How Much Does an Electricity Meter Cost + Steps 2026 (Residential)
Finished building or bought a new house and need an electricity meter? This page covers it all: the inspection fee (MEA 700 THB for a typical home), the good news that new residential applicants pay NO security deposit, plus how to pick the meter size, the documents you need, the steps, and how many days it takes.
Applying for a new home meter, you only pay the “inspection fee” — no security deposit. For MEA (Bangkok metro), a typical 1-phase home (5(15), 15(45), 30(100) amp) pays an inspection fee of 700 THB, and new residential (Type 1) applicants pay no security deposit. For PEA (provincial), the fee varies by size/area — confirm by calling 1129. A typical home usually chooses a 15(45)A single-phase meter. This page covers the normal (permanent) home meter and does NOT cover TOU meter pricing — if you want to save with a TOU meter, see how to apply for a TOU meter.
Pick the Right Meter Size for Your Home
The A(B) format: A = normal rated current, B = maximum current. e.g. 15(45) = 15A normal, up to 45A peak. A typical home picks 15(45)A single-phase:
| Meter size | Phase | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| 5(15) A | 1-phase | Small home / rental room / low load |
| 15(45) A | 1-phase | Typical home (incl. several ACs) — most common |
| 30(100) A | 1-phase | Large home, high load, many appliances |
| 15(45)–50(150) A | 3-phase | Very high load / has 3-phase equipment |
Tip: if unsure, a typical home is well served by 15(45)A single-phase. An over-sized meter just raises the fee and service charge unnecessarily.
Meter Application Fees: MEA vs PEA
MEA (Bangkok / Nonthaburi / Samut Prakan)
The fee to inspect your internal wiring & equipment (official mea.or.th rates):
| Size | Phase | Fee (THB) |
|---|---|---|
| 5(15) | 1 | 700 |
| 15(45) | 1 | 700 |
| 30(100) | 1 | 700 |
| 15(45) | 3 | 700 |
| 30(100) | 3 | 1,500 |
| 50(150) | 3 | 1,500 |
| 200 / 400 | 3 | 2,500 |
PEA (Provincial Electricity Authority)
PEA's fees depend on the meter size and area (in-zone / out-of-zone) and can differ from MEA. For the accurate, latest figure we recommend calling PEA on 1129 or asking your local PEA office before you apply. (We don't print exact PEA numbers here, as the official rates can change by announcement.)
As of June 2026; rates may change by utility announcement. Confirm the latest: MEA 1130 / PEA 1129.
Do You Need to Pay a Security Deposit?
Note: the “old” deposit table (e.g. 300 / 2,000 / 4,000 / 6,000 THB by size) is a historical/non-exempt-case schedule and does NOT apply to new residential homes today. For PEA, it's not confirmed that exemption matches MEA in every case — call 1129 to check.
Documents You Need to Prepare
For an individual applying for a permanent meter, prepare documents by case (sign every copy as “certified true copy”):
National ID card or passport (ThaID can be used instead).
House registration (ทะเบียนบ้าน) of the premises (the address must already have a house number).
If your name is not on the house registration — add proof of ownership/occupancy, e.g. a sale contract, a lease + the owner's title deed, or a letter of consent to use the premises.
If using a proxy — add a power of attorney + ID copies of both the grantor and the proxy.
The Steps and How Many Days It Takes
Apply via several channels — MEA: meaeservice.mea.or.th / queue.mea.or.th / call 1130 · PEA: eservice.pea.co.th / PEA Smart Plus app / a PEA office / call 1129 (office hours Mon–Fri 08:30–16:30). The 3 main steps:
1) Submit the request + book inspection
Documents are checked, the request is accepted, and an internal-wiring inspection is scheduled (about 0.5 working day).
2) Approval + pay the fee
The request is approved and you pay the inspection fee (about 0.5 working day).
3) Inspect + install meter + power on
Your internal installation is inspected, the meter is installed, and power is connected (about 5 working days out of community zones; in-zone is usually faster).
Temporary vs Permanent
About this page
Compiled by the CapSolar team, led by Frank Lee (Founder). Fee and deposit-exemption figures follow MEA's official rates; for PEA we recommend confirming on 1129. All figures are as of June 2026 and may change by utility announcement — please confirm the latest at MEA 1130 / PEA 1129.
FAQ
Meter installed — want to cut the bill long term?
CapSolar doesn't sell meters, but if your home or building uses a lot of daytime power, rooftop solar may genuinely cut the bill. We assess for free whether it pays off.