Electricity Charges

[Coolcats]

Can you tow using a EV, if so must reduce your range ?

Yes and yes

 

[Richard n Ann]

The site in Benidorm we stayed at was always metered, that's why I fitted a manual changeover switch so I could decide what to use. Great system, there if you need it but we were 98% self sufficient anyway. Our electric bill for 6 weeks was typically about €1.50

 

[SpeedyDux]

Can you tow using a EV, if so must reduce your range ?

Andrew Ditton the caravan journalist and blogger did a series of youtube videos on this very subject. My recollection is that the effective towing range was about 80-100 miles starting with a fully charged battery. This was with his relatively small and light caravan, not one of the heavy twin axle type. The biggest drawback seemed to be having to unhitch the caravan in order to use a public charger en route.

 

[Widge]

Stopped at a site near cartagena, free electric up to 4kwh/day, we were only really using the 3way fridge, also the charger would have been on, but as we also have solar it probably wasn't doing much so never exceeded my allowance, I cant remember how much a kwh was after that. but if they are going to charge that seemed a fair way of doing it, then only the heavier users are affected.

 

[TinaLes]

As I mentioned before, we will not stay on any site that doesn't offer a non electric pitch, as we don't need it, for our normal 2/3 night stay, and will certainly not pay 80P per KWH rate anyway.
The main reason we left The CMC was that they advertised "save money on your stay by booking a non electric pitch" then to find that there were very few sites that offered a non electric pitch.(11 sites in total across The UK) Last site we stayed on a few years back was the CMC site at Cheddar Gorge, I specifically asked for a non electric pitch, the guy on the desk nodded to that, so I assumed that I had been offered a discount, only to find that I hadn't, and had paid for the inclusive rate.
I took this up with him, asked why he nodded as if to say OK non electric, to be told they only had one tariff they could charge for each pitch!
We left the next day, wrote a complaint letter to The CMC, and it was ignored, so we walked away from The CMC for good.

I think the tuggers are in for a shock when all sites are metered, as from the factory they normally have limited solar, and only one Battery to run everything, so will need an EHU unless they install more solar gear to get round it.
LES

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[gus-lopez]

but given my £0.25 domestic rate I hadn’t realised how expensive commercial rates had become.

& you have to ask why commercial rates ARE so expensive?

I would welcome a metered supply for every pitch.

I'd welcome no ehu at all.

Can you tow using a EV, if so must reduce your range ?

Some can & as said 100miles would be tops on all the towing vids I have watched using an ev.

1000l of water at domestic rates is £3.08, that’s with Anglian water.

about 50p per 1000L here in Murcia.

 

[poppycamper]

The main reason we left The CMC was that they advertised "save money on your stay by booking a non electric pitch" then to find that there were very few sites that offered a non electric pitch.(11 sites in total across The UK)

Yes indeed and when I last checked most non leccy pitches were on grass... not hardstanding.. As we all know not ideal for most mohos.

 

[Emmit]

Always cheaper to use gas for everything, together with a bit of solar you could be quids in. Assuming the site charge had been reduced as it no longer included lecky (some hope)

Coming to Curry's soon.

North Sea Gas powered Telly's

 

[WallaceandGromit]

Just booked our usual site for Christmas and new year site £12 pn elec 34p per KWH, was £15 pn last year

 

[seasideBill]

& you have to ask why commercial rates ARE so expensive?

Did I ask that?

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[Carpmart]

Just booked our usual site for Christmas and new year site £12 pn elec 34p per KWH, was £15 pn last year

Seems very fair that!

 

[WallaceandGromit]

Me to the £15 was including elec be our first trip in our new to us MH

 

[Brains]

Did I ask that?

Even if you didn't, it because domestic rates are capped by Government, whereas commercial usage pays the market rate.

 

[seasideBill]

Yes indeed and when I last checked most non leccy pitches were on grass... not hardstanding.. As we all know not ideal for most mohos.

Don’t expect much to change anytime soon. CMC are very late to the party and still seem reluctant to expand non EHU options witness the ever expanding rows of bloated twin axle vans umbilically connected to the mother ship. Glamping is another pet project. However, they’ve got some excellent examples of how things could be e.g. Steamer Quay, Totnes - always popular.

 

[steve69]

Don’t expect much to change anytime soon. CMC are very late to the party and still seem reluctant to expand non EHU options witness the ever expanding rows of bloated twin axle vans umbilically connected to the mother ship. Glamping is another pet project. They’ve got some excellent examples of how things could be e.g. Steamer Quay, Totnes - always popular.

It's a good thing Steamer Quay doesn't have electric. It discourages those who would try to "block book" pitches for as long as possible on one of the best sites in the country. That gives those without other means of charging the leisure battery a chance for a 2 or 3 day stay at a time. Enough for most people.

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[eddie]

Don’t expect much to change anytime soon. CMC are very late to the party and still seem reluctant to expand non EHU options witness the ever expanding rows of bloated twin axle vans umbilically connected to the mother ship. Glamping is another pet project. They’ve got some excellent examples of how things could be e.g. Steamer Quay, Totnes - always popular.

The only reason that Steamer Quay has no electric is South Hams district council own it, and won’t give the CMC decent lease

 

[seasideBill]

It's a good thing Steamer Quay doesn't have electric. It discourages those who would try to "block book" pitches for as long as possible on one of the best sites in the country. That gives those without other means of charging the leisure battery a chance for a 2 or 3 day stay at a time. Enough for most people.

