How many units of electricity do you use per month?

[Wanderlust]

The fact that you have to climb a pole to view your meter suggests to me that norm might have hit the nail on the head with the temporary meter thing; I have never seen meters here that aren't readable from ground level so that may be the first thing you should check.

[Nereus]

The fact that you have to climb a pole to view your meter suggests to me that norm might have hit the nail on the head with the temporary meter thing; I have never seen meters here that aren't readable from ground level so that may be the first thing you should check.

Not to detract from your comment, but in Bangkok, at many older places the meter is well out of reach. Many times I have seen the "reader" going around with a small set of binoculars, stopping, and using them to read the meter.
Unless your know what you are looking for I would strongly advise you to have somebody look for you.

[Wanderlust]

Nereus,
By 'here' I meant Hua Hin; sorry for the confusion.

[ste860]

the chaps who read the meters do use binnoculars i think they put them high to stop them being tampered with , my bill is between 1800 and 2400 depending if i have anyone in the spare room,i have only ac in the bedrooms and fans elsewhere,i have a combi oven and that uses some juice

[Vital Spark]

Nice idea about the temporary meter, but the house is nearly 20 years old!

Most of the meters are above head height - we have a a lot of free-roaming cows in this neck of the woods, they tend to bash into things. I also think that the electricity company may think that 'out of reach' is safe.

Just to give you an idea of the increase:
March 2548 - 328 units
March 2549 - 297 units
March 2550 - 429 units
March 2551 - 453 units (1163.96 + 0.6886/ft = 311.994 + 7% VAT 103.31 - Total 1579.21)

There are 100+ units going somewhere, and that's quite a lot.

I'll stop ranting about this and see if Grandma (aka landlady) has managed to speak to someone from the electricity company. Oh, by the way, our bills are printed on official paper, direct from the electricity company, with fancy bar codes, etc. We don't pay a middle man.

VS

[HHTel]

Not sure if this will help but our last bill was:

959 units: Total cost 3,564.38.

It's been around 3,000 baht for the last two years but gradually going up but not excessively. We have no aircon by the way. (No central heating either!!)

I'm not sure whether it's common knowledge, but utilities bills in Thailand cost more per unit, the more you use.

Take the water bill: Starts at 3 baht per unit rising to 18 baht per unit the more you use.

[SuperTonic]

My last bill was about 450 (when I was using air con cos it was so bloody hot) but it's usually about 600-650 baht.

Gadget List:-

- Fan (usually 1 running)
- 1 Laptop
- 1 Fridge
- Very rare use of air con
- Stereo (more for plugging my guitar into than actually playing music)
- Kettle (used VERY frequently, well I am British)
- Shower heater
- Phone charger

I think my bill's pretty good but I don't use air con much, and my telly gets ignored and left in a corner gathering dust. Might that explain it? Oh and no I don't have energy saving light bulbs either, the old-fashioned type for me.

[Ralphsandbag]

This has come up so many times. You need to ask your neighbours who have the same size building, and electrical items in use to get a fair assessment.
cheers Ralph