Utilities in Phnom Penh: Electricity, Water, Meters and Deposits

Prepared by the NovAsia Editorial Team

Utility costs in Phnom Penh depend on more than how much electricity and water a household uses. The billing chain matters just as much. A tenant may receive a direct bill from a public utility, an invoice from the building management company, or a calculation prepared by the landlord. Two similar apartments with identical consumption can therefore produce different monthly totals.

Before signing a lease, check who issues each bill, which meter belongs to the apartment, the unit rate, whether the rate can change and how the final bill will be reconciled when you move out. These details are more useful than a vague assurance that “utilities are cheap”.

What a lease may include under “utilities”

In Phnom Penh, electricity and water are commonly billed separately from rent. Internet, waste collection, parking, cleaning of common areas and building services may be included in the rent, charged as a fixed monthly amount or listed separately.

Do not confuse apartment utilities with the building’s management fee. A condominium owner may pay for security, lifts, a swimming pool, a gym, common-area electricity, pumps, maintenance and other shared systems. The lease can pass some of those costs to the tenant, but it should say so clearly.

Before viewing a property, ask four practical questions:

1. Is electricity paid directly to the utility, to building management or to the landlord?
2. Does the apartment have separate electricity and water meters?
3. What rate is written into the lease, and can it change?
4. Which monthly charges sit on top of the advertised rent?

“Utilities are paid separately” is not a complete answer. A tenant needs the calculation units: riel per kilowatt-hour, riel or dollars per cubic metre of water, a fixed internet fee and a clear list of what the rent already covers.

This article focuses on costs for tenants and owner-occupiers. An investment owner has a wider cost base that may include management fees, reserve funds, repairs, appliance replacement, taxes and letting expenses.

Who sends the bill

Three billing arrangements are common.

The most transparent arrangement is usually a direct bill from Electricité du Cambodge for electricity or Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority for water. The account may still remain in the owner’s name while the tenant pays it, but the provider’s bill shows the customer number, period, consumption and due date.

In many apartment buildings, the utility supplies the property through one master connection. Building management then allocates consumption to individual units through internal meters. That arrangement is not automatically improper. A building may need to cover internal distribution losses, pumps, backup power or metering administration. The problem is a system in which the calculation is not disclosed, the rate is absent from the lease or the tenant cannot see the meter readings.

A fixed package is common in serviced apartments and short lets. Water or internet may be included while electricity is billed separately. Some leases include an allowance and apply an additional rate once the allowance is exceeded. Ask who takes the readings, what price applies beyond the limit and when the excess bill is issued.

The key point is that “metered electricity” does not necessarily mean the public residential tariff. The meter measures consumption; the lease or provider determines the price per unit.

Electricity tariffs and what they do—and do not—tell a tenant

The Electricity Authority of Cambodia publishes regulated tariffs for eligible customer categories. Its 2026 tariff information includes the following monthly household-consumption bands:

These figures are a useful benchmark, not a promise that every apartment tenant will pay exactly those rates. A condominium may be supplied under a different customer category or may apply a disclosed internal rate through its own metering system.

For a simple illustration, 300 kWh charged at KHR 730 per kWh produces a bill of KHR 219,000. Using KHR 4,000 per US dollar purely as a mental-conversion rate, that is about $54.75. The actual bill should be read in the currency and under the method stated by the provider or lease; the example is not a guaranteed tariff outcome for every unit.

If a building charges an internal rate of $0.25 per kWh, the same 300 kWh costs $75. At 500 kWh, the difference becomes more noticeable. A higher building rate is not proof of misconduct by itself, but the tenant should understand what it covers before committing to the apartment.

Air conditioning drives most household electricity use

Lighting and phone charging contribute little compared with air conditioning. In a hot, humid climate, air conditioners may run for many hours a day, and a poorly shaded or poorly sealed apartment can require almost continuous cooling.

A rough appliance estimate uses:

average power in kW × hours used × days = kWh

If an air conditioner averages 1 kW for eight hours a day:

1 × 8 × 30 = 240 kWh per month

At KHR 730 per kWh, that simplified model produces KHR 175,200, or roughly $43.80 at the illustrative KHR 4,000 exchange rate. Real inverter consumption rises and falls with room temperature, insulation, direct sunlight, filter condition and door-opening habits, so this is a planning estimate rather than a prediction.

Other significant users can include electric water heaters, tumble dryers, ovens, induction hobs and old refrigerators. A west-facing apartment with large glass walls may cost substantially more to cool than a similarly sized shaded unit.

How to verify the electricity meter

Utility disputes are easier to prevent at handover than to resolve after departure. On the day you receive the keys, photograph the meter so that the reading, serial number and—where possible—the apartment identifier appear in the same image. Send the photograph to the landlord or manager in a dated message.

Confirm that the meter actually serves your apartment. In smaller buildings, several meters may sit in one cupboard with handwritten labels. Ask a staff member to identify the correct meter. A practical non-invasive check is to switch a major appliance on and off and observe whether the relevant reading or load indicator changes.

