Electricity meters and 8 things to know: Which type is right for your home?

Electric meters are basic equipment that every home must have. Let’s take a look at 8 interesting things about electric meters, such as how many sizes of electric meters there are and how to choose the correct size of electric meters according to the number of electrical appliances for efficient use and suitable for your home.

Types of electrical meters

There are several types of electric meters as follows:

1. Residential electricity meter
2. Small business electricity meter
3. Medium business electricity meter
4. Large business electricity meter
5. Specific business electricity meter
6. Non-profit organization electricity meter
7. Agricultural water pumping electricity meter
8. Temporary electricity user electricity meter

What sizes are available for residential electricity meters?

Electrical meters come in many sizes. You can see this from the numbers in the box on the meter, for example, 5(15) A means it is a 5-amp meter and can use up to 15 amps of electricity. The sizes of electrical meters are as follows:

Choose the right size of electric meter for your home.

The appropriate size of the electricity meter for general household use must take into account the number of family members and the number of current and future electrical appliances.

You can do a preliminary calculation yourself to find out what size electrical meter is suitable for your home by taking the electrical power of that type of electrical device (watts), which can be found on the label on the electrical appliance, dividing it by the potential difference (volts), and multiplying it by the number of that type of electrical device. Then add all the electrical currents together and multiply by 1.25 (the amount of electrical current that may be used more in the future). For example:

1. Two 75-watt floor fans, calculating the electrical current (75 ÷ 220) x 2 = 0.68 amps
2. Six 36-watt fluorescent bulbs, calculating the electrical current (36 ÷ 220) x 6 = 0.98 amps
3. One 1,000-watt air conditioner, calculating the electrical current 1,000 ÷ 220 = 4.54 amps
4. One 500-watt rice cooker, calculating the electrical current 500 ÷ 220 = 2.27 amps
5. One 430-watt iron, calculating the electrical current 430 ÷ 220 = 1.95 amps
6. One 43-watt television, calculating the electrical current 43 ÷ 220 = 0.2 amps
7. Refrigerator 70 watts, 1 unit, calculated as electric current 70 ÷ 220 = 0.32 amps.

The combined electric current from all electrical appliances will be 10.94 amps. When multiplied by 1.25, the result is approximately 13.68 amps. This means that a 5(15) meter size can still be used because it does not exceed 15 amps and normally we do not use electrical appliances at the same time anyway. However, if in the future you find that the electrical meter may not be of sufficient size, especially if you want to install another air conditioner, you will need to change the meter to a larger size for safety.

Qualifications for those applying for electricity

Those who wish to apply for electricity are as follows:

1. Propietario del terreno o el dueño del lugar que usa electricidad
2. La persona que solicita electricidad tiene su nombre inscrito en el registro de la casa que utiliza electricidad.
3. El arrendatario o arrendatario del lugar que utiliza electricidad
4. Operadores en lugares que utilizan electricidad

Documentos que debe presentar la persona que solicita instalar un medidor eléctrico

Los solicitantes de electricidad utilizan los siguientes documentos: Para ser utilizado para presentar una solicitud de uso de electricidad ante la Autoridad Eléctrica.

Evidence of request for installation of new electricity meter

1. Copy of the house registration for the application for electricity installation and a copy of the current house registration
2. Copy of the national ID card
3. Sales contract (in the case of buying and selling a house), rental contract (in the case of renting a house)
4. Power of attorney with a 10-baht stamp (in the case that the homeowner does not come to do it)
5. Copy of the national ID card and house registration of the attorney
6. Copy of the national ID card and house registration of the lessor
7. Permission to pass through the land or permission in various cases (in the case of passing through someone else’s land), copy of the national ID card, and house registration of the consenting person
8. Electricity bills for the neighboring poles where the meter will be installed (if any)

Electricity application process

1. After receiving the request for electricity and all supporting documents, the electricity officer will inspect the wiring in the building. If the wiring has not been installed, install it properly and notify the officer to inspect.
2. After inspecting the wiring and finding that it is correct, the officer will inform the electricity user to pay the various fees. However, if the wiring is incorrect or unsafe, the officer will inform them to fix it and re-inspect it. The fee will be determined by the electricity authority according to the type and size of the meter requested for installation.
3. The electricity user pays the fee and receives the receipt as proof.

Contact location for requesting electricity

Applicants for electricity can contact and submit applications at any electricity authority office.

Ask the electricity authority

Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Nonthaburi, contact the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) at 1130 or contact the Metropolitan Electricity Authority website.

For other provinces, contact the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) at 1129 or contact the Provincial Electricity Authority website.

Electricity meters come in many sizes, and each home must choose one that is appropriate for the number of family members and the number of electrical appliances, both current and, ideally, for the future, so that electricity can be used safely and efficiently.