Beware the great energy switch off as hundreds of thousands face being hit by meter change

Daily Mail​

01-05-2025

Hundreds of thousands of Scots are at risk of losing their hot water and heating when their electricity meters are switched off next month, it was warned last night.
Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters – which date back to the early 1980s and use radio signals to switch the meter from peak to off-peak prices – are about to be deactivated.
But many householders are struggling to get them replaced in time, sparking fears that they will be left without a hot water supply and functioning heating if their meter is not replaced before the end of June.
Last night there were fears that not enough had been done to prevent widespread confusion and fear, particularly among vulnerable and elderly bill-payers.
Scottish Tory energy spokesman Douglas Lumsden said: 'These changes pose a serious risk to elderly and vulnerable customers in particular who could lose access to heating and hot water in a matter of weeks.
'Both SNP and Labour ministers should do everything possible to raise awareness of these issues and outline how they will support those who need help transferring to the new system.'
By the end of April, more than 430,000 RTS meters still had to be replaced in the UK - with around 135,000 located in Scottish properties.
The reason for the disproportionate number in Scotland is partly due to geography - with a large rural population in areas like the Highlands and Islands, many households are off the mains gas grid and therefore more likely to use electricity for hot water and heating.
Energy companies have admitted that current rates of replacement mean it is likely that thousands of RTS meters will not have been upgraded before the technology is switched off.
The RTS system – a feature of older electricity meters which controls heating and hot water - uses a longwave radio frequency to switch between peak and off-peak rates.
But the technology is becoming obsolete and energy companies have a deadline to change their customers' meters by June 30.
The number of individual Scots affected by the RTS shambles could run into the hundreds of thousands.
Most homes have standard meters and will not be affected, whether or not they have a smart meter.
More than 1,000 RTS meters are being replaced every day in the UK.
Ned Hammond, deputy director for customers of Energy UK, which represents energy firms, told BBC Radio 4's You And Yours programme that the rate of replacement is rising, but added: 'Obviously we'd need to increase from there significantly still to replace all the meters by the end of June.'
Asked whether it is impossible to get every RTS meter switched over by June 30, he said: 'I wouldn't want to say impossible - but clearly very, very difficult to get to that point.'
Industry regulator Ofgem has said the risks associated with not having a functioning meter include heating and hot water left continually on or off, electric storage heaters charging at the wrong time of day, possibly leading to higher bills, and the supplier being unable to confirm electricity usage during peak or off-peak times.
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to the watchdog and the Government to raise concerns about the pace and communication of the meter replacement effort.
The coalition said the replacement programme is falling dangerously behind schedule, with energy suppliers unable to meet existing targets and thousands of customers - especially in rural Scotland - still without a plan for replacement.
The letter reads: 'Based on our members' conversations with energy suppliers, we estimate that, in Scotland alone, tens of thousands of RTS meters are yet to be addressed, leaving many consumers in limbo.'
Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: 'Our member organisations across the country will continue to do all they can to support the transition and raise awareness of the switch, but urgent action is now required.'
According to Ofgem, you may have an RTS meter if 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; you get cheaper energy at different times of day, for example, on an Economy 7 tariff.
If you haven't been contacted, Ofgem recommends contacting your supplier to arrange the replacement.
Ofgem said householders should 'beware if someone contacts you claiming you need to pay to change your meter because it is likely to be a scam'.
Speaking in March, the Scottish Government's Acting Minister for Climate Action Dr Alasdair Allan said: 'There is a real and pressing need for suppliers to be made to explain what their workforce plan is to get engineers to premises.
'Consideration should also be given to additional enforcement action to reduce no-show instances and to ensure that every household is fitted with a fully functioning meter before the deadline.
'Due to the cost of living crisis, it is also unacceptable to expect consumers to pay for expensive re-wiring as a consequence of the RTS switch-off - they should not be confronted with any additional anxieties.
'The creation of a fund to support consumers in this position is critical.
'While devolved governments do not hold the levers, the Scottish Government will work with Ofgem, the UK Government and industry to raise awareness of the RTS switch-off.'