Apartment in Bangkok wants to charge me more than government rate on electricity. They say 7 baht/kwh when government rate is 5ish. Is this still legal?

yeah it's basically standard for condos and apartments here. the 7 baht is what they call the "service rate" and it's not really regulated the same way as the MEA rate for direct residential. most buildings just pass on the extra to cover transformer loss and maintenance. you can try negotiating if you're signing a long lease but honestly 7 is on the lower end for a Bangkok condo, some places go up to 8 or 9. if you want the real government rate you'd need a direct meter from the MEA which almost no rental units have

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honestly 7 baht is pretty standard for most condos in Bangkok, i've seen places charge 8 or even 9 in some newer buildings near Thong Lo. the thing is the government rate is for residential direct meters, but most apartments have a bulk meter from the MEA and then sub-meter each unit, so they add a surcharge for the transformer loss and common area usage. if you're really bothered, check your lease for the wording - if it says "service charge" or "management fee" for electricity you're prob stuck, but if it says "as per MEA" you could push back. also worth noting that some buildings include water in the electricity bill at a flat rate too, so ask about that before signing

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unfortunately it's totally legal. most leases have a clause saying you pay the "building rate" which is whatever they decide, usually 7-8 baht. some places even go up to 10 if they're feeling greedy. your only leverage is before signing the contract, once you're in it's hard to fight. if you really want the government rate you'd need a condo with a direct MEA meter, which is rare but some older buildings or high-end ones have it. check your lease for the exact wording, if it says "at cost" or "as per MEA" you might have a case, but if it just says "7 baht/unit" you're stuck

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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