The Hidden Cost of Cool: How Air Conditioning Is Heating Up Campsite Electricity Bills
Air conditioning units like this can easily cost businesses over £30,000 during the summer months.
As hot summers become the new normal, air conditioning units are quickly becoming standard kit in campervans, motorhomes, caravans and statics across the UK. But while guests stay cool, site operators may be left sweating the cost — especially when electricity is bundled into pitch fees.
Small Devices, Big Impact
A popular 230V A/C unit pulls around 4.3 amps when cooling — equivalent to nearly 1kW of power.
Used for 6 hours a day over a 7-night stay, that single unit draws: 42 kWh total
At an average commercial electricity rate of £0.27 per kWh, that’s: £11.34 in electricity per stay.
Now scale that across your site — 60 pitches, half of them using A/C during hot weather, over a 90-night summer season: = £30,681 in absorbed energy costs
All hidden within your “inclusive” pitch pricing.
Why This Matters
Guests love the comfort, but many operators don’t realise how much energy — and cost — these appliances quietly add to their bottom line. Without proper metering, you’re relying on averages, guesswork, and goodwill.
You might be:
Subsidising high-usage guests unfairly
Losing visibility of your site's real energy profile
Undermining your sustainability goals
A Smarter Approach
With Metpow, each pitch is tracked in real time. Guests only pay for what they use, or you can set fair usage limits and see when they’re exceeded. It also means:
Transparent billing
Real-time alerts for site managers
Carbon offsetting options for guests
Less admin, more control
And guests? They get insight, flexibility, and a modern experience — all through their phones.
The Bottom Line
As air conditioning use rises and power-hungry appliances become the norm, “electric included” is becoming an outdated, risky model. Smart metering gives you the tools to stay fair, profitable, and future-ready.
💬 Want to see how Metpow could work on your site?
Drop us a message at hello@metpow.com or call 01803220372
