Electricity Supply in Thailand
The electricity in Thailand is supplied at 220v, 50 cycles by the Provincial Electricity Authority(PEA) outside Bangkok. Generally speaking the electricity supply in Thailand is fairly reliable. However electricity outages are fairly common during the rainy season since in most areas power is supplied through a myriad of overhead cables.
Voltage fluctuations are also quite common, especially in more rural areas, where distance from a transformer is greater. This is a minor inconvenience in most cases, with dimming lights being the main thing you will notice especially if you are loading the system by running air conditioning. However that said, these same voltage fluctuations can and do affect the longevity of appliances such as fridges, computers and air conditioning units.
Inside the home power outlets tend to come in two forms of socket, these will be either 3 pin or 2 pin. In both cases the outlet accepts flat or round pin plugs. Although the third pin hole is present on modern outlets it is not always earthed and for safety reasons it is always better to assume this is the case.
Electrical Safety in Thailand
Electricity is dangerous and electrocution is not uncommon in Thailand. Its probably fair to say that 90% of such cases(electrocution) are caused by faulty earthing or wrongly connected wiring , this is particularly so in water heaters(showers). The technical skills of many so called Thai “electricians” are way below similarly qualified people outside Thailand. Most Thai people will tell you they have received an electrical shock on at least one occasion.
Getting an Electricity Supply in Thailand
To get your supply from the PEA you simple visit their local office and submit a request. This will be dealt with quite quickly providing there is already a mains supply available nearby to your property.
Connection to this supply is charged depending up on your needs and the distance from the nearest supply point. You are also required to purchase your own meter. There are several differently rated meters.
The rating is in Amps and you will need to choose a meter that will supply the load you require. So a quick calculation of the maximum amount of electricity(load) you will require is handy. You can do this by consulting the actual unit or its installation instructions which should show the rating.
I personally find that a 30 Amp meter unit is adequate for running all my appliances in a three bedroom bungalow which includes three air-conditioning units with various ratings, two fridge freezers, two computers and other domestic appliances as well as ceiling fans and lights. Installation charges, including the meter were 13,000 Baht.
Paying your Electricity Bill in Thailand
You receive your electricity bill every month in Thailand. Since all meters are located outside your property the meter reader simply leaves the bill in a plastic container next to the meter.
The bill must be paid with in two weeks of receipt, otherwise your meter will be removed and a reconnection charge made. Incidentally you cannot pay on the day of receipt for some reason!
Electricity bills can be paid at banks, the PEA or a 7/11 store(10 Baht charge).
Footnote:
- Improvements to electrical safety and supply can easily be achieved with the addition of RCCB breakers and voltage regulators(see electrical safety photo) where the supply enters your home along with proper earthing spikes outside the property. However these need to be fitted by a competent person who can also ensure that the electrical wiring is correctly established.
- Additional protection(surge protection) is also a good idea for computers and fridges.
- If you live in a rented property there should already be a meter in place and your landlord will probably receive the bill and charge you accordingly.
- Living in a condo unit can increase electricity costs which are set by the buildings management team. It is not unusual to pay 15.00 Baht a unit!
- One unit of electricity costs about 3.87 Baht (depends on PEA)which is the price inclusive of VAT and a fuel surcharge.
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