---
title: "More RV Campgrounds Are Looking at Separate Electricity Charges, Even for Shorter Stays"
url: "https://camperfaqs.com/more-rv-campgrounds-are-looking-at-separate-electricity-charges"
author: "Tory Jon"
published: "2026-08-10T11:51:17-05:00"
modified: "2026-08-10T11:53:29-05:00"
---

# More RV Campgrounds Are Looking at Separate Electricity Charges, Even for Shorter Stays

For most RVers staying at a campground for a night or a weekend, electricity has traditionally been simple. You pay for the campsite, plug into the pedestal, and use the power you need.

 

That may slowly be changing.

 

Charging separately for electricity is nothing new at RV parks. Monthly and seasonal guests have been paying metered electric bills at many campgrounds for decades. Some parks also charge a separate fee for weekly stays.

 

What is changing is the technology behind those meters and how easily campgrounds can now track electricity use for individual campsites. Some companies are even promoting automated metering for transient and overnight campers.

 

That doesn't mean RVers should expect a separate electric bill at *every* campground anytime soon. Nightly metering still appears to be the exception rather than the rule.

 

**But several developments suggest more campground operators are at least looking at it.**

 

## KOA Just Made Smart Metering Easier

 

In April 2026, Kampgrounds of America and Wild Energy announced a new integration between KOA's K2 KampSight reservation system and Wild Energy's smart utility meters.

 

For campgrounds using the system, electric meter readings can flow directly into K2 and be matched with individual reservations. Staff no longer have to walk from campsite to campsite recording meter readings manually.

 

KOA's announcement specifically says the integration is designed to capture electric readings for **long-term guests**, so this should not be interpreted as KOA suddenly preparing to meter every overnight camper. [Wild Energy's announcement](https://wildenergyco.com/blogs/press-releases/koa-launches-integration-between-k2-kampsight%C2%AE-and-wild-energy-s-smart-utility-metering-platform) makes that distinction clear.

 

The interesting part is what the metering industry is doing beyond that rollout.

 

Wild Energy has promoted its technology as capable of handling both long-term guests and transient or overnight campers. RV electrical expert Mike Sokol has also highlighted the technology, including Wild Energy's ability to remotely monitor pedestals and automate billing for overnight and seasonal guests. [RVelectricity](https://rvelectricity.com/should-rv-parks-meter-pedestal-power/?secret=044b2) covered that capability in detail.

 

In other words, the technology needed to charge an overnight camper only for the electricity they use already exists.

 

The question is how many campgrounds will decide to use it that way.

 

## Electricity Is Getting Expensive for Campgrounds

 

There is an obvious reason campground owners are paying more attention to electricity usage: RVs can use a lot of it.

 

A 2026 [campground energy analysis from Vutility](https://vutility.com/blog/campground-energy-management-cutting-costs-improving-guest-experience) estimates that an average RV consumes about 20 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day. A large Class A motorhome running multiple air conditioners and other appliances can use 40 to 65 kWh on a hot summer day.

 

At roughly 16 cents per kWh, Vutility calculates that a large motorhome could cost a campground $6.40 to $10.40 per day in electricity alone.

 

Multiply that across dozens or hundreds of occupied campsites during a hot summer weekend, and electricity becomes a major operating expense.

 

Those costs can also vary dramatically between campers.

 

Someone in a small travel trailer running a refrigerator, lights, and one air conditioner might use a fraction of the electricity consumed by a 40-foot motorhome running multiple AC units, an electric water heater, residential refrigerator, washer and dryer, TVs and other appliances.

 

Under the traditional model, both campers may pay the same campsite rate.

 

Smart metering gives campground operators another option: charge guests according to what they actually use.

 

## EV Charging Is Adding Another Problem

 

Electric vehicles are putting even more pressure on campground electrical systems.

 

A June 2026 Camp and Charge Report looked at 504 campgrounds in the United States and Canada. According to the [report covered by Modern Campground](https://moderncampground.com/usa/ev-charging-at-campgrounds-what-the-data-says-and-what-operators-should-do-now/), 15% allowed EV charging directly at campsites, 46% provided dedicated EV charging stations, and 39% prohibited campsite EV charging entirely.

 

Among private campgrounds specifically, the report found roughly 45% prohibited EV charging.

 

Cost isn't the only concern. Campground electrical systems weren't necessarily designed for vehicles continuously pulling substantial amounts of electricity for hours at a time.

 

Some campgrounds have responded by charging EV owners separately.

 

[RV LIFE](https://rvlife.com/how-rvers-can-avoid-surprise-campground-electric-charges/) reports that some parks are adding flat EV charging fees of roughly $20 to $30 per day when guests plug a vehicle into the campsite pedestal. Other parks prohibit pedestal charging completely.

 

An EV fee isn't the same thing as charging every RV guest for metered electricity, but it illustrates the larger problem campground owners are trying to solve.

 

The amount of electricity used at one campsite can now vary enormously.

 

## Are Nightly Electric Charges Actually Becoming Common?

 

Metered electricity remains much more common with monthly and seasonal stays. There are campgrounds that meter shorter stays, and companies selling smart-metering equipment are actively promoting the ability to do it, but there isn't good evidence showing that nightly metering has become widespread across the campground industry. At least at this point.

 

That said, campground owners now have technology that makes it much easier to do so, electricity costs are becoming harder to absorb, and some parks are beginning to experiment with separating those costs from the campsite rate.

 

The RV Miles podcast recently brought up the subject after listeners reported staying at campgrounds where electricity was separately metered even for shorter stays. So, it seems the community is starting to see more of it.

 

The hosts also raised an interesting question that could become a much bigger issue if the practice grows.

 

If campgrounds start charging separately for electricity, **will they lower the nightly campsite rate?**

 

## Should Campsite Rates Go Down?

 

Suppose a campground currently charges $95 per night for a full-hookup campsite with electricity included.

 

If that campground switches to metered electricity, should the new rate become $85 plus whatever electricity the camper uses?

 

Or will the campsite remain $95 and the electricity bill simply be added on top?

 

**That may determine how RVers react to the change.**

 

There is an argument for metering that some campers might actually like. Someone traveling in a small, efficient RV shouldn't necessarily have to subsidize another camper running three air conditioners and charging an electric truck.

 

Campers with large solar and battery systems might also be able to arrive with charged batteries, minimize shore-power consumption, and spend very little on electricity.

 

Metering could reward campers who use less power.

 

But that argument becomes harder to sell if campground operators keep their existing rates and simply add another fee.

 

For RVers already frustrated by resort fees, booking fees, pet fees, extra-person charges and other campground add-ons, a separate electricity bill could feel like one more charge added to an already expensive campsite.

 

## Check the Electric Policy Before Booking

 

For now, most overnight RVers will still find electricity included with an electric or full-hookup campsite.

 

Still, it is worth checking.

 

Look at the campground's rate details before making a reservation, especially for week-long or extended stays. Find out if electricity is included, metered separately, or subject to a flat surcharge.

 

EV owners should also ask before plugging their vehicle into a campsite pedestal. Policies vary substantially from one campground to another, and assuming the campsite fee includes vehicle charging could result in an unexpected charge.

 

Smart meters are making it increasingly easy for campground operators to know exactly how much electricity every campsite uses.

 

For decades, most overnight campers never had to think about that number.

 

In the years ahead, more of us may start seeing it on the bill.