Utility Bills In Thailand: What You Need To Know As A Foreigner 

Thailand is rapidly becoming one of the best locations for living in the world, with an increasing number of people moving to this Southeast Asian country. If you are living in Thailand as a foreigner, understanding the utility bills is vital and hence, it is essential to be aware on how to handle them the right way. Most apartments for rent include a contract that covers the main utility services in Thailand though every property development charges differently. Just like any other country, utilities are in terms of units use and then added to the rent.

Water

Though the Bangkok Metropolitan Waterworks Authority has confirmed that the tap water is safe for drinking as confirmed by WHO, the water may be highly polluted from the old pipes used for its transportation or at the source. This is the reason why the water is not recommended for expats. However, many companies sell the residents as well as the foreigners with safe to drink bottled water, which you can acquire for an affordable price. Most of the homes in Bangkok nonetheless have water tanks that they use for domestic purposes.

Electricity

Thailand is privileged to have a large network in handling electricity. It is in fact one of the biggest in the Southeast Asia and hence it's the reason almost all its residents have access to constant electricity. However, some of the old buildings in the area do not have ground lines. This means no earth connection is present and thus can lead to electric shocks. You may also want to get an alternative in some of the cities, since power cuts can be common in some areas.

Gas in Thailand

In Thailand, most of the population does not use gas as a source of fuel since there are no main lines in the area. However, most of the homesteads use LPG or Propane, when it comes to cooking. The gas is available in cylinders of different sizes and accessible from storefronts. The price of the gas may also vary with the size of the cylinders. To acquire this gas,you will only need to look for shops that have gas cylinders staked on the outside. ​Nonetheless, you may have to leave a deposit on the first purchase. When you run out of gas, you will need to replace the empty cylinder with a newly filled cylinder for a fee.

Paying your utility bills

Just like many other countries, utility bills such as electricity, water and gas are sub charges and are not inclusive in the rent. If you stay in a condo rental, the administrator of the condo will send you a payment slip indicating how much you need to pay for your utilities. For those staying in a house, you will get payment slips from the various government authorities that inform you how much you have to pay for the monthly utility bills.