'Urgent' smart meter warning as 300,000 homes could be left without heating or hot water in weeks
■ Your home has a separate switch box near your meter with a Radio Teleswitch label on it
■ Your home is heated using electricity or storage heaters
■ There is no gas supply to your area, including households in rural areas and high-rise flats
■ You get cheaper energy at different times of day, for example, you might be on an Economy 7, Economy 10, or Total Heat Total Control tariff
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The Sun
30-06-2025
- The Sun
Over 300,000 homes at risk of losing hot water and heating as meter switch-off starts
MORE than 300,000 households risk losing hot water and heating as a major electricity meter switch-off gets underway. The meters, powered by the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS), are set to become obsolete as the system is switched off in phases from today. 1 The RTS system, which broadcasts a signal alongside BBC Radio 4's long-wave channel, currently controls the switching of electricity rates at different times of the day. Some meters even use it to automatically manage heating and hot water systems. But as the RTS signal is scrapped, these meters will no longer function properly, leaving families in limbo. This means that starting from today, some of these meters could be left jammed on peak time electricity rates depending on when the RTS signal dies. Energy companies were supposed to move customers with older meters to modern ones by June 30. For most households, this means their old meter will be replaced with a smart meter, which can automatically charge different rates depending on whether energy is used during peak or off-peak times. However, a lack of available smart meter appointments has left thousands of households unable to make the switch in time. To address this, Ofgem and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) announced a "managed and more controlled start" to the phaseout, beginning today. Energy UK, which represents firms, said 314,935 households still had the meters at the end of May. Although the switch-off starts today, the government confirmed last week that it will take a slower approach, starting with a small number of homes and businesses in specific local areas. The bizarre reason my smart meter won't work & I miss out on cheaper bills Energy suppliers will contact affected households and businesses well in advance to let them know if their meters will be impacted. This means that some people will be informed about when their meter will stop working, while others will continue using theirs as normal for a while longer. British Gas, Next, Octopus Energy, and Ovo Energy have told The Sun that they are prioritising the replacement of RTS meters ahead of other tasks. If you haven't been contacted by your supplier and still need your meter replaced, it's important to reach out to them as soon as possible. How do I know if I have an RTS electricity meter? YOU'LL be able to tell if you have a meter that relies on the RTS quite easily. The oldest RTS-powered meters have a switch box labelled "Radio Teleswitch" located next to the physical electricity meter. Others may have the RTS switch box included within the electricity meter as a single box on the wall. If you're unsure about the type of electricity meter in your home - call your supplier as they'll usually have this information on hand. RTS is also sometimes called dynamically teleswitched (DTS). What's the alternative to RTS? Smart meters offer the same features as RTS in that they can record the different prices at different times of day offered by Economy 7 tariffs. They work using a digital signal and can also show your energy usage in real time, something many users find useful for reducing it and saving money. Smart meters are being rolled out by suppliers across the country and around 36million households have one, though they are not without issues. Around one in ten are thought to be "dumb" according to recent data from Ofgem. Issues include a broken display and trouble connecting to the network in some areas, while many first-generation smart meters have outdated technology, though this is unlikely to be an issue with ones fitted now. Suppliers should make efforts to fix smart meters that are not working, but you may have to make meter readings in the meantime to ensure accurate bills. Monitors - the part of the smart meter that shows readings and usage - less than 12 months' old should be replaced or fixed for free. You can ask your supplier for a traditional meter instead, but as smart meters are replacing them, they are not obligated to give you one. What is a smart meter? SMART meters are gas and electricity meters that can digitally send readings to your energy supplier. They show you how much energy you are using in pounds and pence, so can be used to help reduce your energy bill. Unlike traditional meters, which simply register a running total of energy used, smart meters can record half-hourly price and consumption data and provide automatic meter readings to your energy supplier. Most homes have two meters, one for gas and one for electricity – both will be replaced with smart meters. You will also be offered an in-home display to show you the cost and amount of energy you are using at any given time It will update every 30 minutes for gas and in near real-time for electricity. Can I keep my RTS tariff? Suppliers have been told by Ofgem that they must take reasonable steps to ensure they are on a like-for-like tariff after moving to a smart meter. In some cases where this isn't possible, they must work with the customer to agree on an appropriate tariff. There may be more smart meter-only tariffs available to some customers that could save them money. If you haven't been contacted by your supplier already, you don't need to wait for a letter asking you to switch, you can contact them directly.
