Topic: How much was your last Electric Bill...

[Hua-hin-prof]

With pay so low in Thailand, I would like to know what size chunk of your pay is going towards electricity.  Mine was 3000 Baht.

[Mods-Rockers]

Seems like someone likes his air more than just a little.

[hero]

2000 baht.  That's high 'cos mom-in-law was here and she's a telly nutcase!  Also it was pretty warm last month.

This month will be higher 'cos I'm on holiday and have had the air on 24/7, it's only in one room though.  Still cheap IMO.

[Pieman]

2000 baht every month!
I tried to be economical for a while to bring it down , but it had no effect. I went away for three weeks and guess what..... 2000 baht!  So now I have the air on in every  room. Ooops not very eco friendly. I better close the windows, shut the doors and only use the air in the east wing when I am working up there.

[hero]

If I try, I can keep it down to about 1700.  If I don't think about it it's around 1900-2100.  Why am I going to think about it for the sake of 4 quid?

[Uncle Che]

It really depends if you pay your own bill or if you pay the apartment building owner. When I paid my own bill(and didn't use air con) I would have a bill of between 400 and 500 baht per month. If I rent at an apartment and use aircon 12 hours a day then I might pay 2500 to 3000 baht per month. Small price to pay for complete comfort.

Now what about the schools that provide a room for teachers but then charge them 5 or 6 baht per unit for electricity? Talk aout a scam on their part.

[hero]

Very true.

The first apartment I had here charged 8 baht per unit of electric!  The air-con was an old fashioned job, but the knob to change the temperature was "missing" and it was (conveniently for them) set to freezing!  I would get colder and colder, turn the air off until I was boiling and then repeat.

I was paying over 2000 for electric then for a 30sq.m. room with no fridge.  TV and air only - and I never watched TV 'cos it was all Thai!

Now what about the schools that provide a room for teachers but then charge them 5 or 6 baht per unit for electricity? Talk aout a scam on their part.

I've never heard of this, but I'm sure it goes on.  Scam the farangs wherever they won't notice and won't make a fuss - that's the order of the day!

[Uncle Che]

When you pay the bill, the electricity is like 3 baht or so per unit, one of the schools on the Hall of Shame provided an apartment for teachers and charged for electricity, don't know how much, but probably 5 to 6 baht per unit since that is standard in apartments. A friend worked at a school in Chonburi and had to pay 5 baht per unit in the school provided apartment.

My friend never complained because he didn't know that he was being scammed. The school was making a profit of more than 1000 baht a month off of him. Ok, maybe this is a small issue, but if a school is providing a free apartment as part of the deal, then they shouldn't be turning around and making a profit off of the teacher. How many teachers would get a little irked if the school was transparent and said, "Hey look, we are giving you this apartment rent free, but instead of charging you for the actual electricty usage, we are going to charge you 70% more in order to make a profit."

[Hua-hin-prof]

The air-con was an old fashioned job, but the knob to change the temperature was "missing" and it was (conveniently for them) set to freezing!? I would get colder and colder, turn the air off until I was boiling and then repeat.

Totally believable, hero.? You were lucky it only worked on high.? Imagine how much more of their repriced electricity you would have to purchase if it were low on refrigerant, or just an old piece of shit.? It would be a conflict of interest for them to give you any energy efficient appliances, when they are making an extra 40-70% on your electric use.

Check out your aparment's a/c unit(s) thoroughly.? The air blowing out should be 25 degrees F colder than the air at the intake vent.? Otherwise, you will be getting screwed without any hugging or kissing.  Incidentally, my 3000 baht bill was for an 85 square meter, two bedroom house.  No 30 square meter cell for this Prof.  The important thing is the coldness of the beer.

Best of luck to everyone.

[hero]

The air blowing out should be 25 degrees F colder than the air at the intake vent.

Wait a minute while I get my industrial thermometer and check...........

Actually I'm OK these days, I have my air-con serviced twice a year (free) by the lady who owns the house.  I pay direct to the electric company these days too.  It amazes me some of the shit we put up with when we are new here.  Month by month, my two-bedroom townhouse is cheaper (excluding internet and UBC) than either of my two previous one-room apartments

[bangjock]

Usually 300-500 baht. I don't use the air much at all.

I have to agree with hero, staying in a townhouse is so much more economical than a one room place, I would recommend everyone to make the move.

[Rick_BKK]

Usually I pay around 1,000 Baht a month but last month it was closer to 1,400, probably because we had the air conditioning on more than usual.

[kenkannif]

6-7K...but a big house (so at the cheaper rate) and I love my A/C!

[airpuka]

I left the country for a couple days and left my AC on by mistake and that bill came out to over 4,000 but i ised it a lot and it was an old power consuming piece of crap

[hero]

Update - today paid a bill for 3000 baht!  Biggest ever, the hot season taking it's toll, I'm an air-con junkie!

[MrQ]

300 a month.

I am a right tight btard.

Scottish to the core.