Quote: Originally posted by Pixie_Hez on 20/12/2025
I’ve just followed the link on the email from Swiss Farm to their website where they explain why they are changing to metered electric. They give figures from last year where they state
“One guest used 878 kWh over a 28-night stay — averaging 31.4 kWh per day”
I’m wondering how anyone could use that much. Thinking back to last year when we were on a metered site, we didn’t use heat as it was mild weather but with everything else including water heating, we averaged about 6kWh a day. Maybe my calculations are wrong but if we had run our heating on the 2kw setting for 10 hours a day (which we would never do) and assuming it was running at full pelt all that time (rather than clicking on and off with the thermostat) that would use a maximum of 20kWh. To average 31.4kWh you would need to have the heating on pretty much 24/7
I'm astounded that anyone can AVERAGE over 31kWh a day!
I've taken to monitoring my EHU usage this season with a meter installed in my van, and on a recent stay (Nov) in a chilly (down to single figures over many nights, and only low double figures during the day) and VERY wet Lake District (it was much flooded and under flood alerts for most of my 3 week stay), I averaged under 17kWh per day, and only peaked on ONE day at an exceptional 30.8kWh of extremely heavy use.
I use electric blown air heating (Truma Combi) and occasional fan heater for a boost, electric water heating (I use the van shower, as well as for other uses like washing up several times a day), electric hob on the cooker and microwave for self catering cooking, plus the usual TV, lights, battery charging, fridge and additional camping freezer, appliance recharging etc. My most modest use of power on that trip was 8.25kWh per day, which I achieved on several days, despite all the appliance usage and spending most of the day in the van as the weather was atrocious and really only ventured out for fairly brief dog walks.
I consider I'm quite a heavy user of power, as I will utilise the bundled EHU whenever rather than use my own expensive gas to power things, and I use my onboard facilities rather than site facilities. But I'm a 'reasonable' user I believe, I don't attempt to heat the awning, I don't fling windows and roof vents wide open with the heating still running flat out, I don't even leave the door open even if just stepping outside for a brief period.
To use an AVERAGE of over 31kWh a day, you really have to be abusing the EHU, I don't believe you can achieve that in 'normal' use! I wonder if EV charging was involved? About the only other way you are likely to use so much is by heating an awning 24/7!
During the warmer summer months, despite being very self contained still, and even running A/C occasionally instead of heating, I averaged a little over 8kWh/day, with minimal use as low as a little over 4kWh/day!
The CAMC have just published their findings from their metered EHU trials, and declared them a great success, claiming a 45% average decrease in power usage compared to pre-trial. That does rather imply there are some very wasteful users when it's 'free' EHU! I don't see my usage falling much on metered EHU, as I'm a mindful user, so less scope for reduction.
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I tend to think that with paid-through-the-nose (un-metered electricity) there may be an element of "I'm paying for it so I'll use it". Even in my own case I decided on an electric replacement water heater largely on that basis, with most sites charging on a fixed amount per night basis.
A little bit of breaking news. Apparently the CMC in their latest magazine have informed members that all Club sites will be moving to metered electricity.
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 22/12/2025
A little bit of breaking news. Apparently the CMC in their latest magazine have informed members that all Club sites will be moving to metered electricity.
David
I suppose it's inevitable really. Sites will use whatever method makes them the most money. They were forbidden to sell electricity for more than they paid for it so they switched to making people pay for an "electric pitch" regardless of how much they used. That led to people thinking "if I'm going to pay for it anyway, I might as well make the most of it." Hence the switch back to metered. It's a case of "heads they win, tails we lose!" I haven't yet heard anything from the C&CC which we are members of, but then we don't often use their sites anyway, unless they are the best option in the area we want to go.
------------- Best Regards,
Colin
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Not heard either. We are on a small commercial site now, New Park Farm, 2 miles from Mildenhall, £25 all in. Has loos and showers and of course EHU, free WiFi. Fine for a couple of nights.
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 22/12/2025
A little bit of breaking news. Apparently the CMC in their latest magazine have informed members that all Club sites will be moving to metered electricity.
David
That's not quite the way I read it, the statement was "... a wider rollout" after successful trials! That does not necessarily mean EVERY site nor in the immediate future.
There's a lot of infrastructure involved, so a lot of expenditure for the club. Very much like the site wide Wi-Fi, which even after a couple of years has not been implemented on all sites yet. It'll likely be metered EHU on most if not all sites eventually, but don't see it happening overnight, more like years.
I actually see this backfiring on the Club, as many of us who have debated the topic have said, "we are low consumption users", that effectively means the majority are likely to be effectively overpaying for bundled EHU, and we are putting money in the Club coffers for unused power that we pay for in the bundle and don't use or incur cost to the Club! With the reduced pitch fees, and EHU paid for directly by usage, the Club is going to see a reduction in revenue per pitch! How long before the Club bean counters see this as unacceptable and move to hike pitch fees? We'll likely be paying more expensive pitch fees (perhaps near current bundled EHU rates) with metered EHU on top!
The Club bean counters don't seem very bright, they have implemented a number of strategies in recent years that superficially would seem to benefit the Club, but members rebel and don't engage, so the Club's income actually falls! They have back tracked on pitch pricing quite heavily, as bookings took a real hit with unacceptable/uncompetitive pricing, and members bailed out of the Club in protest, not renewing membership, so they both lost pitch booking revenue and membership income! Unless the Club learns from past mistakes, I see potential for widespread metered EHU not working to the Club's benefit!
Who knows how much the Club's bundled EHU fee is/was? But £5-£8 extra is a common figure for commercial sites. Now the alleged near 32kWh/day usage works out at well under £9/day on metered £0.27/unit charge, so hardly bankrupting figures! My typical winter usage would be well under £5/day, and my summer usage a little over £2/day. On average, I'd be surprised if current bundled charges don't well and truly cover costs, especially in summer, the extreme heavy users have to be a minority and overall averaged across all site users EHU costs have to be covered.
Metered EHU may well reduce consumer consumption, but it also likely reduces Club income too!
I have not yet seen the magazine but the info was on the CMCForum. I imagine the Club will be looking for it to be as cost neutral as possible? They do now have the experience of several sites using metering including the recently refurbished Steamer Quay at Totnes. Back in 1981 when I joined the Club not all pitches had access to electric hook-up and if you needed it you had to make sure you booked. Things move on and I wonder if other organisations and individual sites will be more encouraged to switch over having seen a major player go down that route? Sadly a bit academic for me now but I certainly wouldn't have had a problem with the change.
David
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Topic: Another One Switches to Metered Electric
via mobile 23/12/2025 at 7:53am
