Silly site prices. Off season and peak season

😂😂😂

This is (I estimate) now a £12M problem for the club.

Let me explain my assumptions, which I'm happy to be corrected on.

1) In 2020 (as per the CAMC accounts - see extract) the club consumed 30,567,242 kWh of Eelectricity

2) The current rate for buying electricity at a commercial rate is £0.52p per kWh - the club might have negotiated a marginally better rate than .52p on some contracts, but they will all eventually head this way.

3) Assuming that 80% of electricity used by the club is used by members on pitches (the remainder in communal facilities, signage,HQ, Datacenters etc.).  Usage might have increased since 2020

80% of 30,567,242 kWh is 24,453,793 kWh

24,453,793 kWh  x  £0.52p/kWh  is £12,715,972

For a company with a turnover in the region of £80M, that's a big proportion of costs.

So what's the solution?

The electric car-charging industry already has the solution.  In my view, their process  simply needs to be adapted to Caravan Bollards.  Just like a car-charger - something along the lines of :-

1) Set up the App on your phone and create an account connected to your credit card

2) When you arrive at your EHU bollard, scan the QR code (or similar) & activate the EHU & plug your cable in.  

3) When you depart, unplug from EHU and your App / Account will be charged for the kWh used.

In the background a management system for each site will be needed to track usage etc.

The technology definitely exists (I know having installed a commercial car-charger here on my CL). 

Hopefully the CAMC and CCC and Hoseasons etc. are already in deep discussions with the relevant manufacturers and have the buying-power to get a solution.   As the CAMC club sites are only a % of the EHU bollards in the country the opportunity for a manufacturer who can provide a solution is pretty compelling.   I know hundreds of CL sites that would consider such a solution (at the right price).

I also believe that most members would be happy to be metered for the EHU used, especially if it enabled the club to keep pitch prices in check.   Furthermore it would (I believe) drastically reduce the use of surplus gadgets and heaters on site, which would help the club pursue its green agenda.  

Many would say this was long overdue!

Ted

It makes a compelling argument to separate out the price of the pitch from the cost of electricity. If the price of electricity were to double from the figure you mention it would be accounting for over 25% of the Club's income. The system you outline would be an ideal way of paying for the electricity. There will be people who protest that they don't have a smartphone? Do they work via WiFi or Bluetooth?

It wasn't that long ago that we were debating Peedee's suggestion that we should have metering almost in an academic way but reality has caught up with us and it now seems the only way forward. There can be no doubt that commercial case for metering has changed drastically in the last 6 months and although it would be costly it does seem it is the (only) way forward?

David

All this metering is ok but will the club reduce the price of a pitch and meter the electric or will the pitch fee stay the same with the electric an extra charge.

Obviously it will be the latter as the "club" will have to recoup the money it will have to spend to provide the facility. Their response then to complaints of even higher prices will to say "We have listened to what you say and have acted accordingly by installing meters". 😁

I think it would be difficult for them not to if recent experience is anything to go by. Earlier in the year they increased prices to cover the extra cost of increased electricity charges. So whilst they might not reduce the site fee completely they would have to do something otherwise I would suggest there would be uproar? 

David

I honestly don’t think they care about uproar, they just take it on the chin.

+1. The “club” management are not interested in what the members think.

They have an "accept what we do or leave, as there are plenty who will still go whatever we charge, and p!enty are still joining us regardless" attitude.

Just got back from a couple of days on an off-grid CL. £5 per night. By judicious use of off grid sites, interspersed with some 5* ACSI sites, I've averaged under £12.50 per night over 66 nights so far this year.