Electricity meters
Comments
-
So if we reckon on using £5 (or more) electric in Winter and say £1.50 in Summer when most income is made does that mean that summertime fees may drop by (say) £3 perhaps assuming electric costs are evened out. So members then pay £1.50 towards installation costs and £1.50 for leccy in Summer. Nope - can't see a likely saving in summer. Hang on, what about Winter? Same £3 initial drop but £1.50 towards installation cost and £5 in electricity. I can see no savings in Summer and increases in Winter. Doesn't seem a good business plan.
As for excessive use of electricity all I see is folk keeping warm, maybe using a microwave, chilling food. So what is the typical member wasting his electricity on I wonder?
1 -
My view is the Club should be discouraging the excessive use of electricity, the current policy does quite the opposite. It encourages the investment in electrical appliances rather than in self sufficiency which in turn drives up pitch costs as more and more electricity is consumed.
So electrical appliances rather than self sufficiency. Biggest user of electric is heating and fridge for many. Substituting those with gas does not sound either green or self sufficient in the scheme of things.
4 -
that of course is completely your choice if you wish to live like this, and you, unlike some, are not preaching or trying to convert others to your life style. personally I think life is too short
I must admit though I find your comment:
Having to pay for what you use does concentrate the mind it is not stressful to not waste electricity, even on holiday, it is a way of life that we will all need to get used to
with all respect difficult to understand. I do pay for what I use and it does not concentrate my mind at all. I use whatever energy I need at home and on holiday to suit my lifestyle and needs at that time. I personally would find it exceedingly stressful to start double thinking about the way I live both at home and on holiday. If I want heat I'll have it, if I want to charge my whatever devices I'll do it, if I find I've left the charger on all night or a light on by accident well so be it, if I want (as I did) have lights on timers in the house while I was away I'll do it. and why should I, as you put it, have to get used to a different way of life?
0 -
Corners, we obviously have a different outlook on life, use our resources differently!
Use as much as you like is fine as long as you can pay, and the power is available. UK may, like the US, be running out of power in the future if we do not all moderate our use a bit.
We can pay, if necessary, but we choose to be reasonably careful and so be able to use our money on other more interesting things, like hobbies, travelling (mainly) abroad, our children and grandchildren.
We do not find it stressful to be careful with using gas/electricity, just sensible, and the way we were brought up. We are not suffering, if we need heat we do not sit and shiver!
i have noticed a change recently in how my relatives in Norway now use electricity. In the past ( 50 years back) electricity there was very cheap, it was actually cheaper to leave a light on than to keep turning it off as that shortened the life of the (much more expensive) light bulbs!
First time OH came to my parents house in Norway, she did as at home and turned off the lights when going to bed, my Mother was amazed!
Now I see that my sisters and other relatives are turning off lights at bedtime, looking for more efficient ways of heating.....electricity prices in Norway are way higher in relation to income than they used to be, so people are being much more careful. Not suffering or shivering, just being careful.
I don't know what your background is, but we both came from relatively low income families, we were both the first generation to go to university, our parents were not well off, so being frugal is part of our make up. My Dad was a fisherman, a hard life, my Mum stayed home and looked after the smallholding. My Dad wanted a better life for me so said I should go to university and study engineering, he was a wise man.
OH's grandparents were also seafarers, engineers on trawlers, also a hard life. They too encouraged their children to better themselves, so her dad worked in retail and her mum trained as a book-keeper. Later they started their own business, which involved a lot of hard work and no family holidays.
We have way more than our parents ever had, life for us is much easier than it was for them. We live well, we eat well, we have a nice house, a significant part of which we built ourselves, a nice new car every so often etc, but we are still careful with our money.
0 -
I could be wrong but I would have thought that if the Club were seriously concerned about the cost of electricity there would have been some indication of that concern beyond the odd notice in the toilet blocks? It would be easy enough for the Club to discourage the use of heaters in awnings which must be one of the biggest wastes of electricity there is. Balanced against that of course is that the hobby is often sold of the modern day advantages of caravanning and motorhoming being a home from home. Whilst some will be a bit more conscious of electrical use many won't. Perhaps a first stage is education?
