Smart Metering Trial

Where there is a will there is a way Rufs. I do it, not to save money, although every little helps, but to enable more variety in the types of places and sites I can stay.

I am more likely to stay on Club sites for short stays if electricity is metered, just like having an economy pitch or should be.

I presume on metered pitches those wishing to charge up hybrids or electric cars won' t be charged extra. Was it £9? Sounds like that could be to their advantage?

peedee

" I presume on metered pitches those wishing to charge up hybrids or electric cars won' t be charged extra."

interesting comment, i will be using a site from the 12th May, in the UK, were the charging of electric vehicles, is strictly prohibited.

"Where there is a will there is a way Rufs."

i am sure there is peedee, but the day i have to think along the lines of how much lecce i am using on site to the point where it impacts on my enjoyment of caravaning i will unbolt my tow bar, that said i do have some sympathy for families who maybe only have 6 weeks hols in their caravan per year who now find themselves looking down the barrel of a loaded shotgun in terms of how much lecce they use, not great for young families coming up through the ranks.

I dont think the Club is using any of these systems.  From my reading, you sign up with the third party and put money onto your account, which you can then view during your stay and top up as needed.

I think this sort of thing is very different to paying for the site with your credit card.  There was some info out today (to do with fraud) saying that 75% of older people (it didnt define older) preferred to bank face to face, and 40% of adults didnt want to do on line banking.  And my guess is that a proportion of those who do do online banking do it from a secure connection at home where they have all the info they need (quite possibly three different factors of authentication).  Some of this information was also stressing how insecure some banking apps are!. There was also some figures lately (cant remember all the detail) about % of people who would not be able to pay for parking with their phone, either no smart phone, or difficulties in downloading the appropriate app.  I recognise all these are a bit different to what is proposed, but it will be interesting to see how this plays out.  I do hope the Club doesnt conflate metering electricity, and the type of metering.

You've made a very good there and it links in with what I've been thinking.

But before I explain that we may be getting ahead of ourselves, this is just a trial on one site, which isn't that representative of other club sites. The club I suspect will use the trial to find out if the system for paying works well enough, and if people want to use meters, certainly if I was booked in there I personally wouldn't, and if booking increase or decrease for those who don't have a choice.

If, and it's just an if, it goes forward what happens to those, as someone posted, who will be shocked by the prices they have to pay for their electricity. Or as you put it well, impacts on their enjoyment? What then? 

Will they continue using club sites that have meters or will they go to other sites where meters don't exist? You see I think that unless meters become the norm for campsites then what will people prefer? Is the other club going the same way.

(For package holidays I always go for all inclusive, especially with our family as it worked out  cheaper than buying endless ice creams. I also like the convenience about not worrying about costs and now we've found all inclusive 24/7 with bottles of spirits, beer in our own rooms even better but that's another story)

So given a choice I wonder what people will choose? No right or wrong answer but unless all campsites have meters the club could lose out?

Hja

My point 4 was the new Club system, perhaps not adequately described  on my part? 

I am what some people might describe as old However for the best part of 30 years I have been using computers, personal and at work. I take every opportunity to embrace modern technology because I see the advantage and surely at some stage most people will have to go down that route. My wife is a reluctant user of online banking and paying bills as she prefers a paper trace but I think if anyone were to suggest they take those online things away from her it probably wouldn't suit her? We will have to wait to see how the system works as members start to use it and we start to get feedback?

David 

+1, the longer the better R, Solar can be maximised if it has some mobility, sun chasing. I’d not stress about it but it does make a good difference over a few days, having a lifepo4 battery that can be charged & be used at the same time helps👍🏻