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"A Case Study in Transforming Energy Management with Wild Energy Smart Meters\n\nExecutive Summary\n\nThis case study highlights the significant impact of Wild Energy's smart metering system on a prominent RV park and campground, leading to a 25% reduction in energy costs, enhanced operational efficiency, and the ability to accurately bill short-term guests for their energy usage. This comprehensive transformation showcases the value of smart metering in improving both operational management and guest satisfaction.\n\nSites: 800\nAvg Occupancy: 100% August- December \n\nAvg Occupancy: 70% January-July  \n\n\nClient Background\nThe RV park and campground, now in its 25th year of operation, is strategically located near a major university, attracting a diverse clientele of visiting parents, snowbirds, and football fans. With 800 sites spread across two parks, the resort offers a vibrant atmosphere, particularly during football season, featuring amenities such as shuttles and dining experiences. The park has an average monthly electric expense of $31,000.\n\n\nChallenges\nBefore implementing Wild Energy meters, the park faced significant energy management issues:\n\n\nManual Meter Readings: Reliance on excel sheets and pegboards led to frequent user errors and lack of transparency. Maintenance staff, shared with another business entity, were burdened with meter reading tasks, reducing their availability for other essential projects.\n\nGuest Satisfaction: The lack of real-time data on energy usage caused mistrust and frequent disputes with guests, impacting overall satisfaction.\n\nOperational Costs: The inability to accurately bill short-term guests for their actual energy usage meant higher operational expenses, as the park had to cover the costs for these stays.\n\n\nDecision to Switch\nThe decision to switch to Wild Energy meters was driven by the need for automation, efficiency, and better cost management. The key features and benefits that influenced this decision included:\n\n\nAutomation and Efficiency: The ability to automate meter readings and generate reports for input into the Camplife rate management system. (WE team working on integration) \n\nReal-time Usage Tracking: Checkthemeter.com provided guests with real-time energy usage data, enhancing transparency and trust.\n\nBilling Accuracy: The system enabled accurate billing for short-term guests, significantly reducing the park’s operational expenses.\n\nMeter Replacement: park was already swapping out 10% of their meters every year already. Refurbished. (ask Kim to verify) \n\n\nImplementation\nThe installation process of Wild Energy meters was seamless, with 580 meters already installed and only 60 meters left to be installed. The staff experienced minimal disruption during the installation, and the transition was smooth.\n\nRelated Video: See how easy it is to upgrade to smart meters\n\nResults\nThe implementation of Wild Energy meters resulted in immediate and significant benefits:\n1. Energy Cost Reduction:\n\nPre-implementation monthly electric expense: $31,000\nPost-implementation reduction: 25%\nNew monthly electric expense: $31,000 - ($31,000 * 0.25) = $23,250\nAnnual savings: $93,000\n\n2. Billing Accuracy:\n\n\nImproved billing accuracy from an estimated 70% to 100% for guest-related energy costs.\n\n\n3. Operational Efficiency:\n\n\nTime saved from manual meter reading: Equivalent to nearly an extra week of work each month (40-hour workweek).\nLabor cost savings: $2,000/month, or $24,000/year.\n\n4. Enhanced Guest Experience:\n\nReal-time data access through Checkthemeter.com increased guest trust and satisfaction.\n\n\n \n\nPlatform Integration Time Savings Calculation: (Manager Time Savings and Overtime)\nIntegrating Wild Energy's smart meters with existing rate management platforms offers significant time savings and operational efficiency. Currently, the park spends 2 minutes per invoice for 800 sites, totaling 1,600 minutes or 26.67 hours per week—equivalent to nearly an extra workweek each month. This often pushes staff into overtime, working late into the evenings and weekends.\nWith Wild Energy's integrations into platforms like Newbook, Campspot, RMS, Staylist, Campground Commander, ResNexus, and MySites, these manual tasks will be automated, further reducing labor costs, eliminating overtime, and providing real-time guest access to energy usage data.\n \n\n\n\nEnhanced Operations and Guest Experience\nOperational improvements included better time management for staff and increased efficiency in energy management tasks. The automation of meter readings freed up maintenance staff to focus on other crucial tasks, leading to better overall park maintenance and improved guest services. Guests benefited from easy access to real-time energy usage data, fostering trust and satisfaction.\nOverall, the implementation of Wild Energy meters transformed the RV park’s energy management, delivering significant cost savings, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing the guest experience. This case study serves as a compelling example of the value that smart metering technology can bring to similar properties.\n  \nThe Full Picture of Implementation Costs and ROI Model:\n\n\nCurrent Implementation:\n\n\nMeters Installed: 580 meters already in place\n\nCost per Meter: Assuming an average cost of $150 per meter the total investment for the 580 meters is 580 * $150 = $87,000.\n\n\nRemaining Meters to be Installed:\n\n\nAdditional Meters: 60 meters\n\nCost for Additional Meters: 60 * $150 = $9,000\n\n\nFuture Expansion:\n\n\nPlanned Expansion: Expanding the total number of sites from 800 to 1000.\n\nAdditional Meters Needed: For the expansion, 1000 - 640 (existing meters, including the upcoming 60) = 360 additional meters.\n\nCost for Expansion: 360 * $150 = $54,000\n\n\nTotal Investment:\n\n\nCurrent Meters: $87,000\n\nRemaining 60 Meters: $9,000\n\nFuture Expansion (360 Meters): $54,000\n\nTotal Projected Cost: $87,000 + $9,000 + $54,000 = $150,000\n\n\nReturn on Investment (ROI) Model:\n\n\nEnergy Cost Savings: As previously noted, the park achieved a 25% reduction in energy costs. With the current setup, the monthly electric expense was reduced from $31,000 to $23,250, resulting in monthly savings of $7,750.\n\nAnnual Savings: $7,750 * 12 = $93,000\n\nLabor Cost Savings: Automation of meter readings saves approximately $2,000 per month in labor costs, leading to annual savings of $2,000 * 12 = $24,000.\n\nTotal Annual Savings: $93,000 (energy savings) + $24,000 (labor savings) = $117,000\n\nPayback Period:\n\n\nFor the current implementation of 640 meters:\n\n\nTotal cost: $87,000 (current meters) + $9,000 (remaining meters) = $96,000\n\nPayback period: $96,000 / $117,000 ≈ 0.82 years (about 10 months)\n\n\nFor the future expansion to 1000 meters:\n\n\nTotal cost: $96,000 + $54,000 (future meters) = $150,000\n\nPayback period with the full expansion: $150,000 / $117,000 ≈ 1.28 years\n\n\n\n\nThe payback period demonstrates that the initial investment in Wild Energy meters will be recouped within approximately 10 months to 1.3 years, depending on the phase of implementation. Beyond this period, the park will continue to benefit from ongoing savings, making the investment highly cost-effective.\n*This client has not yet had meters for a full financial fiscal year."
<https://wildenergyco.com/blogs/news/smart-meters-drive-billing-efficiency-at-growing-800-site-rv-park>