Electricity, Water and Mould in a Phuket Home (2026)

How electricity is billed

Electricity in Phuket is supplied by the Provincial Electricity Authority, known as the PEA. The residential tariff is progressive, so the price per unit rises as you use more. Sources quote a rate from about 3 baht per unit for the first 150 units a month, rising to roughly 4 to 5 baht above 400 units, plus VAT and a small service fee. Rates are reviewed from time to time, so check your latest bill.

Air conditioning is the biggest cost. A single bedroom unit used at night can cost roughly 800 to 2,000 baht a month at official rates, and a house with several units running much of the day can cost several thousand more, especially in the hot months from March to May.

The landlord mark-up trap

Many rentals do not have a meter in the tenant's name. The landlord holds the account and resells power to the tenant, often at 6 to 10 baht per unit against an official rate of roughly 3 to 5 baht. This is legal if the contract says so, but it can double your electricity cost, and on a 300-unit month it adds about 1,000 baht or more. Landlords sometimes call it a service charge.

• Ask for the price per unit before you sign, and get it written into the contract.
• Ask whether there is a direct PEA meter in your name, which is common in newer condos.
• Ask to see the meter and a recent bill.
• If the rate is much higher than the official one, negotiate the rent down or walk away.
• If you dispute a bill, you can ask the local PEA office to check the meter.

Water

Mains water is supplied by the Provincial Waterworks Authority in most areas, and it is cheap. Sources quote about 8 to 20 baht per cubic metre, so a typical household pays a few hundred baht a month. Many houses have a roof or ground tank and a pump, and a villa with a garden and pool uses more. Drinking water is usually bought separately as bottles or from refill machines, because many people prefer filtered or bottled water to the tap. Bills are often issued monthly or every two months.

Setting up an account

In your own condo or house, you register the account at the local office of the electricity or water authority, normally with your passport, the lease or title, and the meter number. In a rental, ask the landlord whether the accounts are in their name. Keep the meter readings and photograph them when you move in and out. The cost of living guide has sample monthly budgets.

Power cuts and surges

Outages are less common than they were, but storms in the rainy season can cause cuts, particularly in remote areas. Use a surge protector for computers, and consider a small battery backup for your router. After a cut, switch off sensitive equipment until the supply is stable.

Keeping mould away

Heat and humidity make mould common in Phuket, especially in homes left empty or closed. It grows on walls, wardrobes, leather, shoes, books and inside air conditioners.

• Ventilate: open windows when it is dry, and run the air conditioner or its dry mode for a while each day if you are home.
• Use a dehumidifier in closed rooms and bedrooms, and empty it regularly.
• Keep wardrobes slightly open, and use moisture absorbers. Avoid storing damp laundry or shoes in closed cupboards.
• Wipe visible mould early with a mould cleaner or diluted bleach, and keep the room dry afterwards.
• Have air conditioners serviced regularly, often every 6 to 12 months at a few hundred baht per unit, because dirty coils spread spores and waste power.
• Fix leaks quickly, and tell your landlord if mould appears through walls, because it may be a damp problem in the building.
• If you leave for a trip, leave the air conditioner on a low or dry setting, as the leaving checklist explains.

Cutting the bill

Set the air conditioner at a moderate temperature, close doors and curtains in the sun, clean the filters, use fans, and turn off the water heater and the pool pump when you do not need them. For a house with a lot of daytime use, ask about solar panels, which work well in Phuket's sunshine, but get several quotes.