David
1 -
I am surprised that the use of awning heaters is permitted, I believe many commercial sites ban them?
I wonder how many people use a "patio heater" at home. I have only ever seen them used by pubs and restaurants, I don't know anyone who actually owns one.
The inclusive charging structure does encourage a "use it as you have paid for it " attitude.
If we all use a lot of electricity, the Club will just increase site fees and membership fees to cover the cost, and most of us will just continue to pay.
Most of us belong to the Club for multiple reasons, CLs, insurance, ferry bookings etc etc, not just so we can use the sites.
0 -
I'm not sure that such a move can be considered 'progress'! Progress to what? That which possibly only a few would benefit from and actually want. No, 'progress' would need to be beneficial to the majority including the provider, the supplier and most of the consumers. Clearly, judging by this thread, not all of us consumers would be satisfied by such a proposal but I can see that there are a minority amongst us who have invested in off grid technologies who would jump at the chance to 'recoup' their costs by having this particular 'progress' in place. 'Progress' I guess is in the eye of the beholder of a particular stand point.
2 -
The only progress we will see will be rising prices due to overheads. It would interesting to know if the club intends to invest in technology to reduce dependence on mains supplies which in turn will reduce overall overheads.
There are smart technologies around but how smart is the club?
1 -
"The inclusive charging structure does encourage a "use it as you have paid for it " attitude."
I've seen this claim made repeatedly but wonder how true it is?
Kj, as you say, you are very careful with the se of electricity, so are we, as, I believe, are most folk these days. Why assume that others are "greedy and wasteful" (again, not your words)? Why think the worst of others?
2 -
Quite possibly because some see 'their' way as the best & only way, & denounce anyone who doesn't do the same. Gladly most of us realise they are a minority & dismiss this attitude & actually enjoy our breaks without being judgemental
2 -
KJ, rather than repost,
Use as much as you like is fine as long as you can pay, and the power is available. UK may, like the US, be running out of power in the future if we do not all moderate our use a bit.
I've head this said often, actually on here a few years ago that we would be out of electricity by now and look, it hasn't happened. Could you provide some evidence to back up your claim UK may, like the US, be running out of power in the future? I believe this won't happen at all.
Actually our backgrounds are the same.
1 -
The CMC have a policy of Electricity being included within the overnight charges. If you agree with that, enjoy your holiday and the benefits of CMC membership.
If you don't agree with the CMC and think they are wrong, the honest way forward, is to revoke your CMC membership and go elsewhere.
Simples !!!
K
0 -
I believe many commercial sites ban them?
again some hard facts here please, I know that the number of sites I look at round Troutbeck head do not ban them
If we all use a lot of electricity, the Club will just increase site fees and membership fees to cover the cost, and most of us will just continue to pay
Again this argument has been going on for a few years, and look, no large increase in site or memberships fees.
Most of us belong to the Club for multiple reasons, CLs, insurance, ferry bookings etc etc, not just so we can use the sites
Again how do you know this? What data do you have? Look at the full-ish nature of club sites over a season Look at the income site fees v other products. Also what relevance is that to using meters?
0 -
Hello and welcome back K
I so do also agree with you. If some cannot live with subsidising or being subsidised with their electricity, or want to pay using meters then why continue to come to club sites?
I have made this point so many times, the only answer I can think of is that they are forced to use club sites perhaps? or wish to change the current successful system to suit their own needs and views?
If you want meters go where meters are, the club offers this, you do not have to take it?
0 -
" ... If you want meters go where meters are... "
Of course that's sensible. The problem is sites with meters are very scarce in the UK - neither club uses them nor do the leading commercial chains like Haven, Morris, Park Leisure, nor do the majority of independent and family run sites, nor do the vast majority of CLs/CSs.
I wonder why that is if they're such a good and progressive thing?
0 -
Very good point, and like you can't understand why this is so, if the are such a good idea for all the reasons given by some on here, surely the owners must realise the future penalty to the planet by not spending lots of money to install them?
