Metered CL

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16Vfn7K9_d8RrCexPPzmxlcKlufeNy4kr/view?usp=share_link

I think that the link is now live, Ted!!

Reading the article I would appear that it is because of the way the author, and possibly many like him, had previously used their heating system and other devices, that has accounted for the high electric bills that site owners have had to pay and hence The introduction of metering. The ideas that he suggest are surely the proper ways that many responsible caravanners have always used, especially when staying on CLs and the like.

Left the metered CL today after a total of about 42 hours on site.

The "coins in the slot"  system was easy to use.  There was 26p on the meter when we arrived, and 15p remaining when we left, we put in £5.

Our total use was in the order of 15kWh.

We used electricity for the fridge, charger, TV, kettle and toaster for breakfasts, microwave (30 minutes), grill plate (30 minutes) and air con as it was very hot. We ran that for about 6 hours in total.

We used gas to heat dishwashing and shower water, cooked on the hob with gas, and also about 3 hours of fridge running as we were worried that we might run out of electricity overnight.

So, having saved £10 on the site fees, we spent £5 less than we would otherwise have done, but did use a little gas.

While the system was easy to use, it was a bit tricky deciding how much to put into the meter, plus some of our £1 coins were spat out again by it, £2 coins worked more reliably.

Thanks for the update K. A good result all round for you.

We are currently on a CS that offers no hook up pitches, saving £5 per night. The only thing we are doing different is using a bit of gas for our very small fridge. No heating needed, superb showers and even did dish wash last night up at service building. We cook with gas, so would use that anyway. No TV, we never use one, tech gear charged on the move. We are happy👍

Thanks Kj for feedback.

Interesting reading the report about HarryB's consumption. We would probably use less per day as we always turn the heating off overnight, even in winter, as we can't stand being woken up by the clicking of the boiler kicking in. In winter we would almost always close the windows off vent before sleeping. In addition our normal setting during the day, summer and winter doesn't vary much between 12-14º. OH would melt if heating set at 20.

We tend to use low wattage items and try to run on 1kw so Harrys experience gives us confidence we would be happy using a metered site for a fair reduction in site fee.

Yes,  no problem with the metering,  but coin in slot is not ideal, especially in cold weather if you are heating with electricity.

With all the bank closures, getting a stack of coins may not be easy , then unless you are aware of what your outfit uses, knowing what to put in is a problem.  

There was no info supplied on whether unused whole £s could be refunded and the owners were away, leaving their son in charge.  I suppose we could have asked him, assuming he knew.  Getting overpayments back would of course depend on someone being there to do it.

Some sort of card system might be better, but no doubt more expensive to install.   I think the coin system is fine when not using a lot of kWhs.

I would say that what our experience has shown is that the reduction in pitch prices proposed by the Club is unlikely to be sufficient at their unit prices.  We would definitely use gas a lot more at those electricity prices!  And might even consider using site facilities where provided.

"I would say that what our experience has shown is that the reduction in pitch prices proposed by the Club is unlikely to be sufficient at their unit prices. We would definitely use gas a lot more at those electricity prices! And might even consider using site facilities where provided."

I think this illustrates very well why CAMC are trialling metering. Knowing the cost of the metered electricity is focusing the mind. In the past it might have been used regardless with CAMC footing the bill. Now we know it’s going to cost 40p+ per kWh, circumspection comes into play.

My OH would have my suitcase on the doorstep if our heating was at less than 20 in winter!!   She cannot stand being cold.

We do not however heat at all overnight.

Strangely, she likes it cool in summer, ideal is 21 degrees, and starts wilting at 24.

Very interesting. But I do hope not many sites go down the coin meter process. I honestly do not know where we would get coins from. I do know bank will not give them out, in some cases even if you are a customer. I don’t think I would be very popular buying something small with a £20 note and asking fo all coins in change!

One would hope the CL owner might have a goodly supply of them, either from their own bank, like a retailer would, or from those previously used and meters emptied.

Mmm, ours will if they have a "business desk", but not otherwise.