What do you pay for electricity per kwh in Taipei if renting an apartment?
Seems like most landlords charge hugely more than the actual official 1.63 TWD / kwh price for the first 120 kwh and 2.38 TWD / kwh for the next 210 kwh which will more than cover my consumption (https://www.taipower.com.tw/en/page.aspx?mid=317; https://www.taipower.com.tw/upload/317/2017120900461354896.pdf).
And how do you get the official price without huge surcharges when renting, please?
You’re reading that chart wrong. Taipower lists all those weird cases but the cost per kwh starts at around 2.5 and goes up as the usage increases. Max rate for summer is 6.4 and that’s the most landlords are allowed to charge. Also it may include things like water, internet, cable TV, etc.
Yes, on the rate table there is a price of over 6 as you say, but only if you use over 1000 kwh per month which most people should be very far away from. Otherwise the rate is 1.63 for the first 120 kwh per month, then 2.38 for the next 200 kwh per month and so on. I do not use more than this and probably most people will not.
And it makes a huge difference with the hot season now approaching with huge air conditioning use
It’s not that cheap.
Also that’s per account. But taipower doesn’t count single room flats for that, in fact they have weird rules about that. So if you are renting a room even with an independent meter taipower does not read those but you’re sharing it with 4 other rooms that have their own AC and all that. So you’re always paying close to max rate.
New law bans Taiwan landlords from electric bill overcharging
To prevent landlords from overcharging electricity fees, the Ministry of the Interior said Wednesday (April 24) it would amend rental contract regulations, with implementation scheduled for May.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5672475
Not sure if that will really change anything in practice or not.
However, I am gladly paying a bit more in rent for a place with its own meter rather than “saving” some money by staying in a subdivided apartment. In the end, the savings might be more than offset by the higher electricity rate (unless things really change with the new law now)…
So why doesn’t taipower just let individual tenants to get his own utility connected? As long as the meter exists taipower can just charge from that. Why make poor tenants living in bedrooms pay extra high rates?
Or perhaps an average?
I take a pic of the meter when I first move in, and pay accordingly. Settle up when moving out.
Or they should just have a night rate. Most people living in single bedrooms only use ac at night anyways. But taipower is so antiquated they still must pay someone to read the meter, even if they’re digital.
It’s east to put meters in every room. Obviously landlords can be shady. But I would suggest it’s cheaper to pay 1 or 2k more per month rent in order to have a stable situation based on personal usage.
