SNP urges UK Government to speed up smart meter roll out after RTS switch-off delayed
EXCLUSIVE: Nationalist MP Graham Leadbitter has called for "a cast iron guarantee to Scottish communities that never again will they be left to live in fear of their hot water supply being cut-off and their electricity supply disrupted."
The SNP has urged the UK Government to speed up the roll out of smart meters after the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) switch-off was delayed.
Nationalist MP Graham Leadbitter has called for "a cast iron guarantee to Scottish communities that never again will they be left to live in fear of their hot water supply being cut-off and their electricity supply disrupted."
It was announced on Wednesday evening that there would be a 'managed and more controlled start' to the RTS phaseout from June 30, instead of a hard switch off.
The RTS system, used by older electricity meters to control heating and hot water, uses a longwave radio frequency to switch between peak and off-peak rates.
The technology is becoming obsolete and energy companies had a deadline to change their customers' meters by June 30.
But firms admitted the current rates of replacement meant it was likely that thousands of RTS meters would not have been upgraded before the technology is switched off.
In Scotland there were 100,000 people at risk of disruption - one third of all homes awaiting the smart meter upgrade.
Leadbitter said in a letter to energy minister Miatta Fahnbulleh: "The decision to delay the radio teleswitch shutdown is welcome given the doomed deadline was never going to be met with 100,000 Scottish households under threat of disrupted supply and increased costs.
"As you will be aware, the SNP has consistently called for a delay to the shutdown with Scottish homes disproportionately impacted.
"One third of all the homes awaiting a smart meter upgrade in advance of the switch-off were in Scotland leaving Scottish customers once again left to bear the brunt of a broken UK energy system.
"It was completely unacceptable for the UK Government to leave families in the lurch until just two weeks from the deadline when this issue has been identified and apparent for months.
"Indeed, the Scottish Government wrote to you regarding the slow roll-out of smart meters in March with warnings from charities frequently reported to your government.
"Now, the UK Government must set out how it will increase the pace of the smart meter roll-out and most importantly, provide a cast iron guarantee to Scottish communities that never again will they be left to live in fear of their hot water supply being cut-off and their electricity supply disrupted."
The UK Government was approached for comment.
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