Quote: Originally posted by Dave and Cyn on 16/3/2026
All these differences in price for electricity and people wonder why I much prefer to stick to off-grid and solar 🤔
Off grid is fine in the warmer months perhaps, but if heating, water heating and cooking by gas, then the cost can be higher than the better metered EHU deals when you do the cost per unit calculations, and you can go through a lot of gas very quickly, so need to carry a lot or have a ready replacement supply nearby! Maybe OK for a short day or so break.
I had a delayed journey last Nov and finding myself having to take a 14 hours overnight unscheduled 'off grid' break, it was pretty cold overnight so heating was essential, and I was shocked by how much gas even low level heating got through! No fridge, or cooking, or water heating, just the van heating!
I always ensure my gas appliances are in good working order, for emergency use, but have never really done a 'off grid' stay where they are used in anger, so not much idea of gas usage. I'm now 'enlightened' as to how important an amply supply of gas is, either carried or nearby to purchase. If anything, it makes me more 'off grid' minded!
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 17/3/2026
If you can get by off grid then fair enough but we need TV and why not? We are not glued to it, but OH in particular likes his football.
Off-grid was fine when we were younger, but not now. No kids to keep entertained on wet days, with just the two of us we never bother with TV when we are away. If anything, it's good to escape it for a while. On wet days we both enjoy a good book. However, due to the age of our caravan we need EHU for our fridge and water heating. The fridge is a domestic mains-only one, and I fairly recently replaced our old broken gas water heater for a new electric one, on the basis that most sites are charging for electricity per-night regardless of how much you use. If I'm paying for it anyway I'll put everything on it that I can. If most sites continue to charge per night rather than per unit, I may even replace our gas cooking with electric too.
As for all the "optional extras", I go by the total price. If the "extras" put it over our pre-determined budget, we go elsewhere. Hence I don't mind if the cost of EHU per night is high, provided the pitch fees are very low.
Interesting read everyone! I've been a member of this site for over 20 years, first as a camper, then a caravanner, then a camper and in the next 2 weeks - a caravanner again!
When we last went out in our van we were going mostly in the school holidays, and I don't think anywhere charged extra for eletricity, but we were paying £40-50 a night.
I'd be interested to find out if those same sites now charge extra - for instance, do the CAMC now charge for electricity? They were always one of the most expensive sites we visited - I think they charged extra for all the "DO NOT........" signs everywhere!
We were on 4 CAMC sites in NE England over Easter. None charged extra for EHU, but were eye wateringly expensive with EHU included. All the CAMC sites that I’ve ever used in Scotland don’t charge.
I didn’t have time to investigate independent sites for Easter; most indie sites in Scotland don’t charge. Or if they do, their pitch fees are maybe half Club site fees, so they still cost less when EHU is added.
AFAIK, CAMC are still only charging for metered EHU on the original two sites they picked to trial the system.
They have now concluded the trialing tests, so I expect it will likely be appearing on more sites over time, but it's a big investment and somewhat disruptive to the infrastructure, so likely to be a slowish introduction rather than a mass changeover, and it was suggested some sites may remain with bundled electric, not metered.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Price of Electric per KWH
via mobile 16/4/2026 at 4:57pm
