Utilities Accounts

Hello Everyone,
I'm a Canadian expat living in Singapore, preparing for a 6 month sabbatical in Thailand. I'm planning on using a multi entry tourist visa and in order to save costs have been looking at renting a furnished apartment as opposed to renting via Airbnb, however I'm considering there might be a wrinkle in this plan.

I know that I can open a bank account with just a tourist visa, but what are the requirements for opening electricity, water and internet accounts? Is this even feasible?

Thanks in advance!
-@Asyrol

You can't "officially" open a savings account while on a tourist visa at any Thai bank. When renting a condo you pay electricity and water monthly at the reception/office. Stay away from Airbnb. Most condominium buildings have Wi-Fi and you pay for it monthly. If your phone supports dual sim-cards,just buy a sim-card at for example 7/Eleven and use mobile data.You can also visit any phone operators store,for example dtac. Go for a subscription that suits you. Just bring your passport. If there's cable-TV, you pay monthly unless it's included in the rent.

Thanks for the quick reply! So water, electricity and internet is handled directly through the condo office - I don't have to open up accounts directly with MEA or an internet provider? That's really convenient!

Hello Mr Asyrol

You can't "officially" open a savings account with a tourist visa in any Thai Banks, ***

Waiting for your response,

Thanks

Thanks for the quick reply! So water, electricity and internet is handled directly through the condo office - I don't have to open up accounts directly with MEA or an internet provider? That's really convenient!
-@Asyrol

If you want to pay for wi-fi is up to you. Using mobile data is sometimes cheaper and even more reliable. I have a dtac sim-card with a 1 year mobile data subscription which cost me ฿1070/year.You pay for utilities through the condo office.

If you want to pay for wi-fi is up to you. Using mobile data is sometimes cheaper and even more reliable. I have a dtac sim-card with a 1 year mobile data subscription which cost me ฿1070/year.You pay for utilities through the condo office.
-@Leeds forever!

Seriously, you only pay 1070 Baht per year for your phone? Does it have limits on data downloads etc.

If you want to pay for wi-fi is up to you. Using mobile data is sometimes cheaper and even more reliable. I have a dtac sim-card with a 1 year mobile data subscription which cost me ฿1070/year.You pay for utilities through the condo office.
-@Leeds forever!
Seriously, you only pay 1070 Baht per year for your phone? Does it have limits on data downloads etc.
-@scbrock

Yes, but I pay only for stable 15Mbps. It works perfect even when watching streaming HD movies/TV shows. Unlimited data and it also works as a hotspot if needed. I bought the sim-card from a store at Lazada.It also includes 60 min free calls/month to every network. You can buy a sim-card with 60-70GB data/month for about ฿1020 for 1 year. But if you watch movies or YouTube, 1 hour is about 1GB data. That's why I prefer 15Mbps with unlimited data. This sim-card is perfect in a sim-card router.

I know that I can open a bank account with just a tourist visa, but what are the requirements for opening electricity, water and internet accounts? Is this even feasible?

I'm on a vanilla 30-day visitor's stamp -- all I had to do to open the electricity payment account:

• Install the PEA app in my iPhone
• Create an account
• Update a profile with my name, address, etc. in the app
• Add a payment account based on the receipt information; the app asks for: CA/Ref number and PEA account. These infos come from the utility bill

Wait 24 hours, then open the app again; the home screen will show a big rectangle with your account linked; tap on it to view the bill, tap on the "payments" button, pay with Visa or MC, easy.

If you hire/upgrade your Internet service, just add yourself and any infos that the installer left behind to link the account. Install the app for the ISP (mine's with 3BB). The app will show how much you owe, click on it, pay, done.

Not sure about water and rubbish -- I think those are bundled in my condo maintenance.

Screen caps from PEA and 3BB:

Cheers!

@pr3d4t0r this is so helpful, thank you!

I know that I can open a bank account with just a tourist visa, but what are the requirements for opening electricity, water and internet accounts? Is this even feasible?

I'm on a vanilla 30-day visitor's stamp -- all I had to do to open the electricity payment account:
Install the PEA app in my iPhone
Create an account
Update a profile with my name, address, etc. in the app
Add a payment account based on the receipt information; the app asks for: CA/Ref number and PEA account. These infos come from the utility bill
Wait 24 hours, then open the app again; the home screen will show a big rectangle with your account linked; tap on it to view the bill, tap on the "payments" button, pay with Visa or MC, easy.

If you hire/upgrade your Internet service, just add yourself and any infos that the installer left behind to link the account. Install the app for the ISP (mine's with 3BB). The app will show how much you owe, click on it, pay, done.

Not sure about water and rubbish -- I think those are bundled in my condo maintenance.

Screen caps from PEA and 3BB:




Cheers!
-@pr3d4t0r

When renting a condo short term like this guy will do, there's no need for PEA or MEA apps or any accounts what so ever. You can pay for electricity and water with cash in every condo office. I'm paying my PEA bill through Kasikorn Bank. K-Bank pays my bill (as billed) automatically every month the 25th. The app doesn't make it easier than that. 

