Martin Lewis issues urgent energy meter warning as 'switch off' looms

Wales Online

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Martin Lewis issues urgent energy meter warning as 'switch off' looms
The consumer expert has warned that households with a certain type of energy meter may see their heating and hot water stop working properly if they don't act now
Failure to switch could result in malfunctioning heating and hot water systems
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock )
Martin Lewis has shared an urgent alert for many households as a critical deadline looms this month. The outdated Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) energy meters are set to be decommissioned on June 30, prompting those with such meters to promptly transition to smart meters.
Failure to switch could result in malfunctioning heating and hot water systems. RTS meters, dating back to the 1980s, utilise radio signals to toggle between peak and off-peak electricity tariffs. In a recent announcement, Martin Lewis cautioned: "Warning! Got an old Economy 7 or multi-rate electricity meter? The 'Radio Teleswitch Service' which allows some old (non-smart) meters to function will be switched off at end of this month."
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He further warned: "It could mean your heating and hot water won't function properly, or incorrect bills. You need a meter upgrade now," reports the Mirror.
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Households needing to update their meters should reach out to their electricity supplier without delay. Suppliers are expected to provide a smart meter or a suitable alternative at no cost.
You might possess an RTS meter if you find a Radio Teleswitch-labelled switch box near your meter, use electric or storage heaters, lack a gas supply, or benefit from variable energy rates throughout the day.
Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, previously highlighted that hundreds of thousands of RTS meters may still be operational when they are scheduled to be turned off.
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Mr Francis warned the Work and Pensions Committee: "The process is doomed to failure. We are not going to see the RTS switch off on the first of July.
"There's still going to be hundreds of thousands of RTS meters in people's homes on the date that they're saying they're going to start winding down the signal.
"We don't know what is going to happen. The risks that have been outlined are either that your hot water and your heating are always on and you're going to be running up a massive bill, or it's always off."
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Ofgem's Retail Pricing and Systems Director Charlotte Friel remarked: "We have been continually monitoring the industry's efforts to replace RTS meters as this ageing infrastructure reaches the end of its life.
"Last year we decided more needed to be done so convened the sector and made clear to suppliers they have to move faster. Following that intervention, the rate of meter replacements has increased from around 1,000 a month to more than 1,000 a day.
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"However suppliers need to do more and ensure customers are protected from detriment, which is why industry is putting in place a phased area-by-area shutdown beginning from 30 June.
"We have made clear that the signal serving a specific area should not be switched off until suppliers have demonstrated that they are ready and able to respond quickly to any issues customers experience."