Few buy new electricity meters

Few buy new electricity meters

Since the official announcement was made in Tachilek on 1 April to replace the meter boxes from Thailand with those from the company that had been contracted to supply electricity to the city opposite Thailand's Maesai, not more than 30 had been purchased by the townspeople, according to several local sources. 

The township council had informed that U Tha Way, an ethnic Chinese and partner of the Wa's Hongpang Co., had been engaged to serve electricity to the city and, accordingly, he had brought 3,000 meter-boxes. Each 20 ampere meter would cost B. 35,000. U Tha Way would be using 3-diesel run generators for the day time and another 3 for the night time. The service would be 8 baht per unit. 

Sources say there are four reasons why most residents are reluctant to procure the new electricity service: 

• One, many of them had bought small generators for their own use since the officials cut the line coming from Thailand last year, following the border confrontations; 

• Two, there is no assurance that the service will be 24-hours; 

• Three, the service charge is higher even than Thailand's that was 5 baht per unit; 

• Four, the new meter boxes have only a capacity for two years, after which the residents would be required to buy replacements. 

"There is cheaper and more efficient services we can get from our neighbors," said a businessman in Tachilek. "But because of their misplaced pride, they are demanding that we make our life harder." 

U Tha Way, he said, had already begun serving his customers since Monday (28 April). "As for myself, I'll wait and see how things are turning out," he concluded.