Job Discussion Forums

[amy_kakes]

Hello!

Anybody know the norm for a one room apt (not one bedroom, one m\small room) electricity bill should be. Consider the AC is on low about 7 hours a day, 2-3 hours use of TV, radio or lights and fridge on all day.

Is 2,800 baht unreasonable? We heard before arriving we should be paying about 200-600 baht per month and our bill is about 3,000...any thoughts?

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hello Amy:

That's way too high.

It sounds to me like:

A. You're paying a left-over bill from a previous teacher

-or-

B. The landlord/lady is trying hard to get rich quick

I have a 20 sq. meter one-room apartment and run the air for at least 10 hours per night, set at 23 or 24C, and my electric bill has NEVER been over 1,000 Baht.

Generally I pay closer to 800 Baht per month.

Talk to your Supervisor or DOS at the school you're working for, and tell them you need some help ... preferably from someone who speaks fluent Thai. There might be another explanation. For example, they might have tacked on a deposit without telling you, to ensure that you don't walk out without paying your final bill.

It's also customary for landlords to give you a total bill, which includes your rent, electricity & water. If that's what they did, it would explain the 3,000 Baht.
____________________

If they still insist that the electric bill is 2,800 Baht, you should then:

1. Ask them what they are charging per kilowatt hour

-and then-

2. Ask them to 'kindly' show you the meter readings

a) from the date you moved in

-and-

b) on the date they calculated your bill

This should solve the problem.

By the way - how's little Garfield adjusting to life in The Big Mango?

[amy_kakes]

Hi kent -

Thor is doing fine...he's very curious about the loud traffic and all the stray dogs, but adjusting quite nicely.

I had assumed as much about the electric bill. The school had actually put us up in this complex while new school apts were being "finished". The school pays the rent, so that's not the issue, but we are contracted to pay utilities, which we were tld would be no more than 600 baht.

We are planning on just letting the bill rest since the apartment complex is in contact with the school, not us. Do you think that is an ok way to handle it the Thai way?

[Sheep-Goats]

I'd show the bill to whoever is responsible for the realtionship between your school and the apartment complex.

Almost every farang I've met pays about 1000B a month for their electricity. About 800 of that goes toward aircon. Folks who live in houses pay their utilities directly to the utilitiy company and so have a lower rate. People who pay their apartment pay a padded fee (5 baht per "unit" is normal) so that the apartment makes money on your electricity. Not quite right in my mind, but a standard and (to my knowledge) unavoidable practice.

I pay between 800 and 1200 a month, largely depending on how much I get out on the weekend -- which dictates the number of hours the air-con runs as its on whenever I'm in the room (thermostat at 27, though the room often feels colder than that).

[tedkarma]

Some apartment complexes charge almost twice what the real electricty expense is. Even with that, you are getting ripped off.

For comparison - in the hot season I run one a/c unit almost 24 hours a day - and at some times I run two - this is for a decent size two-bedroom house - and I rarely pay more than B3300.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hi Amy!

I'm glad Thor is adjusting to his new life in the big city.

Regarding your electric bill, one final comment: Take Sheep-Goats' good advice and forward that bill to whomever is handling that stuff for you. Leaving it sit around on a table is not such a good idea.

When you hand it over, just say 'thank you very much', wai ... and be on your merry way.

[kenkannif]

There should be a meter there you can keep your eye on and find out how much they charge per unit!

A/C is a killer, my electricity bill (for a house, but there's only three of us really there) is 5-6,000+ Baht a month (and this is at only 3 Baht a unit as it's direct to the leccy company!).

[Gringo Greg]

I agree with Ken Kaniff---the price is prolly about right. You are farang keeping it on low by farang levels. It is a killer but leanr to live without a/c. I paid 800 baht a month when I was in an aprtment and I only used a fan.

Greg

[parvati_overdrive]

youre getting ripped on the unit price of the electricity, but that is normal for those new to thailand.

you are paying b10 a unit
i pay b5 in my flat (locals price)
apt pays about 3-3.5

add water and whatever...sounds right. dont get too pissy, it is a std chg for many places, youre in one of them!

[parvati_overdrive]

ps: fan room, fridge even w/ hot water youll only use about 45-65 units a month.

when in doubt, check the meter!

[kenkannif]

[amy_kakes]

Problem Solved!

We WERE getting ripped off, but we had the school move us into the normal apts. and refused to pay the exorbant bill. WE are now paying around 300-400 baht a month Happy are we!