Customers can buy a prepaid card and insert it in the meter - what the PEA calls a "prepayment meter" - to pay for electricity. The prepaid meter, which costs about Bt3,700, comes in two types: one for a contact smart card and the other for a contactless smart card.

The PEA yesterday signed a contract worth Bt18.5 million to procure 3,000 of the meters from Samart Telcoms.

The PEA's deputy administration division for construction and maintenance, Pongchai Ruangchai, said the prepaid meter was a bill-payment alternative for those owning resort homes or condominium rooms in the provinces and have no time to pay the bills at PEA branches.

He said the service would be piloted in four provinces - Rayong, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi and Nakhon Ratchasima. The prepaid cards, with a value depending on the buyers' request, will be available at venues such as 7-Eleven stores or other convenient places located near condominiums.

When the consumption of electricity is close to the credit limit on the cards, the meter will buzz to warn users, he added.

The PEA has also conducted a trial of the meter equipped with General Packet Radio Service high-speed cellular technology, for manufacturing businesses.

The meter will send information about electricity consumption wirelessly to the state agency's central homepage every 15 minutes, so companies can log in to the homepage to see details of their electricity utilisation from any location.

Sirivish Toomgum

The Nation