Electricity Charges

[Emmit]

I will not know, (and neither will the owners of the site) until Feb. before the price of an EHU supplied Pitch at Avon Bank at Easter will be.
To their credit, the owners have indicated that they will supply pitches without EHU to those attending Funsters who do not require the lecky.

 

[bexleyjohn]

Many if not all make good points about the rising cost of electricity and how much cheaper it would be to use gas - BUT - what do you think the gas suppliers and Government will do when they see big drops in their revenue for electricity? We have been screwed over switching to diesel after being told what a good idea it was ……… or am I being too cynical?????

 

[Albacore]

Good.

 

[DaveFromBarrow]

Our business leccy (small commercial building, leccy supplied by Bulb now Octopus) has gone from 33p to 69p, just for reference. We stayed on a metered CL in Wales and we're now on one in Devon. I did wonder if gas heating would actually turn out to be cheaper although the metered rate here in Devon is very low so either way it's no biggy.

As others have said, I think paying for what you use makes sense and we've all seen unmetered leccy be abused.

d

 

[Captain Birdseye]

Stayed at a CL over the weekend. It was the first time I’ve encountered electric metering in the UK. The owner told me he was charging electricity at cost - £0.89 a unit! That’s a commercial rate apparently, but I was shocked. Ended up increasing the cost by 30% and we could hardly be described as heavy users. Anybody else had a similar experience with leccy charges?

The first time that we took our caravan abroad (now motorhome) was in the late 90's and many sites that we stayed at metered the electricity. We piad a small fee for arrival and departure meter reading plus useage.
The last time that happened was a site in Belgium, but things had been modernised. They read our meter from the computer in reception!
I always believed that system was responsible for foreign vans not having an electric hob alonside the gas rings. That is common in the UK because we have an incentive to heat water, van, and food using hook up because one fee is paid irrespective of use. We have become used to it, and to some sites asking us to retrict used in very cold weather.
That system is not sustainable at today's per-day prices and I would expect to see more meters..

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[Don Campbell]

Don’t disagree, but given my £0.25 domestic rate I hadn’t realised how expensive commercial rates had become. I can only assume many CL/CS prices will rocket if not already. Will be using more LPG and solar going forward, but I feel for those trying to make a living out of a micro business.

We are paying 34.23p per unit including a discount of 17.85p per unit (email confirmation from EON.Next yesterday). Better check that rate as you might be wrong and it sounds like you are in the same sort of area as us.

 

[Nothern Soul]

What used to be a cheaper option for a family holiday is now nothing like that. The basic rate per night has risen beyond belief, so if site owners need to start metering electric they should have a good look at the site fee first. People will start going away less meaning site won’t be able to stay open. The knock on effect could be quite damaging long term. I agree gas is a good option.

 

[Coolcats]

I will not know, (and neither will the owners of the site) until Feb. before the price of an EHU supplied Pitch at Avon Bank at Easter will be.
To their credit, the owners have indicated that they will supply pitches without EHU to those attending Funsters who do not require the lecky.

What is Lecky?

 

[steve69]

What is Lecky?

Lecky is the man who gets his electricity for free.............

 

[Coolcats]

Lecky is the man who gets his electricity for free.............

Ah that’s the Solar version then

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[TheMachMan]

If electric consumption is to be billed separately then the base pitch price should drop a bit.

 

[Coolcats]

If electric consumption is to be billed separately then the base pitch price should drop a bit.

Why ? If overall costs are going up it may well be the pitch price remains the same rather than a decrease it’s not just electricity that is increasing costs for businesses

 

[seasideBill]

We are paying 34.23p per unit including a discount of 17.85p per unit (email confirmation from EON.Next yesterday). Better check that rate as you might be wrong and it sounds like you are in the same sort of area as us.

Currently on fixed rate, will all change in January no doubt when it expires. I think £0.34 is the capped rate? Maybe log burners will be the next must-have accessory in our vans although (predictably) logs are now very expensive and difficult to source.

 

[Emmit]

If electric consumption is to be billed separately then the base pitch price should drop a bit.

