Electricity usage

[Buckman]

I'd just like know how much it'll cost using the van as it seems alot of places now have the added charge

Our experience is that it is the other way around with most places not having metered electric. It cost a site thousands of ones to meter each pitch. Then there is the hassle of refunding customers who do not use what they have paid for. In addition there is the possibility that the meters on each site would need to be calibrated and checked at the owner's expense.

Lastly the hassle if a customer accuses them of overcharging and escalates the matter. For many not worth the hassle and easier to simply increase the rental cost of the pitch.

 

[woodsieboy]

We had an e mail this week from Old Oaks, as of 1st March they are introducing an extra charge for electricity over and above the nightly pich allowance included in the booking. Seems each EHU has a Qcode you have to scan on arrival, enter your details and then will be charged, they explain it is to cover the extra costs involved in modern caravans and motorhomes from wet heating,and peoples running electrical appliances all day.Plus the increased cost of energy to the site.

We are there end of March so will see what happens,its not the extra charge that puts me off, its the Qcode as I don't have a smart phone !

 

[Gafferbill]

When there is a pitch charge for electricity by a meter the whole dynamics of costs change.

Fixed pitch cost.....then you can use your caravan's facilities for everything using electricity.
Metered electricity costs .....then it is cheaper to wash and shower at the block and wash dishes there etc. (if the block is free)
Then is it cheaper to use electricity or gas.
The OP's question can't be answered accurately as there are too many variables.

 

[Dustydog]

The OP's question can't be answered accurately as there are too many variables.

Maybe each caravan model should have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) like they do with houses for sale?

 

[Beardy]

It cost a site thousands of ones to meter each pitch.

The last site I visited (a CL) had something similar to this installed on each pitch. Add three enclosures at £25 each and £250 for an electrian to install them, and it's less than £100 per pitch. I used approximately £7 per day over the 10kW included in the pitch fee (as did the caravan on the next pitch) so the outlay could be recouped in 15 days.

Then there is the hassle of refunding customers who do not use what they have paid for.

The owner read the meter before our arrival and gave us a piece of paper with the reading on when she came round and welcomed us. There was a space for me to enterter the reading when I left. They checked the reading and sent me an email telling me how much I owed for the additional electric I'd used. Very much done on trust, I have no idea what would have happened if I'd failed to pay.

In addition there is the possibility that the meters on each site would need to be calibrated and checked at the owner's expense.

When was the electric meter on your house last calibrated? Mine hasn't even been looked at for at least 5 years.

Lastly the hassle if a customer accuses them of overcharging and escalates the matter.

This could be an issue, but if I were a site owner and this happened I'd simply write off the charge and ban them from using my site again.

I think we are going to see more and more sites adopting metered electric. As this happens people may switch to using unmetered sites in winter and metered sites in summer. As per my earlier post, I used 4 times as much electric on my last outing than I have when staying on metered sites in spring/summer/autumn.

 

[otherclive]

Maybe each caravan model should have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) like they do with houses for sale?

The biggest variable is the user, followed by the season/weather.

 

[RogerL]

I think we are going to see more and more sites adopting metered electric. As this happens people may switch to using unmetered sites in winter and metered sites in summer. As per my earlier post, I used 4 times as much electric on my last outing than I have when staying on metered sites in spring/summer/autumn.

I think sites open all winter are likely to be early adopters of meters.

I know of one site in the far north of Scotland that allows free use of the site in winter but £7/night for EHU - that was about 4 years ago before energy costs started rising.

 

[Beardy]

I think sites open all winter are likely to be early adopters of meters.

Without a doubt. But what happens if/when their winter bookings decline?

I know of one site in the far north of Scotland that allows free use of the site in winter but £7/night for EHU - that was about 4 years ago before energy costs started rising.

From my recent experience they'd be paying for people to stay with them if they were still offering the same deal.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Maybe each caravan model should have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) like they do with houses for sale?

In a sense they do, it's one of the NCC's checks before being NCC Approved.

 

[RogerL]

In a sense they do, it's one of the NCC's checks before being NCC Approved.

Isn't that just a tick-box exercise by the manufacturer?