Patong2021]

3 hours ago, arick said:

My mom lives in a one-bedroom in Canada in British Columbia Canada and she doesn't pay that much for the entire month. Electric cooker electric heat electric stove TV in each room.

 

Thailand relies on natural gas for its electricity generation (68% in 2023).  Canada has some of the lowest electrical rates in the world. The abundance of water resources in some provinces allows for their rates to be a fraction of many other highly industrialized nations. 2023 average rates for 1000 kw consumption was;

British Columbia 11.4¢/kWh  (2.83 baht)  Manitoba 10.2¢/kWh  (2.53 baht).

For comparison sake, even with a large residential subsidy, Thais pay a higher rate;

Electricity Tariffs 

Schedule 1: Residential

(Applicable to households and other dwelling places, monasteries, rectories and places of worship, including its compound through a single watt-hour meter.)

1.1 Normal Rate Energy Charge (per kWh) Service Charge   Baht Baht/month 1.1.1 Consumption not exceeding 150 kWh per month   8.19 - First 15 kWh (0-15th) 2.35   - Next 10 kWh (16th-25th) 2.99   - Next 10 kWh (26th-35th) 3.24   - Next 65 kWh (36th-100th) 3.62   - Next 50 kWh (101st-150th) 3.72   - Next 250 kWh (151st-400th) 4.22   - Over 400 kWh (401st and over) 4.42     Germany has a rate of about 14.5 baht kWh Australia (varies by state/territory  dependent)  6.5 kW/h

 

Overall, Thais are doing ok with their electricity rates. What kills many of us who rent is that the landlords inflate the rate for their own gain.

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, john donson said:

install the app and you see the history of this year plus compared to last year...

Have you seen the photograph of the old lady in the original post?

 

Are you seriously suggesting that she should install an app and monitor the use of electricity over the year?

 

Personally I have always found my local PEA office very helpful. I am sure that if someone local stepped up to the plate, and took her, the bill, and a photographic survey of the house to them they would investigate.

[KhunBENQ]

3 hours ago, rwill said:

What happened to the free electricity if less than 50 units per month?  Did they do away with that?

Yes from my observation.

Neighbor opposite having a 85 Baht bill which is much less than 50 units.

Our abandoned ex shophouse with fridge and occasional fan/radio use produces 1xx Baht bills.

Never seen before.

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

46 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

1.1 Normal Rate

Always been billed with the 1.2 rate.

And that has steps of 1 to 150, 151 to 400, above 401 kWh.

Average price overall is about 4.6 Baht/kWh (using near 400 kWh).

 

500 Baht would be roughly 100 kWh or 100'000 Wh.

A fan typically is 50 W.

100'000/50 = 2000 hours running fan would equate to 2000/30 = 66 hours/day

Edited Thursday at 03:41 AM by KhunBENQ

[Rotweiler]

7 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Overall, Thais are doing ok with their electricity rates. What kills many of us who rent is that the landlords inflate the rate for their own gain.

Thanks.  Looking at the rates you posted, I am amazed that electrical rates could be maintained at such low rates in BC (while other costs have increased so dramatically!)  I've been in Thailand uninterrupted for going on 20 years) but have family in BC and Alberta  Comparing the BC rates - even those in the interior - with the AB rates.  Holy Sh__

[SunsetT]

Only a small fan too. You can see it behind them. Turn off the fan and see if the Meter wheel is still spinning.

[The Cyclist]

😀😀😀😀

 

That's @JimTripper and his better half

 

Life must be getting hard for him, less than a year ago he was boasting about his 500 Baht electric bill

 

😀😀😀😀

[arick]

Can get a small solar fan for 500bht instead