And, in this case, that will happen.

 

[Fulham Dave]

We recently stayed on a CL and a metered electricity. Of the 10 days we were there, 5 were sunny, so we did not use electricity, just the batteries / solar / inverter. When checking out, we were charged an average of £6.50 per day for electricity!!! The owner thought this was very high. so when we go back in a few weeks, we are going to monitor it just in case the meter was faulty!!!

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[MisterB]

Having just fitted a 300ah lithium battery, we will be looking for places to stay without EHU as we don't usually stay anywhere longer than a few days then the drive between locations and 200w of solar on the roof (and I've just purchased 150 folding solar panel to supplement the existing) should hopefully mean we won't need EHU.
Of course it depends on what we are running and for how long and a microwave and induction hob will take a fair whack out of the battery - can't wait to start testing how long we can stay off EHU for!

In terms of paying pro rata for what you use, I've always assumed that charges for the pitch included enough to cover for what you 'might' use, so often you paid for more than you actually used (and no doubt some used a lot more than their expected use), only paying for what you do use seems to be a very fair option for both the site and the guest and being able to pitch up without EHU should be the common approach.

 

[MisterB]

We recently stayed on a CL and a metered electricity. Of the 10 days we were there, 5 were sunny, so we did not use electricity, just the batteries / solar / inverter. When checking out, we were charged an average of £6.50 per day for electricity!!! The owner thought this was very high. so when we go back in a few weeks, we are going to monitor it just in case the meter was faulty!!!

I have a fly lead with built in meter. It connects to the standard caravan/motorhome EHU lead... It was from when I had a boat in a boat yard and allowed me to check on my useage. Perhaps something similar might work for you?

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You could buy one, use it then sell it on again?

OUCH - just found the same one we have (hidden somewhere safely but I can't bloody remember where I put it!)

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[Fulham Dave]

I have a fly lead with built in meter. It connects to the standard caravan/motorhome EHU lead... It was from when I had a boat in a boat yard and allowed me to check on my useage. Perhaps something similar might work for you?

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You could buy one, use it then sell it on again?

Thanks Mr B, much appreciated- will defo keep in mind if it is a similar cost next time (we are only there 4 days)

 

[Ian.s]

As a park operator metered pitches are the only way forward, it has literally become the main topic of conversation within the industry. I had considered closing the Pitch side of the business for the future. Charges will have to go up. They have already and will in the future. I can't understand why we park owners are considered "robbing b------ds" by some on some forums. Most haven't the slightest idea of the costs involved and margins we have to work within. Its a simple case of economics. This is the price, do you want to stay... if not bugger off

 

[Ian789]

I’m gonna invent a gas powered telly, after all, they have valves, don’t they?

How about a clockwork one? . I bet you're good at winding things up.

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[MisterB]

As a park operator metered pitches are the only way forward, it has literally become the main topic of conversation within the industry. I had considered closing the Pitch side of the business for the future. Charges will have to go up. They have already and will in the future. I can't understand why we park owners are considered "robbing b------ds" by some on some forums. Most haven't the slightest idea of the costs involved and margins we have to work within. Its a simple case of economics. This is the price, do you want to stay... if not bugger off

Name me one industry/business that at one time or another havent been called 'robbing ,,,,,xx' it comes with the turf, just do what you need to do to make it worth your time and costings .... and dont worry too much about name calling.

we have a few rental properties and my wife runs it as her occupation, she gets fed up of a lot worse comments bandied about on forums/facebook/the media etc, about how renters are paying the mortgages for her properties, how badly she treats tenants (albeit not directed at her but to landlords in general), what a disgrace it is for anyone to own anything and make a living from it .....

