Smart metering - use less, save more

New energy saving options that help you save more

As part of the Club’s roadmap we’re introducing new ways to help our members and guests consume less electricity whilst staying on our Club Sites with us. Helping to lower the costs for the Club (so more revenue to reinvest in improving Club Sites), enable lower site fees and support a better outcome for our planet. It’s win, win, win!

This page tells you about the smart-pitch metering we have in place at Wyatts Covert Club campsite, plus, our ‘Non-electric Saver’, electricity ‘opt-out’ opportunity in place at five of our Club sites which allows visitors to simply choose to use no electricity on any pitch, and save on pitch fees. Read on for details.

On-pitch electric 'smart metering'

Many members and guests are keen for us to introduce on-pitch electric metering to help us lower campsite fees and put you in control of how much energy you use.

Our first ‘smart metering’ Club site is Wyatts Covert Club Campsite in Buckinghamshire.

Smart Metering gives members and guests direct control over the energy they use, encourages lower electricity consumption and allows the Club to set the lowest possible pitch fees. To date, smart-metering at Wyatts Covert has led to a reduced pitch electricity consumption of around 42%.

How does Smart Metering work?

Smart Metering enables us to measure the amount of electricity consumed by members and guests when plugging into the electrical hookup (socket on the bollard) allocated to your pitch. Similar to how many of us use a smart meter at home, we will only charge you for the precise amount of electricity you use. This allows us to reduce our campsite fees and puts you in control of how much electricity you use. We’re planning on introducing a simplified process to make using our metered pitches easier, in late 2024.

Are site fees lower now that electricity is metered?

Yes. Wherever we have a smart-metered pitch, the pitch fee will have been adjusted to reflect the fact that electricity is paid by the member or guest separately. Initially this led to the Club lowering pitch fees at Wyatts Covert on average across the year by over £5 per night (based on one pitch, two adults), and up to £9 per night during winter months of 2023/24. To date, members have spent on average £3.30 per night on metered electricity and an average of £6 per night during the colder winter months.
Now we’ve had metering in for a while, the pitch fees are simply reflective of the cost of electricity being excluded (i.e. pitches are put on sale at the electricity saving rates). For 2024 and also 2025, pitches have gone on sale with no annual price increase at Wyatts Covert.

How much can I expect to pay for electricity through the Smart Meter?  

You will only pay for what you consume, so the amount it costs will depend on your personal usage: using less means you save money. The cost of electricity for the coming summer is reducing by 42% in 2024 due to an improved commercial tariff from wholesalers (table below).

The kWh charged to our members and guests will reflect the same costs that the Club is paying, with no additional charges other than VAT at 5% which is compulsory. The Club, as an organisation, does not benefit from any domestic energy pricing cap protections, and as such needs to secure its energy based on business rates.