The National
26-06-2025
- The National
RTS switch-off in July will put vulnerable Scots at risk
Good evening! This week's edition of the In Common newsletter comes from Dr Ron Mould, net carbon manager at Bield Housing. AFTER 14 years of missed deadlines and shifting timetables, we've now entered the final month before the nationwide switch-off of the radio tele-switch (RTS) signal and the reality is looking increasingly grim. With tens of thousands of homes still awaiting smart meter installation, we are now in a desperate scramble to avoid a full-blown crisis. This is no small problem. An estimated 30% of the UK's remaining RTS meters are in Scotland, disproportionately affecting rural, elderly, and vulnerable households. The consequences of failure are significant and at this late stage, feel inevitable. As Net Carbon Manager at Bield, a housing provider supporting older people across Scotland, I've seen first-hand how badly this transition has been handled. Our tenants are among those directly affected, people who rely on electric storage heating and trusted the RTS system to manage their energy needs affordably and safely. Many are now facing anxiety, confusion and rising costs, with little to no support from the systems meant to protect them. Across the country, residents reliant on RTS for their heating are experiencing a barrage of issues, repeatedly aborted meter installations, often with no communication or learning applied to subsequent attempts. READ MORE: 'Deep concerns' over lack of urgency to replace soon to be switched off meters Some can't even get appointments, with suppliers routinely stating there are 'no engineers available in your area.' Even when installations do go ahead, the problems don't stop. New meters can trip electrics, prompting a game of finger-pointing between energy suppliers and electricians. More commonly, the issue lies in the specification of the new meters themselves. Despite supplier claims of a like-for-like swap, many smart meters provide a continuous 24-hour supply, in contrast to the timed circuits of RTS systems. Without integrated timers for heaters and hot water (previously controlled by the RTS signal) householders are left with systems that run around the clock, racking up unnecessary costs. Timers, if installed at all, often don't align with off-peak periods, which themselves have been allowed to erode, some tariffs now offer just a 1p difference between peak and off-peak. The BBC's longwave broadcasting equipment, which transmits the RTS signal, has genuinely reached the end of its life. But while the technology may be out of date, the strategy to replace it is even worse. Ofgem has not delivered a clearly communicated, nationally coordinated plan. Instead of a well-managed transition, we've had vague reassurances and rumours of a phased switch-off—starting with regions that have the fewest RTS meters remaining. READ MORE: 'Strength has emerged': Ex-Iran prisoner looks back on life in notorious jail Ofgem's own position is not especially reassuring: they admit they 'don't know what will happen.' Whether we experience a complete signal loss or a cascading failure across zones, one thing is certain- there will be no further UK-wide delays. Even a phased switch-off is expected to take place over just a few months, with no guarantee of any extension for Scotland. This is the sort of groundwork that should have been laid months ago, not weeks before the switch-off. Ad campaigns fronted by Lorraine Kelly have only recently hit the airwaves- despite repeated warnings that the RTS switch-off would create confusion and difficulty if not properly addressed early on. These last-minute efforts, while welcome, reflect a broader lack of long-term planning. At Bield, we're doing all we can to support our tenants — helping them navigate bookings, installations, and even explaining why their heating now works differently. But the scale of the issue is bigger than any one organisation can solve alone. We're seeing the real-world consequences for those left in limbo by unclear processes and mixed messaging. For those with electric heating, I urge you to contact your energy supplier immediately and request a smart meter. If you've already had a failed visit, rebook — and keep rebooking until the job is done. If you already have a smart meter, check that your hot water and heating systems have timers. Confirm they match your tariff's off-peak hours. If they don't, you'll need to adjust or retrofit them—otherwise, the promised cost savings will be lost. The RTS switch-off is no longer a future event — it's here. The headlines this July are, sadly, predictable. A lack of coordination, planning, and urgency from energy suppliers and regulators alike has led us to the brink of a national energy blunder. And as someone working closely with the people now facing the fallout, I can say this with confidence: Scotland deserves better.
