Hi everyone,

I've just moved to Thailand. I rented a condo and I need to turn the electricity on. I asked the front desk people but they speak little English and they gave me a phone number to call for the electricity company. When I called, it was an automated message in Thai which I couldn't understand. The owner is Chinese and lives in Singapore so he can't help.

I'm currently staying in a hotel until I get the electricity on so it's quite urgent.

Any help would be great!

Unfortunately, you will never be able to just turn the electricity on. It isn't in your name. To get the electric in your name is a long procedure requiring a lot of paperwork from the previous name on the electricity bill and yourself. It will need to be done by the owner or whoever's name the meter is in.Is the electric billed directly to the owner or to the condo? Why is the electric off would be what I would be asking. Was the previous bill paid up and is there actually a meter or has the meter been taken away? If the bill is sent directly to the owner, there would be a deposit paid by him on the meter. He could of given the meter back and claimed back his deposit.
Even with all the paperwork correctly in place, it can take weeks or months to actually get the bill in your name.
Getting any services turned on here when it isn't in your name isn't anywhere near as simple as in the Western world.
You need to start off by finding out who actually gets billed for the electric and go from there.

 

4 hours ago, suay said:

I've just moved to Thailand.

Might help if you tell us WHERE 

Did you check the master breaker in the apartment?

If you've determined that the electric has indeed been cut off,

find the electricity bill from the previous month(s) (usually in the mailbox) or ask the owner.

 

Once you have the bill,

take it to the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) office of your condo's district,

Front desk should be able to tell you it's location.

 

Take the bill to the MEA, and they they should be able to tell you what's going on (any outstanding payments etc.)

 

3 hours ago, varun said:

Did you check the master breaker in the apartment?

If you've determined that the electric has indeed been cut off,

find the electricity bill from the previous month(s) (usually in the mailbox) or ask the owner.

 

Once you have the bill,

take it to the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) office of your condo's district,

Front desk should be able to tell you it's location.

 

Take the bill to the MEA, and they they should be able to tell you what's going on (any outstanding payments etc.)

 

Or the PEA of you dont live in Bangkok. Ask condo managment for accses to the meter room on your floor.

Thanks very much everyone! I am in Bangkok. I am going to MEA now.