More than 30,000 RTS electricity meters switched off in Scotland

More than 30,000 Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) electricity meters have been switched off in Scotland.

It was announced last year that the technology that supports old electricity meters would be gradually phased out of use.

The UK Government then forced the national energy regulator, Ofgem, to take a “targeted” approach.

It meant that not all RTS meters were switched off on June 30, 2025, as previously feared. However, one year on, they have now all been switched off.

Scotland

What you need to know as RTS electricity meters to be switched off in less than 24 hours

Around 33,000 RTS meters remain in Scotland and 100,000 across the UK, according to Ofgem.

All individual meters have already been switched off as part of the phase-out process, and affected customers were each contacted multiple times ahead of their meters being phased out.

Ofgem says suppliers have resolved issues swiftly and minimal impacts have been reported, with the majority of the 800,000 RTS meters having been replaced nationwide.

However, latest figures show suppliers have been unable to contact around 70,000 affected consumers, with vulnerable households most at risk, including older people.

Previous research by Scottish environmentalist charity, Changeworks, found 58% of Scots were unaware of the RTS switch-off.

Households that have not yet had their meter replaced could experience problems with heating, hot water and electricity tariffs.

The impact is expected to be felt most in rural and off-gas areas, particularly in the Highlands, where electric heating is more common.

Introduced in the 1980s, RTS meters use outdated longwave radio signals to switch between peak and off-peak rates.

It comes amid Ofgem’s new price cap coming into force on July 1, with Scottish households reminded to submit meter readings to their energy supplier ahead of time.

Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national energy advice service energyadvice.scot, is reminding consumers to act before midnight on June 30 to avoid being overcharged.

Accurate readings will prevent suppliers from estimating usage and applying new, higher prices to energy consumed when prices were lower.

The regulator, Ofgem, resets its cap on the amount suppliers can charge every three months.

The latest change, from £1,641 to £1,862, is a 13% rise on the current level and means the average dual-fuel bill will increase by £221 per year.

People who cannot submit readings before June 30 should do so as close to the date as possible. Those with smart meters should ensure their devices are working.