The increase in electricity prices in 2022 has affected everyone, consumers and businesses alike. Campsite ownershave also had to deal with the high cost of electricity, leading them to reconsider their energy policies by abandoning the all-inclusive pricing model in favor of a payment system based on actual consumption. A survey by the Dutch ACSI has documented this ongoing shift, detailing the experiences of several campsites that have chosen to forgo the all-in price, and the sentiments of campers in response to this new approach.
According to the research conducted by ACSI, campers’ awareness of energy conservation has significantly grown. Nevertheless, they would still prefer to pay a price that includes the costs of electricity used during their camping stay. In fact, nearly 60% of respondents claim to have a “reasonable understanding” of the choice for a consumption-based payment system, with about 30% even being “very understanding.” However, almost half of the respondents still prefer an all-inclusive price that covers the energy costs of their pitch. The majority consider an amount between €2 and €3.99 for energy consumption to be a reasonable price.
Furthermore, 47% of campers state that they would be more mindful of their electricity consumption if they had to pay an extra fee. Additionally, 72% claim to be more conscious of their energy consumption at home, now that costs have increased significantly.
The campsite experiences
ACSI has also gathered experiences from several campsites that are adopting new solutions to redesign their energy policies. One of these is the Luxembourg campsite Nommerlayen, which has been a pioneer in this revolution for the past seven years. Campers here have been paying for the electricity they consume. The arrival of electric cars prompted the change in energy policy. The increased demand for energy highlighted the unfairness of the all-inclusive system, as explained by Eline Buehre, the campsite director: “Previously, people paid €3.75 per day for campsite electricity. One person would make a cup of coffee in their tent, while another would keep a radiant heater on in their awning tent from early morning till late evening. Yet, both paid the same price.”
Now, consumption is metered for each camper. “Every camper pays an advance for energy at the time of booking – 6 kilowatt-hours per day. If they consume more, they pay €0.70 per kilowatt-hour, and if they consume less, they are reimbursed”. Energy meter readings can easily be done at the reception. And in unoccupied areas, the power poles are simply turned off. This choice has also paid off in terms of reduced energy consumption, which has been cut by 40%. Eline Buehre concluded: “Since people pay for their consumption, they have become much more frugal. Currently, we consume 40% less energy than when we had an all-in price.”
Base tariff for all, additional consumption charged separately
The De Molenhof campsite in Reutum still uses an all-inclusive tariff but has already started the process that will transition it to an energy measurement system next year. “By the end of this year, we will replace all power poles at the pitches and integrate the Smart-Camping system. This way, we can easily monitor campers’ consumption during their stay,” explained campsite owner Gerbert Kleijsen.
Starting in 2024, campers will have a base tariff with extra kilowatt-hours charged separately. There is also consideration for offering campers in tents and self-sufficient campers the option to not purchase any electricity. For the future, another system is being considered: prepaying for energy. Campers will be able to purchase a number of kilowatt-hours at the beginning of their stay and will receive an automatic notification when they have consumed 80%. At that point, they can choose to buy more hours or consume less (avoiding the need to pay extra later).
All-Inclusive tariff for the self-sufficient campsite
Another experience comes from the English campsite Woodovis Park, where owner Anthony Ell opted for a sustainable solution. Since the end of 2022, the campsite has become entirely self-sufficient. This allows the campsite to offer an all-inclusive tariff without being affected by energy price fluctuations.
All the campsite’s electricity is generated by 202 solar panels and stored in large batteries. This enables them to keep prices low and provide all services, including the pool, sauna, and hot tubs. The pool water is heated using a heat pump, and the restroom block has a special solar panel system to heat the water. The campsite is also fully self-sufficient when it comes to water, as they have their own well. This £150,000 investment seems poised to be repaid in less than the initially projected two years.
Photo credits: ACSI
TTG Travel Experience and InOut | The Contract Community 2024 edition were a success