300,000 households to lose heating in smart meter push
More than 300,000 households face losing hot water and heating when electricity meters are switched off on June 30.
Energy firms have admitted they are unlikely to replace thousands of Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters with smart meters before the old technology is phased out next month.
According to Energy UK, at the end of March, 430,000 households still used RTS which relies on the BBC's longwave radio signal to switch meters between peak and off-peak rates.
Longwave also powers BBC Radio 4, however the BBC is now shutting down the technology as it is becoming obsolete.
The trade body for energy companies has agreed with the regulator Ofgem to switch off RTS meters, which date back to the 1980s, and move customers on to smart meters instead.
The rollout of smart meters has been controversial because of data privacy concerns and 'dumb' meters that left thousands of customers with incorrect bills.
Energy UK has said that more than 1,000 RTS meters are now being replaced every day.
But this suggests hundreds of thousands of homes will not be switched over in time and could be left with a meter that does not work.
Ned Hammond, Energy UK's deputy director for customers, told BBC Radio 4's You And Yours programme that the rate of replacement is rising.
However, he said: 'Obviously we'd need to increase from there significantly still to replace all the meters by the end of June.'
When asked whether it would be impossible to replace every RTS meter by the deadline, he said: 'I wouldn't want to say impossible – but clearly very, very difficult to get to that point.'
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to the watchdog and the Government warning that the replacement effort is dangerously behind schedule.
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.
'There is a very real risk that over 300,000 households will find their RTS meter stops working properly come July 1 2025.
'With pressures on the replacement programme growing and with limited engineer availability, especially in rural areas, there's a real risk of prolonged disruption, particularly for vulnerable households.
'Government, regulators and energy firms need to face up to the looming crisis and ramp up efforts to help people switch.
'At the same time we now need to ensure contingency measures are in place for those who do not make the deadline and require energy suppliers to ensure fair metering and billing practices.'
An Ofgem spokesman said the RTS upgrade programme was an 'urgent consumer welfare issue' and it was determined to ensure customers were protected when the technology goes out of action.
They continued: 'In recent weeks we have seen evidence of suppliers significantly stepping up their activity in these remote areas, such as the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and solutions to improve smart meter connectivity in the north have been launched.
'So, we urge any customers who may have previously struggled to get their RTS meter replaced to please contact their supplier again to arrange an appointment.
'Ofgem has also demanded action plans from every supplier, which we are scrutinising on an ongoing basis to ensure that robust contingencies are in place to protect any customers who remain on RTS meters after the phased switch-off process begins.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The 600,000 homeowners told their hot water could stop working - unless they switch to a smart meter
Evelyn Francis is so petrified at warnings from her energy supplier that her hot water and heating could be cut off unless she gets a new smart meter, she has been having panic attacks and has even contacted her local doctor for help. The 75-year-old former magistrates' court official, who lives with her blind sister Angela Seve in Eastbourne, East Sussex, has been receiving letters and calls from Scottish Power for several months warning that her electricity supply could be cut off at the end of June. Evelyn says: 'I feel I have been hounded by my supplier Scottish Power over the past few months demanding I switch my old meter. 'There has been no intelligent explanation – just bullying scare tactics where they treat me like an imbecile simply demanding that it must be done. 'It has caused me severe headaches, sleepless nights and real anxiety. I went to my local doctor for medication, but he told me the best medicine was not to allow the constant pestering to get to me. 