UK sites with metered electricity

eurortraveller replied on 11/11/2021 09:59

eurortraveller

Posted on 11/11/2021 09:59

Can people please post some examples of UK sites where electricity.usage is metered.

The one I know of is Pier Collage on the waterside at Coniston - a family owned site with 15 pitches . The system there is to pay on departure for the amount of electricity used, but other sites sell pre paid cards on arrival, so comments on the different ways of working may be helpful.

Likes and dislikes will inevitably crop up - they always do on here - but I was rather looking for practical ways of working.

333 replies

obbernockle replied on 13/11/2021 13:17

obbernockle

Posted on 13/11/2021 10:47 by Cornersteady

First of all not all Spanish sites do it, some have inclusive prices as well? Certainly the case for the Italian sites I've been on although there is the option not to have EHU, which I support.

But again do you ask other holiday companies such questions or just the club? Personally, and yes shame on me no doubt, I am not bothered about how much is used and don't want to know. I just want to have a holiday.

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:17

If you are not bothered, why join the discussion?

Cornersteady replied on 13/11/2021 13:20

Member

Cornersteady

Caravanner

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:14 by KjellNN

I did read what you said, but was pointing out, for information, that some vans do already have a timer for heating that can be used if desired.

The Alde system is quite sophisticated, but not all functions are easy to use. In the past many have said that they just turn the heating on and off manually as they cannot figure out the control system, which is a pity.

Certainly not worth buying a new van just to get the latest technology, which is why we have a 13 year old one, but last time you mentioned pensions you stated yours was higher, which I can well believe, so how do you now reckon you are not as rich as me?

I have no idea how to check what I may or may not have said in old posts, so feel free to post a link. I find it unlikely I would have been able to post accurate details of my pension income........I would have had to ask OH to tell me that first!

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:20

you really want me to post that info Kj? You once posted that another poster's income was a third of your post tax pension. It doesn't take a mathematical genius (like me) to multiply that amount by 3 to get yours. I often think there is two of you posting (not a negative thing btw)

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CaravanRamblings replied on 13/11/2021 13:22

Member

CaravanRamblings

Posted on 13/11/2021 10:41 by Cornersteady

but surely, each site has to run its own budget

Does it? maybe but do you know that for certain as you've said surely? And even if it does for running costs would each site have to pay for it's own installation then? On my last club site that would be, at a very low estimate of £50 per EHU that's about £10,000? Does a site have that sort of money in reserve? And again where would this money come from?

this one site seems to be able to fund the cost of these meters, perhaps over a period of time, by the overall reduction in their leccy costs...if they don't, what's the point?

That doesn't make sense at all, if the energy costs go down the site will pay less on those costs. You're also assuming electricity costs will go down? You pay for the electricity you use, simple as that. Before meters the site had to pay £x, after metering the site pays £y and that is the money it has to pay so their is no 'saving' to the site to fund anything?

There is also the idea that the club or site makes money currently under the present system.

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:22

The European sites charge 2 to 3 time the electricity cost. They don't care if it reduces consumption or not as they make a tidy profit.

Don't think you are allowed to that unless you are an electricity supplier in the UK. Still anyone can be one of those!!!

That's why the UK model is a difficult situation...

I was also going to add how on earth can you buy a new waterproof consumer unit with built it remote electricity meter, wire it in, test it and certify it for £50. Try £500...

replied on 13/11/2021 13:30

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:22 by CaravanRamblings

The European sites charge 2 to 3 time the electricity cost. They don't care if it reduces consumption or not as they make a tidy profit.

Don't think you are allowed to that unless you are an electricity supplier in the UK. Still anyone can be one of those!!!

That's why the UK model is a difficult situation...

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:30

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

Cornersteady replied on 13/11/2021 13:30

Member

Cornersteady

Caravanner

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:17 by obbernockle

If you are not bothered, why join the discussion?

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:30

You're taking my quote out of context for some reason. You posted:

The Club should go public and tell us what the average electricity consumption is on each occupied pitch / on each site seasonally, so that awareness can at least begin.

