Non-electric pitches

If I recall correctly (last AGM Q&A was it?) I think the club said while meters would be fairer the cost of installing meters would be prohibitively expensive and that it would continue to monitor the situation?

Do you think that it's going to be any cheaper now PD? I really can't see how and as said it is money that cannot be recouped any other way?

Also have you considered that perhaps many who use club sites actually like the way it is done now? It could be said that you appear to be asking the club to change, spend a prohibitive amount of our money just to accommodate your own touring wishes? I personally would let everyone choose their own preference, just have you have done, rather than make everyone follow a set pattern?

I recall that you used a number of CCC sites as well, did you use EHU there?

Post edit - found the actual wording:

The fairest way to charge for electricity usage would be based on consumption, and this would also likely influence usage levels from a sustainability perspective. Unfortunately, the cost of infrastructure and subsequent monitoring and payment mechanisms are significantly cost prohibitive at this time. Having said this, the Club is constantly reviewing the technology and opportunities in this space in order to identify cost effective ways of being able to deliver this type of arrangement in the future.

As PD would tell you from his recent visit to club sites MHs on some sites and are now more numerous than caravans. I've noticed this myself and have even been 'outnumbered' on service pitches.

Also the club has stated that the number of motorhomes members and site usage has increased significantly in recent years. So the evidence would suggest they are encompassing MH? But those MH who want what club sites offer of course, if they want something else or want non EHU then they go elsewhere. No good having all the same type of site?

Cornersteady posted from the last AGM Q&A :-

The fairest way to charge for electricity usage would be based on consumption, and this would also likely influence usage levels from a sustainability perspective. Unfortunately, the cost of infrastructure and subsequent monitoring and payment mechanisms are significantly cost prohibitive at this time. Having said this, the Club is constantly reviewing the technology and opportunities in this space in order to identify cost effective ways of being able to deliver this type of arrangement in the future.

Perhaps worth taking into account that the statement above was made before the massive rise in energy costs that we all know the reasons for. Now does that change the situation viz a viz meters? I have not yet looked at pitch prices for next year but it would seem that the Club would have no choice but to pass these massive increases on to members. The more energy prices go up the more incentive there is for the Club to bite the bullet and introduce meters. It will be interesting to see if the Club are changing their stance on this at the AGM in October?

David

M&M, another option you might want to look at is Britstops. This is a camper/MH scheme set up to take advantage of legal overnight stays on all sorts of places such as pubs, vineyards, private dwellings, etc…. Huge variety, a lot don’t provide hook ups, but some do. Some are free (the idea is to use the pub for a meal, or buy from a shop that provides)

We have just found a lovely cycle shop/ cafe to overnight free, so we shall sleep over, buy breakfast from the cafe and have a browse in the shop. Another that provided all facilities was a community swimming pool, complete with hook ups, drive over waste, black waste, drinking tap and showers or a swim. All for £10 per night. Lots of nice friendly folks staying, we were a tad wary at first, but happy to do it now. 

The OP has a caravan so is looking for places which take caravans. At present most of the stop overs are designed for motorhomers. However on the THS and rally sites there are always a good mix of vans, these venues are for weekends or longer and the THS are often very flexible, just a phone call to see if there's space available. 

Perhaps and we'll see then. 

Of course the club will pass on these increases but that is just life as we know it at this time.

I expect and accept (as in there's nothing I can do about it)  these increases at home, expect and accept them on things I wish to buy elsewhere so I just accept these (massive?) energy prices on club sites as well. So I personally don't see rising price as an incentive for the club to do anything regarding meters, which if they were prohibitively expensive last year I would think perhaps even more significantly expensive than last year.

Certainly it should look at other means but I would count installing meters as a 'waste' of our money and that money would have to come from somewhere, as you yourself have said David I recall and it cannot be recovered apart from higher site prices?

I suppose in the end if people continue to use club sites even with the higher massive increases why would the club consider installing them anyway? On;y a drop in site usage might pich them that way.

And another point for debate, the club does not compete in isolation, if other providers do not go the same way with meters, why would people use club sites?

Post edit: massive rises? I booked our July 2023 site a few days ago, same site, same number of people (3), same length as last year 10 nights on a SP and it has gone up £4 per night , this year's price was £45.87 per night, next year £49.86 , so is that massive? Maybe but I don't care it's where and when want to be, yes it may go up before then but again it's where and when I want to be.

Sorry brue, I thought opening post mentioned a campervan. Realise some folks call a caravan a camper. Sorry for any confusion.

We have just been informed that a small commercial site we're using next year has reduced the pitch price by a couple of £s per night but have introduced a (pre?)-pay card to access the electricity. Presumably this is something like the pay as you go energy keys, not sure what will happen with any credit you're left with.  A fair way would be to only charge you for what you have used. As a small site I doubt he was able to invest heavily in the change so it seems it can be done for a small modification to the hook up post I guess.

Not sure of the details yet or how it will work but will find out soon enough.  Doesn't trouble me as it will make us more economical with electric usage which is a good thing all round.

Might be the future if people want the benefit of decent pitches but want to consume as little as possible in way of utilities. I doubt C&MC will go that way though, 1 - the cost to change the whole network, 2 - would put a dent in their costings for pitch revenue.  Who knows, everyone has their limits and energy costs only going one way might force the issue.

You were right, TDA. The OP does now have a campervan although her avatar still shows caravanner. 👍🏻

My apologies I'd forgotten  the details about the campervan in the OP and just looked at the member details so was confused myself. So many overnight stops are not for caravans it's easy to forget.