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Electric Metering at Hartington Hills
Introducing Metpow Smart Metering
From January 2027, Hartington Hills are teaming up with Metpow to introduce metered electricity on our fully-serviced touring pitches. The system is able to monitor electricity use in real-time, ensuring a fairer use of power across the site, and reduced energy consumption for the benefit of the environment.
To find out more about why we've decided to implement this technology, please see our blog post here: Smart Metering at Hartington Hills
Quick Start Guide
Metpow have put together a very useful quick start guide to help you set yourself up for using your hookup. Have a quick look before you arrive because steps 1 & 2 can be done before you arrive to make the process smooth when you get here:
Fair Usage Policy
We have opted for a fair usage policy rather than a pay-as-you-go system. We understand you've already paid for the pitch, so we're including 10kWh per pitch, per day, free of charge, increasing to 14kWh over Winter (November to February). Your free energy allowance will be rolled over, so if you use less energy on day 1, the energy left will roll over into day 2 and so on.
Charges
For complete transparency: Hartington Hills pays 27p per kWh in the day time (between 7am and midnight), and 21p at night (between midnight and 7am). For any energy you use above your allocated free energy, you will pay 27p per kWh in the day time and 21p per kWh in the night time which is exactly what we pay.
An example would be: if a caravanner is staying between March and October and uses 20kWh per day and they stay for 3 days, they would pay for the extra 10kWh they used per day. This is a total of 30kWh @ 27p per kWh = £8.10 for the whole stay, or £2.70 per day. This example assumes all excess energy is used in the day time. If it was used in the night time, the overall cost would be less.
In Conclusion
To summarise, there's no need to be worried about this. The majority of campers won't have to pay a penny. What we provide for free is much more generous than other sites we've researched.
There is an FAQ section below. Hopefully we have answered most of your questions here, but if you'd like clarification on this new system, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Can I pause my electricity supply while I'm out?
If you pop onto the app, you can easily pause your supply anytime to prevent you from using energy when you don't need to. Remember to re-engerise yourself using the app when you get back.
What if I don't want to download an app?
Talk to our wardens on arrival, we can set you up manually at Reception so you don't have to worry about downloaded an app if you don't know how to.
I haven't received my verification email after signing up
This can happen if you've entered an incorrect email address. Please call us or come to Reception where we can change your details in the system and send out a new email.
Will unused energy be carried over to the following day?
Yes, it will. Plenty of sites don't, but we feel you shouldn't have to pay for excess energy used when you saved the day before.
Can I ensure I don't go over my allocated free power?
If you're struggling to stay within your free power allowance, try switching over to gas which is generally cheaper per kWh than electricity. You can also use the Metpow app to pause your power while you're out for the day. Never heat your awning using electricity - you'll literally be heating the hills of Hartington!
We've already paid good money for our pitch, why charge more?
You'll only be charged if you're using an excessive amount of power, we explain our reasons in this blog post which we encourage you to read: Smart Metering at Hartington Hills
Pre-authorisation: Has money been secured in your account?
Metpow uses pre-authorisation to ensure you have enough money in your account, and to check that your card hasn't expired. This money is 'on hold' and will not be actually taken from your account unless you use above your allotted free energy. Any pre-authorised funds will be released back into your bank account automatically when you leave. It's just like paying a damage deposit on a hire car.
I ended my session on the web app, how can I turn it back on?
Get in touch with Reception who can switch you back on again.
Why am I using more electric than at home?
The electric meters inside the bollards are MID compliant and process accurate data. Multiple checks take place before the data is published for you to see on your app. Appliances designed for your household are more efficient than caravan appliances. As well, caravans and motorhomes are far less insulated than your house, so a lot of your heat will escape through windows and walls, requiring more power to keep you warm. Electric water heaters and showers in caravans are also much more inefficient than models designed for a home.
I'm seeing pop-up ads on the app
This happens when using a third-party QR code scanner. Only scan the QR code inside the Metpow app.
How can I extend my stay without losing power?
Pop to Reception and let us know you're extending so we can manually extend your stay with the Metpow app.