 

[hja]

I think there will and are a variety of responses. I have seen CLs who are including a certain amount of electricity in the pitch fee and then metered above that. Some just all metering. I came across a CL the other day, u fortunately didn’t note its name, which is ditching electricity altogether. There was a review, may be on CL booking, about electricity prices and what some vans were using. I also fear that for some CLs it will be the final straw and they will close.
As for club sites and commercial sites if they just increase pitch price then that may be ok if the site has lots of attractions eg a holiday park. I think the CAMC needs to be careful however. Many are finding those prices too high (whether justified or not doesn’t matter) and going elsewhere, the club at its AGM predicted that 2023 would not be a good year and there seems to be anecdotal information about more empty pitches than normal, currently. And obviously most of their sites don’t have additional facilities like a holiday park.

 

[Gromett]

A few weeks ago I did some rough calculations of heating costs.
Electric vs Gas vs Diesel.

If you buy red diesel it appears to win. Gas vs Electricity is a wash depending on if you get calor/LPG and the cost of electricity. Not a lot in it as far as I can see.

So a <£100 chinese diesel heater and a couple of jerry cans of red diesel is the route I am taking.

 

[Tony50]

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

Motorhomes are very, very efficient at water usage. A weekend away for 4 of us would cost me 45p in water. I would be happy to pay for metered for that too.

Not a bad cost really , but , more importantly as a Anglian water user , you ought to have a look at the Data they collect about us it's shocking !! sorry about going off post

 

[corconx]

Very fair and valid comment Gaston aires, IF and only IF the site owner is prepared to let you stay and not use electricity..
IMV too many charge for electric whether you want it or not..

That was a problem when the two main clubs started to do it included. I remembered at that time in the motorhome list that was the foreigner are both fun and facts. We had a vote about it and I compiled all the comments and took it to the NEC that year. We were told it had to be done by law, and they could not separate the electric any longer, but they would review it the following year, they never have. There are comments like I will put the fan heater on and open the windows if I’ve got a pay for it when I don’t want it I’ll make sure it’s used.

That was the caravan club. I couldn’t get to speak to the Camping and Caravanning Club at the show, but I did forward him all the information when I got home. Neither Club has ever been run for us. It’s been run as a business to make money.

Carol

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[corconx]

Suits mse we rarely use EHU, all our vans the heating has been gas only, new one on order will be as well. Can't see the point of paying £650 for the electric option on the Truma then paying even more to use it. Gas works out far cheaper.

I we rarely have electric, unless it’s free on an air, and I only use gas for everything else. I don’t take any electrical appliances with me at all, except my phone and tablet, and Duncan takes his toothbrush and razor which he charges via our sterling inverter.

We set the motorhome up when we specified it as I’m sure. Lenny did as well to run offsite and not have any problems. The only thing is we have not got lithium batteries because at the time they were rarely available in a price bracket anywhere near what we could’ve afforded. I don’t take a hairdryer I just wash my hair and let it dry. I keep it short for that reason.

Carol

 

[poppycamper]

We were told it had to be done by law, and they could not separate the electric any longer,

Thank-you corconx .. AT LAST
... someone who can collaborate my statement made #59 that you used to be able to pay for a pitch and if leccy was required pay for that seperate.... So in essence 'every' pitch could be a non leccy pitch

 

[minesapint]

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.

The CMC and their Pet project of Glamping and tenting etc, are putting a strain on pitches for the core CMC member. Went on one site and we were told it was a good job we phoned when we did, as they are now fully booked.
On looking round the site there were no empty pitches for MoHo's or caravans, but rows of empty Glamping pods and tents, which apparently can be hired by non members, taking up needed pitches for members.
It made no sense that touring members cannot get a pitch.
The name CAMC should be a clue to the management, It is not The Caravan, Motorhome, Pod, Yurt and Tent club.

 

[Pausim]

When I last filled up with lpg it cost me 70p per litre and 1 litre of propane = 7.08kWh. By my calculation that equates to about 10p per kWh. Electricity is going to cost us a lot more than that whether we pay for it by meter or in the pitch price.

 

[Coolcats]

. Neither Club has ever been run for us. It’s been run as a business to make money.

Carol

All clubs have to be run as a business, you have income and you have expenses. Insurances licences equipment. Even if no one in a club is paid a wage it has to be run with diligence a surplus is desirable to pay for replacement kit or unforeseen expenses.

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