Rental Room, Dorm & Condo Electricity Cost 2026 + Your Tenant Rights
Many tenants get charged 7–10 THB/unit even though the law forbids charging above the utility rate. This page gives the rate you should actually pay, your legal rights (the กกร. notification), how to check if you're overcharged, and what to do about it.
Under Thai law a landlord of a rental room/dormitory may charge a tenant for electricity at NO MORE THAN the utility rate (about 4.18 THB/unit, Ft included) — they may not profit on the power. This is because "leasing buildings for residence" is a price-controlled service under the Central Committee on Prices of Goods and Services (กกร.) notification. If you're billed 7, 8 or 10 THB/unit, the landlord is profiting on electricity, which is not allowed; you can complain to the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (สคบ./OCPB). See the correct rate at how many baht per unit 2026 and the big picture in the Thailand electricity guide.
What a Tenant SHOULD Actually Pay Per Unit
What a landlord charges a tenant should follow the utility rate (MEA for Bangkok–Nonthaburi–Samut Prakan / PEA for other provinces). The table below contrasts the correct rate with the inflated rates tenants are often charged:
| Case | Rate (THB/unit) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Direct utility meter (in tenant's name) | ~3.95 (home avg) | Cheapest — paid straight to the utility |
| Sub-meter read by landlord (legal cap) | ≤ 4.18 (cap) | May not exceed the utility rate + actual service cost |
| Over-charged (profiteering) | 7–10 (unlawful) | The excess is the landlord's profit — you can complain |
* The ~4.18 THB/unit ceiling follows the utility rate (incl. Ft 0.1623, before VAT) that the กกร. notification sets as the maximum a landlord may bill a tenant, plus actual service cost only. See the full all-type rate table at how many baht per unit.
The Law That Protects Tenants on Electricity (the กกร. Notification)
Each year the Central Committee on Prices of Goods and Services (กกร.), under the Department of Internal Trade, issues a notification designating "the service of leasing buildings for residence" as a controlled service. Its core rule: a landlord/dorm operator who installs a sub-meter and bills tenants for the units read must charge at a rate not exceeding the utility's (MEA/PEA) rate — in plain terms, "no profiting on electricity." They may collect only what the utility actually charges, plus genuine actual service costs. Billing 7–10 THB/unit to make a margin therefore breaches this notification.
Important: this rule applies to the "electricity charge" tied to actual metered usage. A clearly-stated "common-area fee" or "service fee" is a separate matter, but the landlord must itemise it transparently — not hide it inside an inflated per-unit electricity rate.
How to Check If You're Being Overcharged
Do these 3 simple steps to find out whether your rental electricity is fair:
1. Find the per-unit rate on your bill/receipt — divide the electricity charge ÷ the units used. If it's above ~4.18 THB/unit, that's a red flag for profiteering.
2. Compare with the real utility rate — the 2026 residential average is about 3.95 THB/unit (incl. Ft). See the full tiered rates at how many baht per unit. If yours is much higher, ask the landlord how it's calculated.
3. Ask to see the building's actual utility bill — a tenant may request the MEA/PEA invoice to verify the real rate. If the landlord refuses and charges 8–10 THB/unit, that's a clear sign you're being taken advantage of.
Worked Example: A Rental Room Using 200 Units/Month
Suppose a rental room uses 200 units/month. At the correct rate (the utility ~4.18 THB/unit, Ft included) = 200 × 4.18 = about 836 THB/month. But if the landlord charges 8 THB/unit = 200 × 8 = 1,600 THB/month. The 764 THB/month gap (about 9,168 THB/year) is the "electricity profit" the landlord over-collects from you, which the law forbids — which is exactly why checking your per-unit rate is so worthwhile.
Tip: keep every monthly electricity receipt/slip, photograph the meter at move-in and move-out, and note the meter reading at each month-end. This evidence proves your actual usage and helps a lot if you need to file a complaint.
What to Do If You're Overcharged
If you've confirmed you're charged above the utility rate, follow these steps:
Talk to the landlord first — point out that under the กกร. notification they can't charge above the utility rate, and ask them to bill at the actual rate. Many cases resolve through a conversation.
Complain to the OCPB (hotline 1166) — the Office of the Consumer Protection Board handles unfair rental-electricity charges. Bring your bills, lease and meter photos.
Notify the Department of Internal Trade (hotline 1569) — for controlled goods/services, including rental electricity above the cap, you can complain to the Department of Internal Trade directly.
Keep complete evidence — past bills, the lease, your messages with the landlord, and meter photos. The clearer the evidence, the faster your case moves.
About this page
Compiled by the CapSolar team, led by Frank Lee (Founder). The tenant-rights content references the Central Committee on Prices of Goods and Services (กกร.) notification and OCPB guidance; rates are checked against MEA/PEA and kept current to the latest Ft period. This page is general information, not personal legal advice — confirm the latest notification and consult the relevant authority before acting.
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