I posted to say I'm not bothered about knowing what these averages are. To make it clearer I have no interest in these figures. I did not say I wasn't bothered about the discussion did I?

Cornersteady replied on 13/11/2021 13:37

Member

Cornersteady

Caravanner

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:22 by CaravanRamblings

The European sites charge 2 to 3 time the electricity cost. They don't care if it reduces consumption or not as they make a tidy profit.

Don't think you are allowed to that unless you are an electricity supplier in the UK. Still anyone can be one of those!!!

That's why the UK model is a difficult situation...

I was also going to add how on earth can you buy a new waterproof consumer unit with built it remote electricity meter, wire it in, test it and certify it for £50. Try £500...

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:37

I did ask upthread where your £500 came from and I did say mine was rough estimate and I posted that I had no idea. I'll take your word it is £500, which mean even the smallest of sites it will cost a lot, and the smallest one I use has 50 pitches will cost £25000, My last site had 166 pitches.

I have long stated that the expense would be prohibitive even before the AGM and now the club and you have confirmed this. It is not going to happen anytime soon, which I'm pleased about to be honest. The club only accounts for 10% of caravan sites (if that?) so those that want metering must be able to find a site somewhere

peedee replied on 13/11/2021 13:53

Member

peedee

Motorhomer

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:30 by

Only some, many have either a flat rate or include it in the pitch fee.I use a small site where the electricity is generated on site by mostly solar with a generator back up . Its included in the pitch fee but at 4 amp there is little chance of it being abused

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:53

Restricting use in surch a manner doesn't give those that want to pay for more any chance of doing so. Metering is far more a flexible solution.

Going back to the OP's post add Banks Farm on the Gower to your list.

peedee

Tammygirl replied on 13/11/2021 13:57

Member

Tammygirl

Motorhomer

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:57

Coming back to a nice warm van in cold weather is nice, we do it. I set the thermostat lower but enough to keep the chill off and yes I would more than likely do the same if metered.

However there is a difference between keeping the chill off and running heating so the van is like a sauna.

At one time there was a CL owner who posted on here that he had a separate meter for his CL and could see what was being used. He noted that on one day when he only had 1 van on site that the amount used was way in excess of what he used in the house. Some folk don't bother, that is the bottom line. Meters would make folk more aware of what they use.

We don't have Alde heating but our vans do have the ability to set timers for the heating if we so wished. To be honest if its cold when we return at the end of the day I just put the fan heater on for 5 minutes until I turn up the van thermostat and it kicks in.

Solar panels can now store the excess power to batteries which you can then be used later in the day when the sun sets, might be another way the club could think about for the facilities block and site lighting. Not good enough to power bollards but if they were metered it would cut the overheads for the club sites.

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replied on 13/11/2021 14:08

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:53 by peedee

Restricting use in surch a manner doesn't give those that want to pay for more any chance of doing so. Metering is far more a flexible solution.

Going back to the OP's post add Banks Farm on the Gower to your list.

peedee

Posted on 13/11/2021 14:08

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

Tinwheeler replied on 13/11/2021 14:11

Tinwheeler

Campervanner

Posted on 13/11/2021 13:22 by CaravanRamblings

The European sites charge 2 to 3 time the electricity cost. They don't care if it reduces consumption or not as they make a tidy profit.

Don't think you are allowed to that unless you are an electricity supplier in the UK. Still anyone can be one of those!!!

That's why the UK model is a difficult situation...

I was also going to add how on earth can you buy a new waterproof consumer unit with built it remote electricity meter, wire it in, test it and certify it for £50. Try £500...

Posted on 13/11/2021 14:11

If you research Secondary Supply Agreements you will find how complex an issue it can be and, no, anyone cannot become an electricity supplier. You are correct in saying that profit cannot be made from reselling electricity under the terms of a SSA. Europe does its own thing and the regulations in the UK are quite different.

Edit: The screenshot below is a snippet from the club's guidance to CL owners. The whole pdf can be viewed here - https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/globalassets/pdfs/content/about-us/setting-up-a-cl-guide.pdf