Smart Metering Trial

some great ideas DD, if i was 25 years younger and planning to continue caravanning I must just take up some of your ideas, but i am thinking of scaling back not up. Dont think metering is going to be a big issue for me during the next couple of years, my guess is if the cliub do decide, or should i say when, the club role out metering they will probably concentrate on the honeypot sites as a priority as that is where the money will be.

Not sure what happens electrically in my caravan, i breathed a sigh of relief when it was decreed all electrical goods should be supplied with a 3 pin plug, but as of now if i plug into the EHU the 240v sockets are immediatly live so fridge/water heater works etc, the on off switch on the control panel does not control 240v sockets, i guess i could just switch the 240v items off, just something else to add to the tick sheet 

came back from Spain in January and not planning any more this year but have a couple of UK trips planned, sites with no metering, but will def look at ways of becoming more self sufficient even if i have to have my own portable solar farm on pitch

We can easily manage a week with our solar panel and calor gas, we've never bothered to get the cheaper gas.  A short three day break would not be a problem. There are lots of non ehu back ups for charging things. There are long threads on CT about it. 

However we've also managed happily on metered pitches although it certainly needs some care if you want to avoid a large bill. 

The meter trial is going to effect a minimum number of site users, both sites are very small and have facilities. It will be interesting to hear the outcome.

Hi everyone, Just a polite reminder to keep the discussion on topic as a few posts have drifted a little. Many thanks. 

Just read about the smart meter trail in the latest magazine,  I personally dont think this is the way to be heading , having read the average pricing details and working things out the Club is not reducing anyones site fees , these will only go up even if you are a light user . 

This is just another way of making money out of what use to be an enjoyable holiday,  I see this as the Club know bookings will be down as covid is now over and more people go back abroad and with the electric car system moving closer , how many tow cars will be around then , the whole caravan industry could be on its knees in the near future. 

This is the first I have heard of this smart meter , why dont the Club let all members vote and not just say it's what was asked for , I dont believe this . 

This move has made me think of stopping my membership and selling the van 

Don't forget this is only a trial on two campsites. At this stage it does not mean it will be rolled out across the network. I am sure the Club will be consulting those that have taken part in the trial before deciding to roll things out to all campsites if indeed they do. It seems as if this has come as a surprise to you? However the possibility of metering electricity has been in the public domain for a few years. Not only on this forum but also mentioned at several AGM's. There is a view, whether you agree with it or not, that some members would like the choice of connecting to the electric supply on sites which is only available at a small number of sites. If you want a hardstanding pitch almost impossible. So some see metering as offering more choice. The trial will also determine whether the pitch price reduction is correct to compensate for using metering.

David

It will be interesting to see how the reviews go for Wyatts Covert now the trial is taking place, there haven't been  reactions so far.

David, what needs to be 'fair' is the previous level of charge made (built into the pitch fee) set against the proposed basic pitch reduction for those who will end up on a metered pitch.

as we are now, many (non club) campsites around the uk have been offering a non EHU option....some charge a basic price and then add the EHU cost...I have seen this charge as much as £7+ a night...I wonder what level the club has been factoring in to to its overall pitch fees for the past umpteen years? Perhaps something close to this?

now, when we get to metered pitches, the base price looks likely to be reduced by.....wait for it.....a pound or two! 

a large fridge freezer will use about 4kw a day and at 50p a unit that's the £2 gone before anyone looks to use a water heater or hairdryer or outside electric grill etc, etc...

Not only that, we've already had an increase of pitch prices to 'cover the rise in electric prices'...so when we go metered, and the prices are reduced by a paltry amount, we'll be back where we were a year ago price wise but the customers won't get any electric!

of course, the club has also slipped in its annual increases...so hard to tell where these are as a single site can have so many prices in a year for the same pitch...no one now has a clue about increases....the prices just slide steadily upwards and, as we are constantly told, you just pay or go elsewhere.

I must be so naive, I thought the pitch prices might come down by a fiver or so, allowing someone to genuinely consider being off grid at a club site, but at a reduction of a pound or two, this hasn't made any tangible difference and certainly wouldn't temp me even though I, like DD mentions above, am perfectly well equipped to run for any length of stay without EHU.

...but reducing a CAMC site from (say) £45 to £43 without electric, when the pitch increased recently from (say) £43 to £45 'to cover increasing power costs' has to be taking the biscuit.....and Colin....the good biscuits!

I agree YT. We might need a trial(s) to test out the logistics of the various methods of charging for metered electric. However, we certainly don’t need it to establish wether the pitch reduction is correct, as DK suggests. It is most definitely is no where near adequate.

Seems a good idea ,those that are wasteful with energy, not environmentally bothered about climate change, and global warming ,and future generations. pay for that attitude