Electric Meters And Rate Per Unit.

[Daffy D]

Over the last few months our electric bill has increased each month to the point where it is almost double what we feel it should be.

We don't have Air Con and these last few months it's been so hot that no one has used the hot water shower so I would have expected the bill to be less not more.

I can see the meter and the cables from our house so there is no one tapping into it and when I switch off our main circuit breaker the wheel stops.

Today the wife went to the electric company office to fill out a form and pay 200฿ for them to come and check the meter.

While there she had a conversation with the woman behind the counter and some people who were there for the same reason and it seems if you overload and "break" the meter it will give false "high" readings.

We have a 5amp meter and I know we use more than 5amps , what house doesn't? but assumed that as long as the meter didn't blow off the post it was OK (TIT)

When the guy comes to check the meter and IF he finds we need a bigger capacity meter, think the next step up is 15amp, will the rate per unit remain the same?

I know with higher capacity meters for commercial premises the rate per unit is more but what about normal domestic use?

[neverdie]

I'm fairly sure you only have to pay for the upgrade/new meter etc. The rate stays the same (unless your usage goes up) because you are basically only using the same amount of electicity, its just its able to be delivered at a higher rate when required.

I had 5 amp before, now 15amp, but I didnt upgrade, I changed houses, so i cant help you with a cost estimate on that.

[lopburi3]

This hot weather will make your refrigerators work overtime and likely that is the cause of your electric increase. Hot water for showers is really not that much as only used by most people for a very short period.

5 amp is basic wood upcountry home for lights and maybe small refrigerator - anything more should probably be 15 amp these days (which gives you a 50 - 63 amp main breaker most places).

[katabeachbum]

This hot weather will make your refrigerators work overtime and likely that is the cause of your electric increase. Hot water for showers is really not that much as only used by most people for a very short period.

5 amp is basic wood upcountry home for lights and maybe small refrigerator - anything more should probably be 15 amp these days (which gives you a 50 - 63 amp main breaker most places).

5 amp is misguiding, the smallest meters are 5/15 amp, which measures correct until 15-20 amp. the next meter is 10/30 amp, and again 30-40 amp is acceptable. most PEA dont supply this meter any more, so next is 15/45 amp, and again 45-63 amp is acceptable load.

They all have the same price for the initial units withdrawn, and then price per unit increases with consumption.

expect to pay approx 7k baht pluss cables from meter to loadcenter to upgrade from 5/15 to 15/45.

5/15 is not sufficient to run fridge compressor, tv, lights and hotwater same time, this amounts to approx 25-30 amp

[powderpuff]

In Bangkok, today, 15/45 is what you get unless you specify bigger.

[katabeachbum]

In Bangkok, today, 15/45 is what you get unless you specify bigger.

most low end townhouse/detached projects, even in bkk, still installs 5/15 as standard. fee is only approx 700 baht, compared to approx 7.800 baht for 15/45.

[Daffy D]

This hot weather will make your refrigerators work overtime and likely that is the cause of your electric increase. Hot water for showers is really not that much as only used by most people for a very short period.

5 amp is basic wood upcountry home for lights and maybe small refrigerator - anything more should probably be 15 amp these days (which gives you a 50 - 63 amp main breaker most places).

That could very well be the case as the poor old fridge seems to be working almost continuously, you can feel the heat radiating off the sides. Why don't they put the heat transfer radiator thing in the open at the back outside the shell of the fridge, wouldn't that be more efficient?

Will click the temperature setting down a notch and see if it helps.

Will be interesting to see what the guy says when he comes to check the meter.