You may also switch off the apartment’s internal breakers, leaving only anything necessary for safety, and ask why a meaningful load remains if the meter continues to register use. Do not open sealed equipment, remove utility seals or touch exposed wiring yourself.

Ask for one or two previous bills for the same unit. Another tenant’s habits will not predict your use, but the documents can reveal:

• the meter number;
• the unit of measurement;
• the rate applied;
• the usual range of bills;
• fixed surcharges;
• the payment deadline and method.

If previous invoices do not show opening and closing readings, ask how consumption is calculated. “The building system calculates it” is not enough if no reading or auditable statement is available.

The lease should also explain how the rate may change. If the building can adjust its internal charge when the supplier changes prices, the tenant should receive written notice and know when the new rate takes effect.

How water is billed

Water is usually much less expensive than electricity, but the billing arrangement still matters. Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority publishes residential consumption bands. The available tariff table includes:

The table comes from the tariff adjustment introduced for PPWSA from 2020. A prospective tenant should still review a recent bill because an apartment may be charged through the building’s master account rather than as an individual household customer.

Condominiums commonly use an internal water meter. Management may charge a fixed amount, a building rate per cubic metre or include water in the rent. A comparison with PPWSA’s lowest published household rate is not meaningful unless the customer category and billing chain are the same.

Ask to see the apartment’s water meter and photograph the opening reading. With all taps and appliances closed, observe whether the meter still moves. Continuous movement may indicate a leaking toilet cistern, tap, heater or concealed pipe.

A slow leak may not create a dramatic water bill, but it can damage furniture, promote mould and cause a dispute over repairs. The lease should state who is responsible for defects that were not caused by the tenant and how quickly the owner must arrange corrective work.

Also test water pressure and ask about tanks and pumps. High-rise water supply may depend on electrically powered pumps. A backup generator can keep the lift and emergency lighting running without necessarily powering every pump or apartment circuit.

Why a bill may be higher than expected

A high bill is not automatically a faulty meter or dishonest calculation. Air-conditioning patterns create large differences between households. Cooling one bedroom at night is not comparable with running several units around the clock.

Five factors commonly change the total.

The rate. An internal building rate may be higher than a direct residential rate.

Appliance condition. Dirty filters, ageing air conditioners, damaged window seals, a failing refrigerator seal or an always-on water heater can raise consumption.

The apartment itself. Top-floor units, western exposure, large unshaded windows and weak insulation require more cooling.

Metering errors. Incorrect opening readings, a mislabeled meter or a shared circuit attached to the wrong meter can produce unexplained consumption.

Additional charges. A management invoice may include generator fuel, a minimum monthly fee, payment handling or currency conversion.

When a bill is unexpectedly high, begin with four numbers:

• previous reading;
• current reading;
• consumption difference;
• contractual unit rate.

For example:

• opening reading: 12,480;
• closing reading: 12,910;
• consumption: 430 kWh;
• lease rate: $0.25 per kWh;
• electricity charge: $107.50.

If the invoice total is $140, management should identify the additional $32.50. Without readings, it is difficult to verify the bill at all.

Paying bills and keeping evidence

A direct utility account normally uses a customer number. EDC and PPWSA provide digital customer services for viewing bills, consumption history and due dates. Cambodian banking apps may also allow payment to the provider using the customer reference.

Before confirming a direct payment, check the account number, property or customer details, billing period and amount.

If the building or landlord sends the invoice, the lease may permit bank transfer, KHQR or payment at the management office. In every case, retain a statement or receipt showing:

• the apartment;
• billing period;
• opening and closing readings;
• units consumed;
• unit rate;
• total due;
• payment date.

A transfer screenshot proves that money was sent, but it may not explain what the payment covered. Keep both the invoice and the payment confirmation, especially during the final month when utility costs may be deducted from the rental deposit.

Treat sudden changes of payment details cautiously. Confirm any new bank account or QR code through a known contact or official building channel before sending money.

Rental deposits and utility deposits are different

A rental security deposit generally protects the landlord against unpaid rent, damage and—if the lease says so—outstanding utilities. Its size and return conditions are contractual.

A provider or building may also require a separate deposit linked to a utility account. That payment secures the account rather than the condition of the apartment. In many ordinary rentals, the provider account remains in the owner’s name, so the tenant does not open a new utility account personally.

The lease should state whether the owner may withhold the final electricity and water bill from the security deposit. If so, it should also state how long the reconciliation may take.

A weak clause says only: “The deposit is returned after inspection and settlement of all bills.” It gives no deadline, documentary requirement or method.

A clearer process includes:

• joint meter readings at checkout;
• an interim calculation using the agreed rate;
• an itemised list of permitted deductions;
• copies of final bills;
• a deadline for returning the balance;
• a method for resolving discrepancies.

Do not accept an unlimited withholding of the entire deposit “until the bills arrive” without a time limit or a cap. Obtain a receipt or bank record for the original deposit as well.

Backup generators, outages and common systems

Even where the public supply is broadly stable, an individual building can lose power because of maintenance, a local fault or an internal electrical problem. EDC may publish outage notices, but a tenant needs to know what happens inside the chosen building.