They’d argue that’s all to do with deposits, not preference for non EHU

 

[seasideBill]

The only reason that Steamer Quay has no electric is South Hams district council own it, and won’t give the CMC decent lease

Good job too, but CMC should learn from that happy twist of fate.

 

[joe and sue]

WE have used a few small sites that use the card system for EHU, which is fine with us, plus one we found had 6 amps as standard or you could upgrade to 16 with a card which had to be paid for, no problem for us,
Water no problem with metering , but could be a bit more of a problem for the site to police,
We always travel with a full fresh water tank, and would never empty a full tank to travel.

 

[eddie]

Good job too, but CMC should learn from that happy twist of fate.

Not really, the Council want to develop the site so keep giving the CMC a very short lease, and the CMC say that they can't justify the expense of improving the site on such a short lease.

I much prefer sites with hook up, but am pretty much independent powerwise if hook up isn't available

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[seasideBill]

Not really, the Council want to develop the site so keep giving the CMC a very short lease, and the CMC say that they can't justify the expense of improving the site on such a short lease.

I much prefer sites with hook up, but am pretty much independent powerwise if hook up isn't available

That’s as maybe, but it doesn’t change the fact that non EHU options are obviously attractive to a significant number of folks and at the moment they are being poorly served despite the alternatives being environmentally unsound and a cost burden.

 

[Coolcats]

As I mentioned before, we will not stay on any site that doesn't offer a non electric pitch, as we don't need it, for our normal 2/3 night stay, and will certainly not pay 80P per KWH rate anyway.
The main reason we left The CMC was that they advertised "save money on your stay by booking a non electric pitch" then to find that there were very few sites that offered a non electric pitch.(11 sites in total across The UK) Last site we stayed on a few years back was the CMC site at Cheddar Gorge, I specifically asked for a non electric pitch, the guy on the desk nodded to that, so I assumed that I had been offered a discount, only to find that I hadn't, and had paid for the inclusive rate.
I took this up with him, asked why he nodded as if to say OK non electric, to be told they only had one tariff they could charge for each pitch!
We left the next day, wrote a complaint letter to The CMC, and it was ignored, so we walked away from The CMC for good.

I think the tuggers are in for a shock when all sites are metered, as from the factory they normally have limited solar, and only one Battery to run everything, so will need an EHU unless they install more solar gear to get round it.
LES

I think you may find some tuggers are quite ok and have luxury of high end MoHo particularly something like the Eriba

 

[eddie]

That’s as maybe, but it doesn’t change the fact that non EHU options are obviously attractive to a significant number of folks and at the moment they are being poorly served despite the alternatives being environmentally unsound and a cost burden.

As a campsite owner I absolutely know that the majority of our guests want electric hook up. So the CMC are catering for the majority of their members I would imagine

 

[seasideBill]

As a campsite owner I absolutely know that the majority of our guests want electric hook up. So the CMC are catering for the majority of their members I would imagine

I know you are, I was one of your customers this summer. However, if you provided a non EHU option, I would have chosen it in preference to electricity that I didn’t really need given my Gaslow system and 150w panel.

 

[gus-lopez]

Did I ask that?

No I did.

Even if you didn't, it because domestic rates are capped by Government, whereas commercial usage pays the market rate.

So are they are losing money on domestic supply ? If they aren't then the commercial rate is scamming.

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[Gaston aires]

I did hear that CAMC are looking to install meters

Not before time if true. I would prefer the choice or leccy or no leccy.
Phil

 

[Bessy765]

Re metered electricity I think you will find that the electricity cannot be sold on to a third party for more than the owner is charged.

 

[Brains]

No I did.


So are they are losing money on domestic supply ? If they aren't then the commercial rate is scamming.

Correct.
Governments that have introduced capping, either are losing money (UK) or bought ahead at a fixed price (France) in which case the seller is losing money.

Scamming? When there is a shortage, the price goes up.
That is capitalism.

 

[poppycamper]

Re metered electricity I think you will find that the electricity cannot be sold on to a third party for more than the owner is charged.

I may be wrong here.. but if I remember rightly, and have said before on this forum that many many years ago before the "you cannot sell leccy to a third party" became the norm then BOTH the main clubs offered ALL pitches, grass and hardstanding at a set fee... Leccy was then added to pitch fee "IF REQUIRED".
IMV both clubs then used the "Can't sell leccy to third parties" as an excuse to legally rip off its members by saying "you paying for leccy, whether you want it or not".... Tough titty, we just following the rules.

 

[Soycd]

We are relatively new to UK motorhoming having spent 30 years in Germany. A German van usually won't have the option of electric/gas heating system they would be just gas or diesel. From what I've seen on UK sites where there is a non metered supply some people really kick the *rse out of it. Awning heaters, fan heaters, etc. so I'm in favour of metered supply. We've never had a van with gas/electric heating, although our new Adria Twin seems to come with it as standard. Maybe I'll change my tune when on a non metered supply in the winter time! Most European sites we have stayed on offer electricity as an 'add on' so you have a choice. Nearly all the stelplatz we've stayed on have been metered. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for and if folk object to paying CAMC prices then they should probably go elsewhere?

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