The Expat Files

Understanding Electric Utilities, Part 1: - 3rd World utility bills,… And you thought nothing was more confusing than your 1st World utility bill! - The secret cult of Kilowatt hours explained (almost) in 30 seconds… Hey! Watt the hecks’s a watt anyway? - How big power subsidies for the poor distort an already terrifically screwed up energy market… And why energy’s practically the only thing that ain’t cheap down here. - Why its no use fighting it out with a 3rd World utility company. If you think your bill’s wrong, its best to take a few deep breaths and just pay it(and then have a couple of margaritas). - You know those little yellow “Energy Consumption” appliance stickers? They have them down here all right, but they’re all in English (duh!). - The age old Latin custom of tapping into a power pole and stealing juice.. not recommended (but done all the time). - Clandestine cable TV hookups, and other lessons learned while living in the land of the pirates.