Nearly 130,000 people urged to get help ahead of energy meter switch off next month
The Radio Teleswitch Service will be deactivated on June 30 with thousands of Scots set to move on to a asmart meter.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for all people over State Pension age in Scotland
Thousands of Scottish households with ageing energy meters are being urged to act now to avoid disruption to their heating or hot water systems, before a mass deactivation begins on June 30. The latest figures from Ofgem indicate that as of April 4, 2025, there were 129,814 Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters remaining in Scotland.
Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national energy advice service energyadvice.scot, is warning those affected that 'time is running out' to replace their old meters.
The charity is urging households to check their meters and call their energy suppliers if they think they need a replacement, rather than waiting to be contacted.
Advice Direct Scotland is running an RTS countdown clock on the energyadvice.scot website to raise awareness of the issue, amid concerns that meter replacements are not being done fast enough to meet the deadline.
Introduced in the 1980s, RTS meters use outdated longwave radio signals to switch between peak and off-peak rates. Without replacement, customers risk being stuck on the wrong setting or moved onto a more expensive single-rate tariff.
With the deadline fast approaching, Advice Direct Scotland has been receiving more calls from worried households, a trend it expects to continue.
Its campaign on the issue has highlighted cases from customers around Scotland who have struggled to get their old meter replaced, or have encountered unexpected costs.
In one example, a 69-year-old from Wishaw in North Lanarkshire said she had to spend £700 fixing her kitchen after being forced to install a smart meter ahead of the switch-off.
Anyone who has not received a letter or email should contact their supplier now. Support is available at energyadvice.scot or by calling 0808 196 8660.
Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said: 'Time is running out. Anyone who thinks they might be affected should act now and contact their supplier. If you don't take action and you are still relying on an RTS meter after June 30, you risk having an unreliable heating and hot water system and incorrect bills.
'Of course, it should not all be left up to customers. The rate at which RTS meters are being replaced across the country is clearly not good enough and must be ramped up urgently. We are getting more and more enquiries coming in about this issue, showing that people are clearly worried about how the switch-off will affect them.
'If you know someone with an RTS meter, especially if they are vulnerable, encourage them to get it replaced soon.
'The most important thing to remember is that free help and advice is available. Anyone who is confused should visit www.energyadvice.scot or call 0808 196 8660 for assistance.'
RTS switch off
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
People are also being warned to be aware that if someone contacts you claiming you need to pay to change your meter because it is likely to be a scam.
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