Smart Metering Trial

I think it was said that the current price to be charged was something like 42-46p per kWh, which is rather more than domestic prices at present.   The Club will have entered into a commercial contract for the supply of electricity to the site, usually for a year or more.

My OH is looking at a new contract for our local Guide Hall, they are being offered , by Octopus, a rate of 26.44p +VAT per kWh, with a daily standing charge of 65.42p +VAT, for a 12 month contract.

I think the move to metered pictures is inevitable and sensible. We have all witnessed those who have a 3kw heater burning away in an empty awning. However the bigger problem arises from EVs. Whilst on Culloden site this year I noticed an EV camper van was connected once it was dark. I mentioned it to the warden who confirmed they had not paid the required additional fee. This means we are all having to subsidise those who cheat. 

3kw? How do you know, did you check it? Actually, I cannot ever remember seeing a heater in an empty awning.

Charging an EV on site without paying is a form of theft. No doubt the warden took appropriate action.

I don't know how literal the instructions are meant to be, and I know nothing at all about the subject, but the EV charging rules on this website state that charging should be done overnight; if so, then the fact that it was dark (the assumption thus made that it was being done secretively) is neither here nor there.

There's no excuse for theft if it happens; I genuinely wonder, however, if some might just assume that any electricity usage is within the pitch fee and not think to check. I appreciate there's a difference (depending on how long the heater is left on), but if someone thinks it's OK to use a 3 kW heater in an awning they might equally see no issue in charging up their EV. I don't know, I am just speculating. I am not sure how well EV charging charges are publized; I've not seen much either on this website or on sites (though my last site visit was early this year). But I am not making excuses - just wondering if that might explain why it happened. Probably, most people with an EV would think to check, but maybe not all.

I find it difficult to see heaters inside awnings unless it is one of those that glows red. I can't recall seeing it often and never without people present. Goodness knows what the wattage was; are not 2kW heaters much more common? Anyway, I doubt that fraudulent charging of EVs amounts to much of a loss compared to energy usage that some might make a case for being extreme or unnecessary. 

I assume you are referring to more sites being closed over winter? The problem is that if the Club keeps sites open over winter that don't cover their running costs the whole membership pays one way or another. I would accept that the cost of electricity over that period adds to making them uneconomic. Perhaps if and when the club goes over to a metered supply for all sites they might reconsider and allow more sites to open but that could take a couple of years to achieve?

David

I don't ever recall anyone holding a shotgun to my head to stay with the Club.  If you don't like it, just leave.  There are thousands of caravan sites throughout the UK and many of them stay open during the winter, so it is not as though you don't have many other sites to choose from!

A very good point...there may well be (many?) members who will avoid metered Club sites going forward for a number of reasons...

...don't agree with the principle (what's wrong with how it was before?)

...don't like change

...not comfortable with the IT elements to make it work

...don't agree with the prices charged

...too much hassle

any of the the above might be the catalyst for those who haven't before to check out the vast number of excellent commercial sites that are out there.

it seems to be taking a while to get decent info back about where we are and how things are progressing, an update would be good...

it seems to be taking a while to get decent info back about where we are and how things are progressing, an update would be good...

I did ask for an update on progress with implementing metering at Ashridge Farm which was promised by year end but nothing heard so the Club is not exactly rushing ahead with trials. Energy prices will again rise in January.

peedee

It doesn't seem that energy prices are going to go down enough any time soon which might have made the implementation of metering semi redundant had they gone back to pre Ukraine War prices? I have no idea what is involved to change a site over to metering but if it takes as long as the new WiFi rollout it could be sometime. From what was reported at the AGM, metering could lead to a reasonable site fee reduction because it seems that metering magically reduces the amount of electricity members use! I think sometimes the Club likes to make "big" announcements rather than a drip feed of information so I suppose we will have to watch this space?

David