Resale of Electricity

[John_22]

Now old and out of date

No Longer Relevant

 

[clyst]

Dozens perhaps hundreds of marinas are charging illegally high prices for electricity. For details on what they should charge see PBO February 2014. I am compiling a list of marinas which are overcharging. Please send me the name of your marina and the price per unit (kWh) of electricity. I intend to send the completed list to OFGEM and the BBC.
Thanks
John

Wow new user and on a mission already ! Hmm not even a friendly hello .

 

[pvb]

The unit price is largely irrelevant, because many marinas also levy a "service charge" for providing the necessary infrastructure.

 

[Sybarite]

Dozens perhaps hundreds of marinas are charging illegally high prices for electricity. For details on what they should charge see PBO February 2014. I am compiling a list of marinas which are overcharging. Please send me the name of your marina and the price per unit (kWh) of electricity. I intend to send the completed list to OFGEM and the BBC.
Thanks
John

Locmiquélic : free

 

[sighmoon]

The unit price is largely irrelevant, because many marinas also levy a "service charge" for providing the necessary infrastructure.

I'd prefer to pay over the odds for it, than not have it at all.

 

[VicMallows]

Or the really wicked 'fixed charge' no matter how little you use.

 

[GrahamM376]

The unit price is largely irrelevant, because many marinas also levy a "service charge" for providing the necessary infrastructure.

In the days we had flats and bedsits, there was a maximum unit price I could charge plus an additional daily amount (also capped) for standing charge. I would be surprised if marinas come into the "residential" rules.

 

[prv]

In the days we had flats and bedsits, there was a maximum unit price I could charge plus an additional daily amount (also capped) for standing charge. I would be surprised if marinas come into the "residential" rules.

I don't think it's residential, it's a general regulation on the resale of electricity by entities that aren't licensed energy companies.

Pete

 

[tommydortez]

Dozens perhaps hundreds of marinas are charging illegally high prices for electricity. For details on what they should charge see PBO February 2014. I am compiling a list of marinas which are overcharging. Please send me the name of your marina and the price per unit (kWh) of electricity. I intend to send the completed list to OFGEM and the BBC.
Thanks
John

You'd be better off buying a generator!

 

[GrahamM376]

It is illegal for anyone in England, and probably the whole UK, to resell electricity for more than they paid for it. Since reading the article in February Practical Boat Owner I have studied the OFGEM regulations. There is a whole section relating to marinas There is one exception which is when a landlord supplies electricity to a business.

Thanks for all replies, my list is slowly increasing.

John

At the end of the day I doubt you will achieve a reduction in overall charges, they will just increase berthing rates to recover what they may lose on power and of course the increase will have to recover any legal representation, fines and court costs which may be imposed by any such action. No doubt the end result will be higher berthing costs than if a "blind eye" were turned.

 

[jerrytug]

It is illegal for anyone in England, and probably the whole UK, to resell electricity for more than they paid for it. Since reading the article in February Practical Boat Owner I have studied the OFGEM regulations. There is a whole section relating to marinas There is one exception which is when a landlord supplies electricity to a business.

Thanks for all replies, my list is slowly increasing.

John

That's very interesting John. For the luddites among us, would you be kind enough to provide a hot link to the 'whole section relating to marinas'?
We could perhaps permanently post it on the forum, as this subject frequently arises. Hopefully it might end in fairer charges!
cheers Jerry.

 

[maybh1]

Just as an aside to the OP - I booked our motorhome into a campsite so we can attend Silverstone. The motorhome is just under seven metres.

The cost - 3 nights £250.00
Electricity - £60 for the 3 nights - I did decline!!

Makes the moorings and electricity for our 44 footer seem almost reasonable

May
Xx

 

[sailor211]

I cannot see it being reasonable to force marinas to supply the infrastructure for free. The will not and will find a way around it, probably increasing the fixed charge for the berth. So increase for me even with no requirement for electricity most days.

This has been discussed before and there were were changes in the charging system in the marinas that i use some years ago.

 

[pvb]

It is illegal for anyone in England, and probably the whole UK, to resell electricity for more than they paid for it. Since reading the article in February Practical Boat Owner I have studied the OFGEM regulations. There is a whole section relating to marinas There is one exception which is when a landlord supplies electricity to a business.

You know, I'm sure you're well-meaning, but I really don't think you fully understand the legislation. Electricity supplied to most permanent berth-holders in marinas is metered. The cost of that metering is paid by the marina usually, and can be recovered from the berth-holders as an additional charge, perfectly legally.

Casual berth-holders visiting the marina typically pay an un-metered nightly rate, and again this is perfectly legal as long as the nightly rate is set fairly realistically.

If you want to try to stir up a furore over what you think are "illegal" electricity charges, you ought to spend some time understanding the legislation before you make a fool of yourself.

Ofgem guidance specifically says "Maximum retail price only applies to the cost of metering services if those services are supplied as part of the supply contract between the authorised supplier and the reseller. If the reseller purchases these services separately ... or provides his own metering equipment, the price which he charges his customer for those services is not subject to the maximum price."

The marina I use charges about 11p a unit for electricity (about the same as I pay at home), but charges £18 a quarter as a standing charge to cover the costs of metering, etc. That's perfectly legal.

If you're still doubtful, see the Ofgem publication which I quoted from - https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/74486/11782-resaleupdateoct05.pdf

 

[Modulation]

Not UK but for interest - Dunkerque Bassin de la Marine - free. But it needs the button to be pushed every 12 hours. Not a problem when we're there

 

[pvb]

My main reason for starting this was because I read "Are marinas displaying a shocking disregard for electricity price rules?" page 12 February 2014 Practical Boat Owner. You really should try and read this. Some marinas are charging 30p per unit.

You need to realise that magazines (even IPC magazines) aren't noted for the accuracy of their features. They just have to fill a few pages between the adverts, and it seems almost anything will do. You say some marinas are charging 30p a unit; are they also charging a service fee to cover their metering costs? If not, they are able to adjust the resale price to reflect their metering costs. It's all allowed for in Ofgem's rules.