Hidden cost of outdated power infrastructure

Outdated or undersized power infrastructure could be costing your caravan holiday park a whole lot more than a headache, warns Ben Johnson, General Manager of K-Mac Powerheads – a leading supplier of power solutions to parks across the country.

Ben says many parks are operating on wiring and switchboards installed decades ago, when a powered site’s running requirements were a fan and a night light. Today’s guests bring everything from coffee machines to air-conditioners, and it’s the gap between what that infrastructure was built for and what it’s now being asked to do where the cost creeps in.

As Ben explains, that cost isn’t just a bigger power bill, particularly when demand peaks.

“During certain times of the year you’re going to have more guests, and obviously the guest experience is so important these days, so they’re not going to be happy about downtime one bit,” Ben says. “Especially summertime, with hot days and air-cons running, if you’ve got outages because you’re tripping power or your infrastructure can’t keep up with the demand, that’s a big issue.”

While some parks are turning to diesel generators to get through the peak season, Ben sees this as an expensive short-term fix for a long-term problem.

“If you’re spending on diesel year-round just to run that site for six weeks, it’s time to do the math – especially with prices at the moment,” he says. “You might have to invest upfront, but the return on a good solar and battery system is going to be worth it.”

In any case, Ben says there is no substitute for due diligence.

“Start by doing a little bit of research with your electrician and go around the park to see what you’ve got there first because that could be a big cost saving there straight away, before you start thinking about your end goal.”

So, with that in mind, what other practical advice does Ben have for park owners and operators?

Watch this video with Ben to find out.

Why choose K-Mac Powerheads?

K-Mac Powerheads is accredited through the Industry Supplier Accreditation Program (SAP). Supplier Accreditation identifies businesses committed to excellence and who are strong supporters of industry. When you choose an accredited supplier like K-Mac Powerheads, you’re dealing with a company that strives for best practice in business management, sales and customer service.