Offering electric hook-ups at your campsite – is it worth it?

Do I need to provide electric hook-up at my campsite?

There is no rule which says you must provide electric hook-up (EHU) if you host on Hipcamp. Like WiFi, showers, and fire pits, it is an option which some campers are keen to have and others are not bothered by. Though there is no need to provide electric hook up, you might still choose to. Whether or not you should really depends on the type of Hipcamp you want to operate.

Campers heading for small tent-based campsites might be perfectly happy to live without electricity—in fact getting off grid and enjoying the simple life might be one of the reasons they are going camping. On the other hand, family campers who settle in for longer stays in large tents and those in campervans, motorhomes, and touring caravans might well expect electric hook up; and may only choose to stay on sites that provide it. Before you make your decision, consider the pros and cons of providing electric hook-up.

Advantages of providing electric hook-up

• Offering pitches with electric hook-up increases the number of Hipcampers who will consider staying on your site.
• You can charge more per pitch (depending on how you choose to charge for electricity)
• Campers can be more self sufficient; they can charge their own devices, keep their own food cool, provide their own lighting etc—which means you don’t have to.
• This may result in less cleaning and maintenance of communal facilities (like fridges).
• People with electric vehicles can charge their cars or vans while camping with you—either through the EHU points or through a dedicated EV charging point, which is easier and more economic to install at the time you set up the network.

Disadvantages of providing electric hook-up

• There is a considerable cost associated with the initial installation of the electrical hook-up infrastructure.
• There will be some upheaval with the initial installation.
• There is an on-going cost, with annual inspections necessary.
• The location of electric hook-up pitches may be dictated or limited by the electric hook up network.
• Tripping of electrics on campsite is fairly frequent—you may have to help campers when this happens.
• You will have to consider extra safety measures to mitigate the risks introduced by having electric hook-ups on site.
• Campers looking to get away from it all may be put off by being on grid and all the campsite “furniture” necessitated by it.
• The necessary additional cost per pitch may put some campers off (if you don’t also offer cheaper, non-electric alternatives).

How electric hook-up works on a campsite

The design, construction, and certification of the electric hook-up network and points on your campsite must be carried out by a suitably qualified electrician and must comply with the relevant British Standards. It should be tested and certificated annually. These things are usually conditions of any licence or exemption certificate granted in order for a camping or caravan site to operate legally.

The hook-up network on a campsite takes power from the source out to pitches, usually via buried cables to specially-designed bollards (available from specialist manufacturers) which carry outdoor socket outlets. Each needs to be no more than 20 metres from the pitch it serves, as hook-up cables, which campers bring themselves and use to connect their tent or motorhome to the socket outlet, tend to be about 25 metres. Typically, the supply is a 230-volt supply (the same as a domestic house) with a 16 amp rating.

You may choose to have a metered supply, with a meter on every pitch, so campers are charged for exactly the electricity they use. Or you may choose to include electricity at a flat fee, with a set cost for an electric hook-up pitch. A flat fee is attractive to campers but, with energy prices subject to change, this can mean a large outlay for Hipcamp hosts. If you go with a metered supply, campers will simply pay for what they use. You can choose to have pre-pay cards for campers to purchase and use on site or you can charge for what they have used at the end of their stay. The initial set-up costs will be higher for a metered option but it may pay for itself in the end.

How to install electric hook-up at your campsite

When it comes to the practicalities of getting electric hook-up installed on your Hipcamp, you need to use a qualified electrician. It is best practice to use an electrician who is approved by a recognised industry standards authority in the UK, such as:

• NICEIC – The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Construction (UK)
• ECA – The Electrical Contractors’ Association (England and Wales)
• SELECT – Scotland’s Electrical Trade Association 

Each of these bodies has a search function on their website with a list of members so you can find someone operating in your area. The furniture for the set up is available through specialist manufacturers including the following:

• Rolec Services Ltd
• Caravan Park Electrical Services Ltd
• Power Park
• HallGate
• QuickBit

Offering electric car charging at your campsite

One final thing to consider if you are adding electric hook-up to your campsite is whether or not to introduce an EV charging point as well. It makes sense to do this at the same time, if it is something you would like to offer campers. With the increasing number of electric vehicles on the market, demand for charging is going up and, by offering a charging point, it might just make your Hipcamp more attractive.

Technically, you can charge an electric car from a regular EHU hook up point, too, but it takes a very long time. Compared to regular EHU use, it also uses a lot of energy. So, if you plan to let people charge vehicles through EHU, it’s advisable to have a metered supply. If lots of people start charging their cars through your EHUs the costs can quickly ramp up.

This article was created by the Hipcamp team based on our years of experience, research, and local understanding. However, please note that this is still only our interpretation of UK regulations and does not constitute legal advice. Hipcamp does not accept responsibility for errors and omissions. Different conditions may apply depending on your individual circumstances and we recommend seeking professional advice on implementing the rules.

This article was first published on 18th March 2023.