'He even offered to write a letter explaining my condition to stop them bothering me.' Evelyn is one of more than half a million households being warned their heating and electricity could be cut off unless they switch to a new smart meter. The affected households are those that currently have meters controlled by Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) technology, which may no longer work after the signal is stopped on June 30. Of the up to 600,000 homes using RTS meters, most are on Economy 7 tariffs which allows them to switch charge rates between peak and cheaper off-peak tariffs. It is also used for customers on Economy 10 and Total Heating Total Control. Many have benefited from lower energy bills for years thanks to Economy 7. It has been around since 1978 and is ideal for households able to use appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines, at night when they are charged at the lower off-peak rate. It also benefits those with night storage heaters. Economy 7 customers typically pay half the price for electricity compared to those on a standard deal between midnight and 7am. But the day rate can be a third higher than a standard tariff, says GoCompare. Evelyn surrendered to the demands last month and agreed to have a smart meter fitted, following the consultation with her doctor. Suppliers will not promise that affected customers will be able to keep their old tariff when they are moved to a smart meter. Retired policeman Paul Bryant, 77, from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, who has been told he must switch to a smart meter, says: 'Suppliers are bullies with phrases such as 'you could lose heating and hot water services' if you fail to switch to a smart meter. British Gas has bombarded us with the message that we have no alternative – but I refuse to be blackmailed into doing something totally against my will.' Paul, who is married to Liz, 75, adds: 'I want to keep control and save money by choosing when to take advantage of cheaper tariff rates. 'Is that asking too much? Smart meters take matters out of our hands so energy giants can do whatever they want with prices.' Some households are also concerned that the switch away from RTS is forcing them to accept a smart meter, when they would prefer not to have one. Suppliers are keen to switch people to smart meters because they have Government targets they must reach to avoid hefty fines. Smart meters can also save suppliers money, as they automatically send meter readings via a mobile phone-like signal in real time without a need to send someone out to read the meter. But one in ten smart meters does not work properly, according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Alan Beverley, 51, of Lincolnshire, says: 'Prices are being hiked by stealth. The energy companies win both ways – forcing us on to smart meters by stopping older RTS meters working. After this it is only a matter of time before they take away discounted Economy 7 tariff rates.' John Dobson, 59, of Swindon, Wiltshire, is furious at the constant messages from his supplier Ovo Energy telling him he must make the switch. The retired IT worker, married to Luce, 54, says: 'This is just the latest sneaky trick adopted to convince us to accept the flawed technology. Until companies can prove the meters never go wrong, I will refuse to sign up.' He adds: 'Economy 7 lowers bills for people who have gone to the expense of having storage heaters installed years ago. It will cost us hundreds of pounds if we lose the special night tariff deal, with storage heaters we have installed becoming an obsolete waste of money.' Some industry experts believe the rushed switch is unnecessary and the deadline should be scrapped. Wireless technology expert Nick Hunn, of WiFore Consulting, says: 'These suppliers should not force you to have a new meter against your will with unnecessary threats designed to panic customers into the move. I wish the rollout was done properly rather than customers being constantly ordered to switch.' When Money Mail contacted energy watchdog Ofgem, the regulator said there was no need for customers to panic – households 'will be protected' from simply being cut off while any changes are rolled out. The regulator says it is not simply 'flicking a switch' – but that any change could take months or even years. The end of June only marks the start of the process. A spokesman said: 'We want energy suppliers to treat customers fairly. We have demanded action plans from every supplier and are scrutinising them to ensure robust contingencies are in place to protect customers who remain on RTS meters following the phased switch-off.' The BBC delivers the RTS signal from a transmitter in Droitwich, Worcestershire. It says: 'We do not own the RTS, we simply deliver the signal using our transmitter on behalf of the Energy Networks Association (ENA).' An Energy UK spokesman says: 'Given June 30 is fast-approaching, the industry is working closely with the Government and regulator on a carefully managed phase-out process to avoid disruption to any remaining customers, particularly those in vulnerable circumstances.' If you're unsure whether your home uses RTS, look for a switch box with a label that says 'Radio Teleswitch' beside your meters. A spokesman for British Gas says: 'It is an industry initiative involving all electricity providers, Ofgem and Energy UK. The electricity supply to any customer who has an RTS meter will not be switched off.' Scottish Power was contacted for comment.