The Guardian
24-06-2025
- The Guardian
UK energy meter switch-off delayed amid fears over heating and higher bills
As the temperature climbed towards 30C the peril of turning off a system that could leave people with their heating stuck on full must have looked like an avoidable disaster. On Thursday ministers confirmed the 'widespread switch-off' of the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS), which controls an old type of electricity meter, 'will not happen' on 30 June. Instead the technology will be phased out more slowly. The first stage will involve a maximum of 600 households over a three-week period, and during this time the response times of suppliers to vulnerable consumers will be monitored closely. But campaign groups say they are waiting for details of the new timetable, and want assurances that customers will not end up paying more when they are forced to switch meters. Introduced in the 1980s, RTS was designed for people who also use electricity for their heating and hot water. It uses the long-wave radio frequency to switch meters between tariffs and can also turn heating and hot water systems on and off. Suppliers had been given a deadline of 30 June to transfer customers away from the old technology, but problems in the transition – reported by the Guardian last month – led to fears that 300,000 homes could end up without a functioning meter. Readers have continued to report problems obtaining an appointment or problems with replacements. Some were told a smart meter would not work in their home because of poor connectivity or even that there was currently no suitable tech that would integrate with their home set-up. 'We've had three visits from Ovo engineers, all of whom advise a smart meter cannot be installed as the signal is too weak,' one married couple, who wished to remain anonymous, living near Chichester in West Sussex, said. 'This has been going on for about 15 months.' Energy UK, the energy industry trade body, said there are now technical solutions for every home. If a customer has previously been told a replacement is not possible, they should recontact their supplier, it added. These solutions include a pre-programmed smart meter. After being contacted by the Guardian this is the solution being offered to the couple. It can be remotely switched to smart when signal strength improves. Ovo said: 'We have solutions in place for exceptional cases like this and remain committed to supporting them in scheduling an appointment to replace the meter.' Other consumers are worried about what the switch off could mean for their energy bill. The old-fashioned RTS systems often include panel heaters or immersion heaters in water tanks that charge overnight when electricity is cheaper. 'My advice to anyone with storage heaters contemplating a change to a smart meter would be: don't,' said Bryan Jones, who lives in Redruth in Cornwall. Having his meter replaced by EDF 18 months ago (the network was originally due to be switched off in March 2024) was, he said, 'one of the worst financial decisions I have ever taken'. 'Initially my smart meter was set up incorrectly to charge all units at day rates,' he said. 'This was subsequently corrected but the adjusted smart meter then malfunctioned in different ways.' 'A recent review of my electricity usage between January and April 2025 has revealed that a third of my night units have been charged as day units, due to the smart meter overriding my heater settings.' Two appointments to replace the meter were missed by the supplier. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Jones is now on a priority list to have his meter changed. After the Guardian contacted EDF it apologised for the missed appointments and applied compensation. It is now investigating the billing errors. Ofgem, the energy regulator for Great Britain, said 'no customer should be financially disadvantaged' as a result of the swap. Suppliers should be 'offering the same or equivalent tariffs after their RTS meter has been upgraded', it added. The meters are replaced at a rate of 1,800 a day but Ofgem wants the work to 'go faster' still. The government said the energy minister, Ofgem and Energy UK will meet fortnightly to review the progress of the phase-out, with particular attention paid to Scotland where about a third of the remaining meters are located. Charlotte Friel, the Ofgem director for retail pricing and systems, said the cautious approach being adopted 'should reassure customers' but it 'remains crucial that these meters are replaced urgently'. 'It's vital to engage with your supplier when offered an appointment,' she added. Simon Francis, the coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said the RTS switch-off process was doomed to failure after it became clear that the deadline was simply unachievable. 'We now need to see a plan published that sets out how the gradual switch-off will take place, including which regions will be affected and when,' he said. 'Crucially, we also need firm and binding reassurances that no customers will be left without heating or hot water, and that no household will face higher bills as a result of the changes.'
