Metered electricity - avoid it!

Dunclair replied on 06/05/2023 19:45

Posted on 06/05/2023 19:45

A couple of weeks ago we visited a site with a metered electicity system. I won't say which club the CL/Cs is linked to and I don't want to identify the site because the owners are striving hard workers doing their best. However:

Before booking I called the owners and asked about the metering system that I had learnt about on the club site. Whilst they didn't lie, they didn't tell me the truth. That was that I had to pay them in advance for electricity. They would then use their computer to put credit on a card that only they could use. One of them then came to the post and put the credit into the meter. I obviously knew how much I had paid but never knew how much electricity I had left. As it happened, the weather changed for the worst so I switched over to gas heating and the next day paid for a lot more electric - well over what I thought we would need.

The weather didn't improve and whereas we would have dealt with that and carried on on a "Normal" site, we decided to leave. The owners gave us a refund of the electricity we had not used but the stress of it all and the amateurish way it all sort-of-worked was just too much stress. Buggered up the holiday really.

My advice: Don't use them. In these times of rediculous power prices I understand why an owner would do it, but the whole pantomime is simply just too much hassle.

peedee replied on 11/05/2023 21:01

Posted on 11/05/2023 20:49 by Tinwheeler

Fantastic, PD, but a bit much to expect from a CL probably. Sounds more suitable for a big commercial set up 👍🏻

Posted on 11/05/2023 21:01

It was a 43 pitch site. There is a similar system in operation near where I am currently but there are only six pitches and no toilets or showers.

peedee

KjellNN replied on 11/05/2023 21:36

Posted on 11/05/2023 20:54 by Cornersteady

Charging for water? That's a new one? Even the most basic site will always have a tap with 'free water' I assumed.

Don't give the club ideas PD.

Posted on 11/05/2023 21:36

We used a site in France about 8 years back where there was a charge for MHs to fill up and empty, so much per 100litres, it was a very modest charge.  Fill/empty was available to passing vehicles too.

When you are not a domestic property, you will be paying for water via meter up here in Scotland, our son has a small farm, he personally does not farm but rents out the land, and his water is metered.   Metering on domestic properties up here is almost unheard of.

So a campsite would be metered.  We up here have plenty of water, but in many countries water is an expensive resource.

 

peedee replied on 12/05/2023 07:16

Posted on 12/05/2023 07:16

Photos of what I described. I may have been mistaken about cash being accepted, this one is certainly cards only. To get electricity select your outlet and touch the pad with your smart card. You may have been able to set the number of Kwh you required, not sure because I haven't used electric.

peedee

Cornersteady replied on 12/05/2023 07:41

Posted on 11/05/2023 21:36 by KjellNN

We used a site in France about 8 years back where there was a charge for MHs to fill up and empty, so much per 100litres, it was a very modest charge.  Fill/empty was available to passing vehicles too.

When you are not a domestic property, you will be paying for water via meter up here in Scotland, our son has a small farm, he personally does not farm but rents out the land, and his water is metered.   Metering on domestic properties up here is almost unheard of.

So a campsite would be metered.  We up here have plenty of water, but in many countries water is an expensive resource.

 

Posted on 12/05/2023 07:41

While campsites are metered or not is beside the point, I have never heard of a UK campsite, or even a CL for that matter that meters water, have you?

(and what happens in other countries is beyond this thread but thanks for the information) 

replied on 12/05/2023 08:01

Posted on 11/05/2023 21:36 by KjellNN

We used a site in France about 8 years back where there was a charge for MHs to fill up and empty, so much per 100litres, it was a very modest charge.  Fill/empty was available to passing vehicles too.

When you are not a domestic property, you will be paying for water via meter up here in Scotland, our son has a small farm, he personally does not farm but rents out the land, and his water is metered.   Metering on domestic properties up here is almost unheard of.

So a campsite would be metered.  We up here have plenty of water, but in many countries water is an expensive resource.

 

Posted on 12/05/2023 08:01

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

eribaMotters replied on 12/05/2023 08:09

Posted on 12/05/2023 08:09

I'm just trying to get my head around how much electricity people use. 

I've been keeping a record of how much electricity we use as since moving we only have electricity and this also runs our heat pump for hot water and heating.

Since mid March the most we have used for everything in a week is 92 units = 13 units per day X 33p = £4.33 plus standing charge.

These figures are for a 3 bedroom house, so surely some sites or caravan owners are taking taking the rise. Except for the earlier mentioned site wit a 15 units per day allowance.

 

Colin

SteveL replied on 12/05/2023 08:22

Posted on 12/05/2023 08:01 by

I have seen those chargeable filling points too but assumed it was for passing trade. Never seen any charge for water at pitches though.

Posted on 12/05/2023 08:22

One we stopped on charged for a max 100 litre fill at a dedicated station. Although there were push button taps the flow was minimal, it would have taken ages to fill a watering can.

KjellNN replied on 12/05/2023 11:09

Posted on 12/05/2023 07:41 by Cornersteady

While campsites are metered or not is beside the point, I have never heard of a UK campsite, or even a CL for that matter that meters water, have you?

(and what happens in other countries is beyond this thread but thanks for the information) 

Posted on 12/05/2023 11:09

What I have seen are CLs where they request that water is not wasted as it is metered.  Higher costs to them are bound to lead to higher costs to customers.

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