0 -
+1
0 -
Corners, and others.......
While looking at commercial sites a while back, I did notice several that referred to no heaters in awnings, but as I do not use an awning heater I'm afraid I did not make a note of the names at the time.
Reasons to be a Club member.....have we not all read on here of those who do not use the sites, but are still members? How many people that might be is impossible for me to know.
We also hear on here of those who rarely use gas, so they must be using electricity if they cook? The fact that it is included means people can use it rather than spend money on gas, OH tells me she needs more than one little electric ring to prepare dinner, so I expect many must be using additional electric appliances . Would they still do this if they were paying for their use?
Certainly we have a few electric items, though like others that go abroad, these are more so we can cook outside in warm weather rather than to save using gas. We have refillable bottles, so are not particularly bothered at using gas for cooking, cooling or heating if and when required.
Running out of power....as far as I can remember, this has been the subject of TV reports in the past, so someone is worried about it. Fossil fuel power stations are being shut down, nuclear ones take a long time to build, and generating enough renewables is often hampered by objectors, so if we are not careful we could well be facing shortages of electricity at peak demand times.
Our son works for a large US IT company , he tells us that over in Silicone Valley the prospect of power outages is one of their greatest concerns, and it has already come close to happening several times.
However, OH has now found that list of jobs I am supposed to be working through, and apparently we need to go out shopping too, so I'm afraid I will have to leave you all to continue the discussion or I will be in trouble!
0 -
I think most use some additional electric items. We use little gas normally as the largest consumer is heating and fridge and for these we use electric normally. We use an electric kettle as it is more convenient with regard to hob space. I like to the electric plate which is part of our hob because it is more controllable for many things. I will say that we don't use our microwave. The truth is however it is probably used 10 times a year for scrambled eggs or instant porridge.
0 -
....but the 'other club' offers a non-ehu facility on its sites....
its bound to reduce the overall electricity bill.....i don't really dont understand why folk think this is something that isnt, at the very least, 'really helpful' in this day and age and gives customers a bit more choice.
if metering seems beyond 'the law, fairness, cost' and whatever other reasons we have for not doing it, then surely allowing customers to use NO electric seems a good idea, especially if the site cant lose more than the cost of the electric that 'might nave been' used.....(the only way of coming up with a sensible charge/discount).
0 -
True, but we've been on quite a few C&CC sites in the last couple of years and there are very few vans/MHs who take up the non EHU option in my experience.
I mean, even your good self was using EHU on your recent stay at Salisbury if I recall correctly!
0 -
thought you were a champion of customer choice BB? Indeed you mention that in your post above.
If you want an optional EHU site go for the other club or to a site like where you are now (that you have elected to pay for the EHU I understand
). If you want a system like the club has now come to the club or a site where this happens.No one is being forced to come to a club site are they? But of course from the full nature of club sites it seems a lot of people do.
I await your response with interest
0 -
....but the 'other club' offers a non-ehu facility on its sites....
The answer is obvious then for those that don't want EHU. Vote with their wallet.
If, as I suspect, the lower use of electricity in summer is, in part, subsidising winter usage then a reduction of say £1.50 might be in order as the bollard is there and if somebody does not use it it still has to be provided and maintained.
With very few exceptions all CC pitches have a bollard. What is to prevent somebody saying 'no ehu' and then on a winters evening hooking up? Do we expect wardens to go around after dark in December and checking each non EHU user? Maybe put locks on each bollard with a key for the user? That way lies madness IMO.
0 -
Perhaps the "greens" could be banished to the following sites.......
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/special-offers/non-electric-economy-pitch-discounts/
0 -
The club does offer "economy" non EHU pitches but not to the extent offered by the C&CC. At Steamer Quay which is all non EHU it's not a lot cheaper (there are others facilities there.) So there are already options but I suspect that economy pitches are probably not as good as some EHU pitches on some of the sites.
1 -
yes they do indeed I had forgotten, I don't have any numbers so I wonder if they are popular?
0
