PEA or MEA?
Thailand has two electricity distributors. The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA, การไฟฟ้านครหลวง) serves Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan. The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA, การไฟฟ้าส่วนภูมิภาค) serves the rest of the country, including Pattaya, Jomtien, Hua Hin, Phuket and Chiang Mai. Their bills look different, but use the same national household tariff.
The bill, line by line
| Thai | English | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| ใบแจ้งค่าไฟฟ้า | Electricity bill (notice) | A bill, not yet a receipt |
| ชื่อผู้ใช้ไฟฟ้า | Account holder | Often the owner, not the tenant |
| หมายเลขผู้ใช้ไฟฟ้า | Customer or account number | Quote this when paying or calling |
| เลขอ่านครั้งก่อน / ครั้งนี้ | Previous and current meter reading | The difference is your usage |
| จำนวนหน่วย / หน่วยที่ใช้ | Units used (kWh) | Compare with last month |
| ค่าพลังงานไฟฟ้า | Energy charge | Units × the tiered rate |
| ค่าบริการ | Service charge | A small fixed monthly fee |
| ค่า Ft | Fuel adjustment charge (Ft) | Per unit, reset every four months |
| ภาษีมูลค่าเพิ่ม 7% | VAT 7% | Added to the total |
| จำนวนเงินที่ต้องชำระ / รวมเงิน | Amount due / total | What you pay |
| กำหนดชำระ / ชำระภายใน | Due date / pay by | Dates use the Buddhist year: 2569 = 2026 |
| ค้างชำระ | Overdue / arrears | An earlier bill is unpaid, so pay it now |
Current rates (from the September 2026 bills)
For households using more than 150 units a month (rate 1.2), the energy charge is tiered:
| Units in the month | Baht per unit |
|---|---|
| 1–200 | 3.0000 |
| 201–400 | 4.1584 |
| 401 and above | 4.3583 |
Smaller households (rate 1.1, normally using up to 150 units a month) pay 2.3488 for units 1–15 and 2.9882 for units 16–25, then the same rates as above from unit 26. On top of the energy charge come the Ft charge of ฿0.1623 per unit (September to December 2026), the monthly service charge and 7% VAT. The tiers are cumulative: going over 200 units only puts the extra units in the higher band.
A worked example: 326 units
| First 200 units × ฿3.0000 | ฿600.00 |
| Next 126 units × ฿4.1584 | ฿523.96 |
| Ft: 326 units × ฿0.1623 | ฿52.91 |
| Subtotal before service charge and VAT | ฿1,176.87 |
Add the service charge and 7% VAT and you land at around ฿1,285, which is why a 1-bedroom with air-con running most days often sees bills in this range.
How to pay
- 7-Eleven or Counter Service: hand over the bill (they scan the barcode) and keep the receipt.
- Bank apps: scan the QR code or barcode on the bill.
- The official apps: PEA Smart Plus (PEA) or MEA Smart Life (MEA) let you see bills and pay.
If a bill stays unpaid, the authority can disconnect the supply and charge a reconnection fee, so don’t let an ค้างชำระ line sit.
If your landlord bills you instead
Many condos and apartments bill tenants themselves. For landlords renting out five or more units, Thai consumer rules don’t allow charging more than the utility’s rate. See Thai lease red flags before you sign.