“Backup generator” does not necessarily mean full apartment power. One property may support lifts, water pumps, corridors and selected sockets. Another may provide emergency lighting only. Air conditioners and water heaters may remain off.

Ask:

1. Which systems receive backup power?
2. Does the generator start automatically?
3. Is fuel billed separately?
4. Do lifts and water pumps continue to operate?
5. How long can the building run on backup?

If generator use creates an additional charge, the lease should explain the calculation. A fixed disclosed fee is easier to understand than “actual building costs” without access to the basis of allocation.

Repeated trips can also originate inside the apartment. An undersized breaker, overloaded circuit or faulty socket may fail when an air conditioner, kettle and water heater operate together. Ask about the permitted load and test the main appliances during the viewing.

Building a realistic monthly budget

There is no reliable universal “average utility bill” for Phnom Penh. A household that cools one room at night and a family using several air conditioners all day have different consumption profiles. A better approach is to model low, moderate and high use.

Using KHR 730 per kWh and the illustrative exchange rate of KHR 4,000 per dollar:

These are arithmetic illustrations, not forecasts. At a building rate of $0.25 per kWh, the same usage would cost $37.50, $75 and $150 respectively.

Water, internet and building charges are added separately. Compare properties using the full monthly model:

rent + electricity + water + internet + parking + building charges

An apartment that is $30 cheaper may cost more overall if it has a higher electricity rate, inefficient air conditioners and a separate generator charge.

During the first week after moving in, photograph the electricity meter at roughly the same time each day. Seven days give an early indication of consumption. If the unit uses 70 kWh in a week, a simple 30-day projection is around 300 kWh. You can then adjust air-conditioning habits and observe the effect on the actual meter.

What the lease should say

The utilities clause should allow a tenant to reproduce the invoice independently. If an oral explanation is still required each month, the drafting is not sufficiently clear.

Before signing, confirm:

1. Who receives each payment.
2. Whether electricity and water have separate meters.
3. Meter numbers and opening readings.
4. The rate per kWh and cubic metre.
5. Billing currency and exchange-rate method.
6. Fixed monthly charges.
7. How and when rates may change.
8. Who pays for generator use and shared systems.
9. Payment deadlines and late-payment consequences.
10. The final-bill process at move-out.
11. Whether utility debt may be deducted from the deposit.
12. The deadline for returning the remaining deposit.

Include meter photographs in the handover report. They protect both parties by documenting the opening position and preventing the tenant from being charged for the previous occupant’s use.

If the lease is bilingual, check which language prevails if the texts differ. Electricity charge, management fee and generator fee describe different costs and should not be collapsed into one undefined item.

When to walk away from a property

A high rate is not the only reason to reject an apartment. An unverifiable system can be a greater risk.

Be cautious where the landlord or agent:

• will not disclose the rate before taking a deposit;
• refuses meter photographs;
• cannot identify the apartment’s meter;
• will not provide an itemised monthly calculation;
• claims an unlimited right to change the rate;
• demands utility payments without receipts;
• sets no deadline for returning the deposit;
• cannot explain a substantial gap between consumption and the invoice.

A disclosed higher internal rate may still be commercially acceptable if the overall property and terms suit the tenant. A low advertised rate is not an advantage if consumption is allocated through an opaque master-meter system.

The best arrangement is not necessarily the apartment with the lowest price per kilowatt-hour. It is the one where the metering, rate, extra charges and move-out reconciliation are known before the tenant commits.

Final takeaway

Before renting in Phnom Penh, establish three facts: who issues the bill, which meter records the apartment and which unit rate is written into the lease. Public utility tariffs are a useful comparison point, but they may not apply directly to a condominium with internal billing.

Record the opening readings, ask for a previous bill, confirm every rate and retain evidence of payment. The lease should also explain how the final utility balance affects the return of the deposit. These checks take little time and prevent many of the disputes that otherwise appear at move-out.

Sources

1. Electricity Authority of Cambodia — *Salient Features of Power Development in the Kingdom of Cambodia until December 2025*. Tariff plan for 2026. Reviewed 25 June 2026.
2. Electricity Authority of Cambodia — *Report on Power Sector of the Kingdom of Cambodia for Year 2024*. Published in 2025.
3. Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority — Decision No. 169 on the adjustment of drinking-water prices supplied by PPWSA for 2020, dated 16 August 2019.
4. Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority — billing-system and customer-payment information.
5. Electricité du Cambodge — EDC customer-app information, including bills, consumption history and service requests.
6. Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority — PPWSA app information for bills, due dates and connection requests; version reviewed in March–June 2026.

Frequently asked

Does payment by meter mean the official utility tariff is being used?

No. A meter records consumption, but the unit price may be set by the public supplier, the building management company or the tenancy agreement.

How can a tenant check that an electricity meter belongs to the apartment?

Record its serial number and reading, ask building staff to confirm the allocation and, without touching wiring or seals, observe whether the meter responds when a known load is switched on and off.

Can the final utility bill be retained from the tenancy deposit?

That depends on the lease. Any retention should be limited to a documented amount and period, with final readings, the calculation and the remaining deposit provided to the tenant.