We've posted this photo before but wanted to do so again as a prelude to the following: One of the many unique things about life in Phnom Penh is how they handle electricity and associated billing. To begin with, multi-story homes (owned by people of means) generally have a 20-amp service because they aren't really designed for air conditioners and hot water heaters. This is problematic for homes we rent for one or two pairs of single missionaries in that we make sure they have A/C in their bedrooms and a 5-gallon hot water heater for their showers. So we ask landlords to obtain a 30-amp service which means they have to pay extra money to the electric company to make the change. Of course, if they want it done without the customary delays, they have to pay extra--$300+.
The next challenge is paying the monthly bills on time. This is critical because the electricity for any home whose bill is not paid by the exact due date is shut off the next day--no exceptions. It is Elder Snyder's privilege to make sure the bills of 18 PP-area missionary homes are paid on time--no small feat considering that the bills are stuck in the doors of the homes, or in the gate, or under a rock--they are never mailed. They are carried to our office folded, crumpled, and sometimes in pieces by missionaries extracting them from backpacks, pockets, the top of their bike helmets or bottom of their shoes; hopefully at least a day in advance of the due date. Then I bike over to the electric company and go to the back corner where friendly cashiers let me sidestep the line to get fast service--not sure if that's because of the missionary badge, my old age, or the traditions set by my predecessors but no matter because it works. Did we mention that there is no single billing cycle? The bills filter in every few days, and we hustle the payments over.
What brings this to mind is that last week we had new missionaries in a home and they didn't know what the brown piece of paper was that was stuck in their door. They found out, however, when their power went off and they spent a very hot night without A/C. We could normally have addressed it pretty easily by taking an old bill to the company the next day but this last Friday was a government holiday. Luckily, our indispensible admin assistant was able to track down the electrician responsible for that particular area and arrange for him to flip the switch for the modest "fee" of $20 and a promise to get the bill paid on Monday.
Just a small slice of life here--hope all is well with you there, and that your electric bills are paid! ;-)
The next challenge is paying the monthly bills on time. This is critical because the electricity for any home whose bill is not paid by the exact due date is shut off the next day--no exceptions. It is Elder Snyder's privilege to make sure the bills of 18 PP-area missionary homes are paid on time--no small feat considering that the bills are stuck in the doors of the homes, or in the gate, or under a rock--they are never mailed. They are carried to our office folded, crumpled, and sometimes in pieces by missionaries extracting them from backpacks, pockets, the top of their bike helmets or bottom of their shoes; hopefully at least a day in advance of the due date. Then I bike over to the electric company and go to the back corner where friendly cashiers let me sidestep the line to get fast service--not sure if that's because of the missionary badge, my old age, or the traditions set by my predecessors but no matter because it works. Did we mention that there is no single billing cycle? The bills filter in every few days, and we hustle the payments over.
What brings this to mind is that last week we had new missionaries in a home and they didn't know what the brown piece of paper was that was stuck in their door. They found out, however, when their power went off and they spent a very hot night without A/C. We could normally have addressed it pretty easily by taking an old bill to the company the next day but this last Friday was a government holiday. Luckily, our indispensible admin assistant was able to track down the electrician responsible for that particular area and arrange for him to flip the switch for the modest "fee" of $20 and a promise to get the bill paid on Monday.
Just a small slice of life here--hope all is well with you there, and that your electric bills are paid! ;-)
