Smart Metering Trial
Exciting News! At Wyatts Covert Club Campsite we’re trialling Smart Metering, which means you will only pay for the amount of electricity you use during your stay.
The price quoted for bookings at this campsite excludes electricity (with campsite fees reduced accordingly) and we will only charge you for the precise amount of electricity you use during your stay.
This is something many members have been asking for and we’re really pleased to be able to trial it this year! Find out more at https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/smartmetering/
Comments
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Hi Kieran
Maybe you'd like to introduce yourself to the members on here?
JK
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What’s really interesting is to see the reduction in site fees 👍🏻
The gloom and doom folk reckoned there would be no reduction to compensate. 🤷🏻♂️
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The reductions are based on average usage I see. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out but a good move.
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If you look at the link in the OP it shows price reductions, however I didn’t see any unit cost for the electricity. I would assume they would have to tell you if asked. Perhaps it will be detailed on the App. Although as I am not going to stay there I will await site reviews interest.
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I see the reduction in July is stated as only £1, and that the unit price will be more than domestic prices.
From experience abroad, we know that our caravan fridge/freezer on its own uses 3-4 kWh per 24 hours, and at home we pay almost 35 p per kWh, so even at that price we would be spending over £1 without any battery charging, hot water, lights or TV.
A £1 reduction seems very mean!
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I'm all for a trial but I'm wondering whether Wyatts Covert is your "average" site to start such a trial.
I've stayed at this site on a number of times, mainly to gain access to London, so tended to be out for most of the day and sometimes well into the night so my consumption of electricity couldn't be treated as normal. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in using the site as a base, more than I would normally. In addition the site is used by a fair few workers who have to be in the London area.
Would the trial have been better at somewhere like Broadway or Chatsworth where members can use the site to return to more regularly through the day, maybe for lunch, etc.?
Just a thought, not trying to rain on anyones parade as I think the trial is needed.
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I would also be interested to know whom the OP is and feel it would be good manners to introduce themselves as there is no indication as to whom they are employed by.
I would also be interested to know whom the “Smart Meter online account” is with and wonder if different accounts may be needed for different sites if/when it gets rolled to more sites.
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I’m beginning to see why no one(CAMC management) likes posting on CT Tinster, not exactly open minds eh?🤷🏻♂️
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I am guessing the reduction is off the pitch fee element, so you will still pay the going rate per person.
It does say the Club pays a commercial tariff for its supply, not a domestic rate, but no idea what the rate per KW will be.
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Yep, so many posters said there would be no reduction but the example in the link says otherwise. CAMC must think they’re in a lose/lose situation😟
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I have always been what you might call a light user of electricity on campsites,fridge,battery charger and water/room heater.I object most strongly to the modern idea of awning heating,electric bbq,electric toaster,electric kettle etc.etc.So I for one will welcome metering just as long as the current all inclusive charge is reduced by the correct amount!!BUT.....we are talking about the holiday business that used to be known as a club for folk enjoying the outdoor life with a caravan!
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Seems to be quite complicated to me. I assume that by May when this starts the two sites in question will have site wide internet access, not just hotspots. There certainly is quite a lot of missing information, which hopefully will be supplied well before the trial starts. In particular, payment rate for the electricity. Also how the pitch reduction is calculated if more than one person staying.
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The biggest reduction is in months when you are likely to use a greater amount of electricity and the smallest in months when you will likely use the least. The reduction seems to be calculated to even out the overall price paid. Therefore, for an average user, the total paid should be about the same as the current fees.
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If the cost per KW hour is going to be higher than the domestic rate, at only £1 reduction in July I would doubt your conclusion. We would only have the fridge and battery charger on plus minimal hot water heating. If that costs only a pound per day I would be amazed.
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That sort of makes sense, I'm trying to get my head round it, but like Steve says £1 seems too small a reduction. At that price it is not worth it. Even at home rates just with fridge, battery charging and boiling a kettle I would use more than £1's worth. I think it is worth noting that before the inclusive price had to be introduced back round about 2003 the Club always charged a flat rate for EHU!
peedee
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The reductions are averaged by month but if you consider the smaller reductions to be insufficient, you must conclude that a rise in pitch fees is the result. I make no such judgement in the absence of a full explanation from CAMC.
Varying the price reduction according to time of year is surely a fairer way to do this than was the charging of a flat rate, whether separate or inclusive, irrespective of the seasonal variations.
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Thanks👍🏻, but I was alluding to the many calls from paying members for clarity & information, only to be sarcastically attacked by paying members when the information is supplied by(in this case) KieranBSMM & also many times by Rowena.
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I agree with you that varying the pitch price by time of year is fairest, however if we stayed in July, I would have to conclude that for us at least, it would almost certainly amount to a price rise. Since we have had the MH we are by no means above average users of electricity, especially in Summer. We no longer have any electric appliances such as kettle / toaster, so would only be heating a bit of water in the Truma in addition to running the fridge and battery charger.
I don’t really understand why the discount is £2 in August when climatic conditions are similar.
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It’s a bachelors degree in marketing👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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August = school hols with sites fuller and more folk/children per unit which meant in the past electricity use was higher than in July. Therefore, the compensatory reduction to be given in Aug is higher than that in July when, historically, usage was lower. It’s not only climate that affects usage. That’s just my understanding of it mind.
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I disagree SL, the fact they help is enough, the fact they are there is enough. Not everyone was trained in the art of last century open doors. I know why they help but they don’t open doors for others to stick their foot in. Younger folk are brought up to know how bad it is to open up too much to strangers. The main reason older folk are preyed upon by scammers is the fact they are too trusting with their personal information. Everyone should be more cautions. I fully endorse the modern attitude, its survival.
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