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Iconic BBC presenter leaves job at Premier League after nine years and posts emotional message
FAN favourite football presenter Manish Bhasin has announced he is leaving his job at the Premier League after nine years. Bhasin, 49, has been on fans' screens for over two decades and is known by many as the face of the BBC's defunct Football League Show. 3 Manish Bhasin has announced his next career move Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 Bhasin, pictured with Premier League CEO Richard Masters, has been working at Premier League productions for nine years Credit: Getty But for the last nine years he has fronted up matchday coverage of Premier League action for Premier League Productions - the league's official broadcast outlet. Bhasin was the host of their official global match coverage, popping up on televisions across the globe as he chatted about the Prem's biggest fixtures. But the Leicester-born presenter and journalist has now revealed he is ready for a new chapter in an emotional statement announcing his exit. He wrote on X: "After 9 years of hosting for the Premier League official global match coverage, sadly the time has come to move on. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL BRAVE NEW WORLD Gary Lineker agrees deal with new broadcaster just a week after MOTD exit "I've loved every second. A big thanks to the production team and the on-screen pundits who made the job so enjoyable. "Time now to write the next chapter…" Bhasin is one of many familiar faces that are leaving their roles this summer as the landscape of football coverage is set for a shakeup ahead of the new season. Sky Sports announced last week that seven of their stars are leaving the the company as part of a major redundancy programme. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Included in that mass change is the likes of Melissa Reddy, Jeremy Langdon and the experienced Rob Wotton. Meanwhile Gary Lineker presented his final Match of the Day after 26 years in the hot-seat after revealing his exit from the BBC last month. Gary Lineker tears up as he bids emotional farewell to iconic Match of the Day after controversial BBC axe However, Lineker won't be stepping away from football highlights completely. It was announced today that his podcast The Rest Is Football, which he co-hosts alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, will be showing highlights of the upcoming Fifa Club World Cup.
South Wales Guardian
5 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Hunger-striking mother of jailed activist prepared to die to ‘get Alaa out'
Laila Soueif called on the Prime Minister to pressure Egyptian authorities to release democracy activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who has dual nationality. She said if she did not survive, her death should be used as a leverage to set her son free. Speaking to the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 from St Thomas' Hospital in London, Mrs Soueif said: 'My message is: use my death as leverage to get Alaa out. 'Don't let my death be in vain.' Mrs Soueif, who has lost 42% of her bodyweight and weighs 49kg, has not eaten for more than eight months and doctors say she is at risk of sudden death. She told the broadcaster: 'It's something that I passionately don't want to happen. 'Children want a mother, not a notorious mother – whether the notoriety is good or bad – but if that's what it takes to get Alaa out of jail and to get all my children and grandchildren's life back on track, then that's what I'm going to do.' In December 2021, Mr Abd El-Fattah was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of spreading false news, and should have been released last year. In a conference outside the hospital on Tuesday, Sanaa Seif, Mrs Soueif's daughter, said her mother's blood sugar was still very low but that she was conscious. She said: 'She is fighting and I hope the Foreign Office uses this time her body has given us well.' Mis Seif said she was supposed to have flown to Cairo on Tuesday to see her brother but stayed to be with her mother. She had received two letters from Mr Abd El-Fattah – one of which was 'very confused and short', saying simply 'Take care of yourself'. 'I am really worried about him,' she said. She also said she wanted to save her mother's life but understands her position 'as a mother'. Ms Seif said: 'The only reason she cares about staying alive is us. She doesn't want to go on living life like this and I understand that.' Ms Seif accused the Foreign Office of not working fast enough and claimed no one from the Prime Minister's office had been in touch directly about the state of negotiations for around three weeks. She said: 'We are going by the hour; they were measuring her vitals by the hour, at some point every 15 minutes. 'I expressed my frustration how it is insane that they (the Government) are taking weeks. They have not told me they have changed their pace.' Ms Seif added: 'I imagine that means they don't have much to say.' She also urged Foreign Secretary David Lammy to follow through on what he said when in opposition and limit the Egyptian ambassador's access to Whitehall. Conservative former minister Sir John Whittingdale, who is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told the Today programme Mr Abd El-Fattah was a 'political activist' who had not committed 'any crime that we would recognise'. He said Mr Lammy was 'outspoken' in opposition but that his action in Government since then 'simply hasn't had an effect'. Sir John also called on the Foreign Office to change its travel advice for Egypt to warn Britons there is a risk they could 'fall foul of the Egyptian authorities'. 'Egypt gets a huge income from tourism, a lot of that tourism comes from Britain and I think that might well put the pressure on that is obviously needed,' he said. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are committed to securing Alaa Abd El-Fattah's release. 'The Foreign Secretary stressed the urgency of the situation in a call with his counterpart on Sunday morning, and further engagement at the highest levels of the Egyptian government continues. 'We are deeply concerned by Laila's hospitalisation. We remain in regular contact with Laila's family and have checked on her welfare.'
