Some condo residents are reportedly being charged 2,400 kyats (almost $1) per unit of electricity as some condos charge exorbitant fees for the use of generators.
Insufficient power generation has forced Myanmar to ration electricity in different parts of the country, including Yangon.
Taking advantage of this, a condominium is reportedly charging approximately 2,400 kyats per unit of electricity for the usage of generators, which is an unfairly exorbitant cost, according to the investigation.
The dollar exchange rate set by the Central Bank is just Ks2,100 per dollar while the rate in black market is around Ks2,900. Therefore, Ks2,400 of such a unit cost of electricity is equivalent to nearly US$1.
In its power distribution system, the State charges Ks35 to 125 per unit for households and Ks125 to 180 per unit for businesses.
However, scarcity of power supply has forced the businesses to run with generators and some houses have been forced to install solar systems. In the condominiums of Yangon, private generators are used. As such, most condos are charging Ks1,000 to 1,600 per unit, whereas some collect Ks700 to 800 depending on different usages.
Meanwhile, news spread on online social media that some other condos are charging exorbitant fees for the use of generators taking advantage of insufficient power supply.
Hnin Lei Aung’s Facebook account says in a recent post that Diamond Inya Palace Condo that uses a private generator meter is collecting Ks2,400 per unit.
“Please share this post. I want you to know that this condo is charging unfairly. One unit usage of its generator meter is worth Ks2,400. So you can consider living in this condo if you are indifferent to how much it charges. In addition, the cost per unit increases by Ks200 every month. In next three months, the amount will reach Ks3,000, the post says.
A resident from that condo told The Daily Eleven that there was only Ks1,600 per unit when she started living there.
“When I purchased this apartment, I was charged Ks1,600 per unit. That was at the time of soaring fuel prices. Now, fuel prices have decreased to less than Ks2,000 per liter. After checks, I have learnt that there are some condos that charge Ks1,000, 1,200 or even 750 per unit. Ks1,500 is on average fee per unit. Here, the charge has monthly increased from Ks1,600 to 1,700, 1,900, 2,000 and then 2,400. They are taking advantage of power cuts. I feel that we are being exploited,” she commented.
Despite having different generator meter usages, each dweller of that condo has to spend around Ks1 million monthly for their electricity bills.
“If a government electricity bill is Ks300,000, the condo charges us around Ks800,000. Actually, we are saving our power consumption. Normally, an apartment has to pay Ks1 million. Those saving power consumption have to pay Ks400,000 to 500,000. I normally have to pay Ks1 million monthly. This month, my bill costs Ks1.1 million, a dweller said.
In Singapore, the country with the highest living standard in Southeast Asian countries, per capita income is US$91,100. But its cost of per unit of electric power is US$0.237 per kWh for households and US$0.267 per kWh for businesses. In Myanmar whose per capita income is just US$1,180, charging Ks2,400 per unit is an unreasonable charge. It is inappropriate for electricity bills to be around five times higher than those of Singapore. Moreover, the amount is around 13 times that of a bill collected by the government.
Looking at Myanmar’s neighboring Thailand where many Myanmar nationals own condos, its per capita income is US$8,181 while the average electricity bill is US$0.121 per kWh.
The amount of Ks2,400 is also two times that a tender winner company is collecting in Myeik of Taninthayi Region.
Petro & Trans Company that won a government tender in Myeik started selling electricity for Ks380 per unit in 2020. With high diesel prices, the amount is now around Ks1,200.
Most of the condominiums in Yangon city including famous Central, Star City and Golden City condos are collecting Ks1,500 or 1,600 per unit for providing electricity with the use of generators, sources available say.
An official from Shwe Moegaung Condo in Yankin Township said: “We first collected Ks1,200 per unit. It is now about three months since we collected Ks1,550 per unit due to high fuel prices. In May, there were 230 hours of power cuts. Electricity bills in this condo are different depending on different usages. Some apartments have to pay Ks50,000 and some about Ks300,000 or 400,000.”
A resident from Diamond Inya Palace Condo said: “Even the most expensive Central Condo charges Ks1,680 per unit. I have checked that Ks1,500 is the average cost per unit. Most condos in Yangon city collecting around Ks1,500 per unit have over 350 apartments. The developer of Diamond Inya Palace Condo with over 100 apartments is said to be MGW Co Ltd. Given the collection of Ks2,400 per unit for the use of a generator meter, its residents say they have not been asked for their opinions to pay such an amount
There has been no detail or discussion about the increased charge of electricity bill, they point out.No housing committee is formed, but the developer is providing services through its property department.
Another dweller said without a certain committee, problems and complaints had emerged in condo management affairs.
“We want relevant community or township officials to know about this. There should be control. Not ours alone, but all the condos should set a same rate. That will be alright. If we do not pay the bills, water and power supplies will be cut off. If the situation goes on like this, we will have to pay Ks2,600 per unit in next months. It seems that we have to be submissive even if they collect Ks3,000 per unit,” said one of the condo residents.
Some dwellers are reportedly willing to have governmental intervention with the issue in order to set a certain fair rate to collect electricity bills in the Yangon condominiums.
