Can no longer afford

There must. be more to the reluctance to install meters on sites than some think

I do not  think the CCC are going down the route of meters either and they have it seems also not gone down the route of electricity surcharges either?

At Brora, on the two non EHU pitches that you don’t seem able to book, the cost of electricity is £5.10 a night. Although strangely it’s the same now and when the site closes in November. We’ve booked an EHU pitch but I doubt our usage will get anywhere near that in early September, although by November it would likely be a different story.

I understand what Corners is saying. And I think Nellie’s point of view.

Essentially, the Club will be hoping to achieve an average income per pitch, per site, per year/season. That is indeed how it explained passing on the 70p-£2.50 per night surcharge back in April. It doesn’t matter how much electricity an individual uses, everyone is expected to pay an average the Club has allocated to the pitch price/per person. Members just rock up, plug in, and you fill your boots or not, in terms of electricity. That is what the Club has deemed as it’s fair way of dealing with the fuel costs. Legal, yes. Fair, questionable. Eco friendly, I think not. (Despite the limp request not to use too much electricity)

Is the Club reluctant?

This is a quote from the last AGM:-

In light of the green agenda and the ever-rising price of electricity, will the Club continue to offer members unlimited (and unmetered) electricity when they book a pitch with EHU, or will the club move to some form of metering in the foreseeable future?

The fairest way to charge for electricity usage would be based on consumption, and this would also likely influence usage levels from a sustainability perspective. Unfortunately, the cost of infrastructure and subsequent monitoring and payment mechanisms are significantly cost prohibitive at this time. Having said this, the Club is constantly reviewing the technology and opportunities in this space in order to identify cost effective ways of being able to deliver this type of arrangement in the future.

We have to accept that the Club have looked at the option but in their opinion at this point in time they don't think it cost effective or feasible. With cheaper renewables coming online all the time it is possible that we could see the price of electricity fall in the longer term once the influence of coal/gas/oil is diminished?

David

I see it slightly differently DK. The Club have agreed metering would be fairer, that it would show a better commitment towards green credentials.

It has vast amounts of money for site refurbishments/purchasing new site options. We know this because it’s ongoing both prior to COVID and during. So why not consider putting in some metered pitches as part of one of these refurbs? Doesn’t have to be the whole Site, if it’s a trial it’s easily controllable and measurable. (Don’t forget it bought that patch of land in Bristol, which it’s had for years, without planning permission)

Personally, I think there is some very creative pricing going on. Putting in meters would identify what the pitch price is, without electric. Leaving things as it is, inclusive, the Club can charge what it likes for a pitch, and Members are none the wiser as to what their personal electrical consumption is, and how much it forms a part of the overall pitch price. 

...using the same overall amount of electricity the surcharge is only £1.50 so bringing in only £49.50

But that's the point they are not using the same amount of electricity. Summer usage will be (for example) one third of the winter usage. Also in your example above you've just done one third of the units and not one third of the usage, As I said we think outfit, the club has to think site and it's not about covering anything in winter it's about the whole year.

Again there is an amount of money to be found due to increased costs. Imagine a strange site that can only have four outfits.

In winter one outfit will use say £12 of electricity per day, in summer £4. In winter there is only one outfit so the total cost is £12. In summer one week there are three outfits but as they all use £4 each that is £12 again. But if a fourth outfit appears the cost now is £16. An extra £4 in summer even though each individual units is using less electricity. and hence that's maybe why the surcharge is higher in summer - more units using more power.

I'm working from memory here but didn't the club say in the statement about the energy surcharge that they were aiming towards metering? I'm sure PD will remember as he welcomed the comment at the time.

Personally, I don't see that it matters how the club arrives at its pitch charging arrangement as we either pay up or walk away. I care not what proportion of that fee covers electricity, water, kiddies' play area or wardens' pay as it's the total that matters.

The advantage of metering, in my view, would be to encourage some to be a bit thriftier and would enable the club to adjust lekky prices (when legal to do so) without the need for major site fee revamping.

Legal, yes. Fair, questionable.

In my mind there is no questionable about it. It simply isn’t fair.

They have loaded it on the already high prices of peak season, when they know folk are unlikely to cancel. While those of us who use the sites out of season and particularly in the winter months benefit at their expense. I know this has always been the case, but as this was badged as a specific surcharge it would have been nice if in some respect it reflected reality.

I can see Corner's point and Nellie's. As for metering the way it was explained at a recent meeting was suppliers claims were not all that it seemed when looked a closely. While cost is a factor, I got the impression it was not what was holding the Club back. What was, was finding a system which was easy for members to use and not onerous on site managers. However as ususal the Club keeps members in the dark about progress.

With regard to costs per night with and without electricity, if you consider the C&CC costs to be similialr the difference is £6 per night. I have not used a metered pitch since the jump in energy costs but prior to this running the fridge and boiling the occasional kettle used 4Kw daily at a cost of  just under £1 (water heating and cooking done with gas)

I recently did 6 consecutive days off grid quiet happily with no constraints on battery usage. The only thing that stops us doing this all the time is the lack of off grid hard standing pitches. Make these available and I would probably stay off grid 90 percent of the time. Metering would produce the same result.

peedee

 PD, I looked at Treamble Valley yesterday, one of the sites that offers economy no hook up pitches. They are on the approach into the site, pre reception, all grass, no awnings allowed. The current price for an outfit and a couple is £27.70 per night.

For an extra £6.30 you can have a pitch with more security, a lot quieter in terms of passing traffic, put an awning up, have a hardstanding, and use as much electricity as you want.

I am not convinced that the Club is offering much in the way of value for money for those happy to consider a no hook up pitch with the Club.