canpsite electric

[Compo1]

HI everyone out there, I have a touring van which I leave static on a site in the Dales. This winter the owners have put in new electric meters. These meters are pay as you go with a card which we take to the site office and top up. The site can charge us what it wants and I don't yet know how much. Is this resale of electric legal?

 

[AlfromYC]

Short answer is no, the site owner cannot charge you anymore than what he is charged for electric. Although they may be allowed to charge you `rent` for the use of the bollard

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Compo as Al has stated the excess charges for the electricity is for the pole, etc. This is where landlords in student bedsit land make a nice killing. Each room has its own meter and the extra charges is for this individual supply.

 

[emmitdb]

Hi Compo,

Not wishing to fall out with the two previous contributors but I am of the opinion that the site owner cannot charge you extra ie for use of the bollard.

This was the reason that the law was changed a few years back.

Whilst the site owner didnt have a meter he could say that he/she didnt know the consumption and charge you a rent but now there is a fitted meter I dont think he/she would have a leg to stand on by charging you rent for the bollard as well.

His business is getting rent for the pitch, not for the bollard otherwise there would be a coin meter on the toilets etc.

 

[AnnM1]

Please ...................... don't give site owners any more ideas - slot machines on toilets!!!

Seriously though, we had a seasonal pitch som years back and we had to use electric meter cards. This wasn't a problem, but we did keep an eye on useage as they do tend to expire at the most inconvenient of times.

My recommendation is to disconnect when not in use (at the time of leaving) and take a meter reading. When arriving take another reading. Some people have no problem with using your electics when you are not there!!! Its amazing how far electric cables can run. Inform the site owner that you are doing this and, if necessary, give him your 'reading'.

 

[VIP2006]

The way I have read the regulations on Electricity Usage is that the Site Owner who gets the bill for the whole site cannot resell that electricity to you at a higher cost than he is charged, and I have no doubt that some sites will ignore this fact and still charge you more than they pay for it. However how many of us question these matters, when we are on our holiday/break or leisure time and don't want any hassle with such matters, and I beleive some of the more ruthless operators know this when they try it on. IMHO