Excessive Electricity Bill

[UbonOz]

Fluro lights should not use much power. I notice at night when dark the ends of the fluro tube is glowing when switched off.

The fittings are very cheap and only have wires directly connected to them, there are no starters.

We run the air con in warmer months approximately eight hours in the bedroom. Have two fridges, gas stove with electric oven, washing machine, instant hot water shower(not used much) and two TVs.

The electric bill seems to be getting higher.

I have always thought it is the fluros using power 24/7.

Could anybody with electrical knowledge enlighten me on usage of these items.

Thanks for any replies.

[phuturatica]

Do you own this property or rent it? If it is rented, I have heard of some property owners messing with the electricity meters so that the price goes higher so they make more money from you. This has happened to some Thai friends of mine.

However, if you own the property then I have no idea.

[Tywais]

Regarding the fluorescent tubes, it means the switch is wired to neutral and not to the hot side of the line. The hot side as such is directly connected to the tube(s) all the time and small leakage to air or holder causes the tube to glow slightly. The amount of electricity when that is happening is negligible.

[beano2274]

Electric oven is gonna burn a lot of units up.

Give us an idea of how many units you use per month, if you own then on the bill from the local Electrictiy provider, if you do not own then on the bill provided by the owner.

I have two rooms joined together, two electric meters, total units last month for both rooms 334 units around 1133 baht.

TV used mainly in one room, with Home theatre unit, 2 aircons (one on 8-9 hours per day at night, the other used maybe for 5 hours per week), electric fan, heated shower, fridge, computer on 24 hours per day, chargers for phones approx 1 hour per day, then lights used as per the time of day, plus washing machine maybe used 2 times per week, microwave used about 3 times per week. I must say that I used the other aircon a lot more than 5 hours per week last month!!!!

[UbonOz]

The property where we live is owned by wife's mother, we do not pay rent.

We get the electricity bill, and pay.

Where we live is three two storey units, the other two are rented and have separate meters.

The bill has just gone up this month by 1,000baht and cannot really see where we have used more power.

A friend stayed recently and said he uses more appliances etc than us and his bill is much less. He has two adults and two kids, we are only two adults.

The units used this month is just over 1,000.

The problem is you cannot find a genuine electrician to confirm any suspicions.

[lopburi3]

The last several months would have required a great deal more electric to air condition than Feb-March (which were unusually cool this year). The Air-continioner setting can make a huge difference - some of use are comfortable at 28 and others need 25 and the cost difference can be considerable so hard to compare with neighbors.

[poanoi]

I don't use air con at all, i pretty much never use TV (estimate 30 min/day max.)

I use a laptop, my gf use a laptop.

I get over 1500 baht/month electric bill.

My thai neighbors told me the resort take out some resistance in the meter to make it spin faster.

[UbonOz]

The last several months would have required a great deal more electric to air condition than Feb-March (which were unusually cool this year). The Air-continioner setting can make a huge difference - some of use are comfortable at 28 and others need 25 and the cost difference can be considerable so hard to compare with neighbors.

Air con starts at 22 for half an hour to cool the room then up to 25 for the remainder of the time it is on.

[sirineou]

Regarding the fluorescent tubes, it means the switch is wired to neutral and not to the hot side of the line. The hot side as such is directly connected to the tube(s) all the time and small leakage to air or holder causes the tube to glow slightly. The amount of electricity when that is happening is negligible.

I agree, Fluorescent tubes can glow even when not connected to an electric source if subjected to EMF, electromagnetic frequencies. You need to look elsewhere for your consumption concerns.

[PattayaParent]

I don't use air con at all, i pretty much never use TV (estimate 30 min/day max.)

I use a laptop, my gf use a laptop.

I get over 1500 baht/month electric bill.

My thai neighbors told me the resort take out some resistance in the meter to make it spin faster.

?????my bill for this month has just gone up from the usual 500 Baht to 800 Baht due to aircon use.

[poanoi]

Yes, they say they charge 7 baht, just like my previous place did,

the difference is 800 baht extra electric bill each month, it used to be ~ 700 before this place

[F1fanatic]

I sympathise as I queried my elec bill a few months ago with my landlord as it was clearly far too high.

