What you need to know about the RTS electricity meter switch-off

The UK Government has intervened to prevent the immediate shutdown of over 100,000 old Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) electricity meters across Scotland on Monday.

The technology that supports old electricity meters will still be gradually phased out of use from Monday, June 30, but the Government has forced the national energy regulator to take a “targeted” approach.

It means that not all RTS meters will be switched off on June 30 as previously feared.

The UK Government pledged that customers with RTS meters “will not face any unexpected disruption to their heating or hot water” at the end of June, thanks to a “cautious and targeted phase out to the service”.

“The phase out will now begin on a significantly smaller scale, in areas with very few RTS customers, meaning energy suppliers will be ready to respond rapidly to protect households who most need support,” the UK Government announcement said.

“In advance of any phase-out activity in their area, households will be contacted by their energy supplier to inform them well ahead of time, before their meters are affected.

“Ministers have been clear that they also expect suppliers’ momentum to install replacement meters to increase over the coming weeks.”

Independent national advice charity, Advice Direct Scotland, welcomed the Government intervention, but said it remains unclear who will be affected first.

“The whole process has been sorely lacking in transparency, and there is still a lot of unnecessary confusion and uncertainty about how this gradual switch-off is going to work,” Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said.

“As well as more clarity, we would like to see a commitment to an industry-backed remediation fund, ensuring that nobody is left out of pocket for replacing their meter.”

What’s happening?

The energy regulator for Great Britain is planning to switch off the technology that supports old RTS electricity meters.

Introduced in the 1980s, RTS meters use outdated longwave radio signals to switch between peak and off-peak rates.

Unless the meters are replaced, Advice Direct Scotland said customers risk losing control of their heating or hot water or being moved onto a more expensive single-rate tariff.

Ofgem previously planned to switch the system off on June 30, and the regulator expected electricity suppliers to replace all RTS meters before that date.

However, amid warnings of mass disruptions and impacts for hundreds of thousands of Scots, the UK Government stepped in at the last minute, and the technology is being phased out gradually rather than being suddenly discontinued overnight.

The UK Government has said that some targeted areas will begin to see the transition from June 30.

Affected customers will be contacted by their energy suppliers in advance and should respond to arrange for meter replacements, likely with smart meters.

Who will be affected?

Anyone with an old RTS electricity meter will eventually be affected by the transition, and Advice Direct Scotland estimates that around 100,000 of the devices are still active in Scotland alone.

However, under the latest plan, the first part of the RTS switch-off is only supposed to affect a “very small number of homes and businesses in carefully targeted local areas”.

The UK Government said affected customers will be contacted in advance, and are urged to respond to energy suppliers and book appointments to have their meter replaced.

The charity, which runs the national energy advice service, said it remains “unclear” which customers will be the first to be affected, or whether vulnerable households are being prioritised over others.

“The most important thing to remember is that free help and advice is available,” Mr Bartlett said.

Advice Direct Scotland said anyone concerned that they might be affected by the RTS phase-out should contact their supplier.

Support is also available at energyadvice.scot or by calling 0808 196 8660.