If you want to pay for wi-fi is up to you. Using mobile data is sometimes cheaper and even more reliable. I have a dtac sim-card with a 1 year mobile data subscription which cost me ฿1070/year.You pay for utilities through the condo office.
-@Leeds forever!
Seriously, you only pay 1070 Baht per year for your phone? Does it have limits on data downloads etc.
-@scbrock
Yes, but I pay only for stable 15Mbps. It works perfect even when watching streaming HD movies/TV shows. Unlimited data and it also works as a hotspot if needed. I bought the sim-card from a store at Lazada.It also includes 60 min free calls/month to every network. You can buy a sim-card with 60-70GB data/month for about ฿1020 for 1 year. But if you watch movies or YouTube, 1 hour is about 1GB data. That's why I prefer 15Mbps with unlimited data. This sim-card is perfect in a sim-card router.
-@Leeds forever!

Is the sim-card router one that you purchased and is independent of

any service your condo provides? Not sure what you mean by stable

15Mbps ...

If you want to pay for wi-fi is up to you. Using mobile data is sometimes cheaper and even more reliable. I have a dtac sim-card with a 1 year mobile data subscription which cost me ฿1070/year.You pay for utilities through the condo office.
-@Leeds forever!
Seriously, you only pay 1070 Baht per year for your phone? Does it have limits on data downloads etc.
-@scbrock
Yes, but I pay only for stable 15Mbps. It works perfect even when watching streaming HD movies/TV shows. Unlimited data and it also works as a hotspot if needed. I bought the sim-card from a store at Lazada.It also includes 60 min free calls/month to every network. You can buy a sim-card with 60-70GB data/month for about ฿1020 for 1 year. But if you watch movies or YouTube, 1 hour is about 1GB data. That's why I prefer 15Mbps with unlimited data. This sim-card is perfect in a sim-card router.
-@Leeds forever!
Is the sim-card router one that you purchased and is independent of
any service your condo provides? Not sure what you mean by stable
15Mbps ...
-@scbrock

Yes,it's a D-Link router with a sim-card slot from Lazada. It's just pure luck if there's a wi-fi router with ok speed and good signal strength next to your condo. Stable 15Mbps means that you have 15Mbps and not 11 or 13 and then down to 9 all of a sudden and then maybe 16Mbps. The problem with wi-fi in condominium buildings and hotels is that the speed and signal strength varies because of bad positioning or low quality routers/equipment.

Is the sim-card router one that you purchased and is independent of
any service your condo provides? Not sure what you mean by stable
15Mbps ...
-@scbrock
Yes,it's a D-Link router with a sim-card slot from Lazada. It's just pure luck if there's a wi-fi router with ok speed and good signal strength next to your condo. Stable 15Mbps means that you have 15Mbps and not 11 or 13 and then down to 9 all of a sudden and then maybe 16Mbps. The problem with wi-fi in condominium buildings and hotels is that the speed and signal strength varies because of bad positioning or low quality routers/equipment.
-@Leeds forever!

This may be a good way to save quite a bit. I think I was paying 600B a month with DTAC

Thanks! Good to know

@Asyrol  That's correct,  you pay utilities to either the management office (called Juristic Office in Thailand) or to the landlord.

Always ask what they charge per unit of electricity and water. Some condos have large markups on the government rates. I've seen some charging nearly double. Typical rates are 4.72B per kW/h of electricity, and ~25B per cubic meter of water. Make sure that the price per unit of electricity and water is clearly stated in your rental contract.

Beware of Airbnb, many also charge for electricity if you read the fine print, most with at least 50% markups on electricity.

Either Condo or Airbnb: always ask to see the meter reading by yourself at the onset of the contract and when you move out and settle your final utility bill.   

@poboxearth This is a good call out, thank you, I definitely wouldn't have thought to do this!

@Asyrol That's correct, you pay utilities to either the management office (called Juristic Office in Thailand) or to the landlord.
Always ask what they charge per unit of electricity and water. Some condos have large markups on the government rates. I've seen some charging nearly double. Typical rates are 4.72B per kW/h of electricity, and ~25B per cubic meter of water. Make sure that the price per unit of electricity and water is clearly stated in your rental contract.
Beware of Airbnb, many also charge for electricity if you read the fine print, most with at least 50% markups on electricity.

Either Condo or Airbnb: always ask to see the meter reading by yourself at the onset of the contract and when you move out and settle your final utility bill. 
-@poboxearth

You're right. Always check the price/kwh = unit. The government price now before tax + fuel tariff is ฿4.7. I know of places where they charge 100% more per unit.

Is the sim-card router one that you purchased and is independent of
any service your condo provides? Not sure what you mean by stable
15Mbps ...
-@scbrock
Yes,it's a D-Link router with a sim-card slot from Lazada. It's just pure luck if there's a wi-fi router with ok speed and good signal strength next to your condo. Stable 15Mbps means that you have 15Mbps and not 11 or 13 and then down to 9 all of a sudden and then maybe 16Mbps. The problem with wi-fi in condominium buildings and hotels is that the speed and signal strength varies because of bad positioning or low quality routers/equipment.
-@Leeds forever!
This may be a good way to save quite a bit. I think I was paying 600B a month with DTAC
Thanks! Good to know
-@scbrock

Check out sim-cards at Lazada. I think prices have gone up a bit the last few months,but it's still very cheap. I prefer dtac and their app is the best among phone operators. If you buy a dtac sim-card,you can register yourself using the app. AIS and True is a bit more expensive.