The landlord promised to get the meter checked and, the following month, the bill had gone down a few hundred baht. I pointed out it was still far too high and (amazingly) every month since it has gone down a few hundred baht more. Mind you, I had to keep the pressure up every month insisting that it was still far from 'right'.

[poanoi]

The owner is never here, only the staff....

[F1fanatic]

The owner is never here, only the staff....

'Phone him! Anyway, 7bht per unit is way OTT - I'm paying over the odds at 5 bht.

[lovelomsak]

I cannot get my bill to go over 500 baht no matter what season it is. Last month the gf and I were shocked, it was a free month. I must have the best meter in Thailand. I should take it with me if I move.

[beano2274]

I cannot get my bill to go over 500 baht no matter what season it is. Last month the gf and I were shocked, it was a free month. I must have the best meter in Thailand. I should take it with me if I move.

I thought the free electricity (if you used less than so many units) had stopped..

[lovelomsak]

I cannot get my bill to go over 500 baht no matter what season it is. Last month the gf and I were shocked, it was a free month. I must have the best meter in Thailand. I should take it with me if I move.

I thought the free electricity (if you used less than so many units) had stopped..

It didnot stop but the amount of usage was reduced so it was really quite amazing to see. We even checked the meter to see if the reading was right and it was.

[surayu]

There are so many different possibilities on why you are getting a higher bill.

It could be a rat biting the electric wires, a refrigerator having a faulty condition running up 24/7, a neighbour putting a bridge on your wires somewhere and even the electricity company scamming you, i still remember few years ago a newspaper publishing the group's picture of all the employees working at that particular branch, all of them involved in the meter's scam, nice memories....

Every electric appliance you own should tell you the consumption involved, sum them up and then calculate the cost, there are also "Smart" wireless electricity meters that you just hang on the wires coming out of your main meter and will be able to tell you if the main meter is giving you a wrong reading....http://www.mygreenlifestyle.co.uk/energy-savers/361-owl-wireless-electricity-monitorusb

[UbonOz]

The owner is never here, only the staff....

'Phone him! Anyway, 7bht per unit is way OTT - I'm paying over the odds at 5 bht.

The two rented units next door are being charged 4baht/unit.

[UbonOz]

There are so many different possibilities on why you are getting a higher bill.

It could be a rat biting the electric wires, a refrigerator having a faulty condition running up 24/7, a neighbour putting a bridge on your wires somewhere and even the electricity company scamming you, i still remember few years ago a newspaper publishing the group's picture of all the employees working at that particular branch, all of them involved in the meter's scam, nice memories....

Every electric appliance you own should tell you the consumption involved, sum them up and then calculate the cost, there are also "Smart" wireless electricity meters that you just hang on the wires coming out of your main meter and will be able to tell you if the main meter is giving you a wrong reading....http://www.mygreenlifestyle.co.uk/energy-savers/361-owl-wireless-electricity-monitorusb

We are off to the UK next weekend for six weeks, it will be interesting to see what the bills are while we are away.

Will only leave one fridge operating.

[surayu]

Will only leave one fridge operating.

If you have no need to keep the electricity on while you are away, i would just turn it all off from the main meter.

If on your return, your neighbour start complaining with you on why you did not left it on, that might give you a hint for solving this mistery...

[GuestHouse]

I wish I had a Bht1000 a month electricity bill.

[Tep]

I cannot get my bill to go over 500 baht no matter what season it is. Last month the gf and I were shocked, it was a free month. I must have the best meter in Thailand. I should take it with me if I move.

I thought the free electricity (if you used less than so many units) had stopped..

The free allocation was reduced from 90 kwh to 50 kwh last year. It is now funded through cross subsidies rather then directly from the government budget. Residential usage less than 150 kwh per month is charged at below cost.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Will only leave one fridge operating.

Why on earth would you leave a fridge going for six weeks?

[theoldgit]

Of course electricity also went up by 30 Satang a unit from this month.

Not a major increase but it all adds up.

[guzzi850m2]

4k bath this month, we normally pay 3k bath, okay a hot month so been using the AC in the office/study sometimes during day hours. We own not renting.

[PattayaParent]

I wish I had a Bht1000 a month electricity bill.

I'll send you mine if you like.