Latest news with #ComfortPlus
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Electricity meter warning as fears 300,000 will stop working after tech axe
Fears are growing that around 300,000 households will be cut off from their electricity - or face sky-high bills due to their hot water and heating being stuck on constantly Hundreds of thousands of Brits risk being "cut off" from electricity ahead of a looming tech shakeup. The urgent warning comes as a phased shutdown of Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS), which was first introduced in the 1980s, will commence on June, 30 this year. RTS meters use radio signals to switch between different types of electricity rates or turn certain appliances on/off at specific times of the day - and are still being used in almost 400,000 households. As previously reported, RTS was originally supposed to be switched off last year, but this was scrapped to allow energy suppliers more time to replace the out-of-date system. However, energy firms have admitted it will be 'very, very difficult' to meet the new deadline despite the extension. Now, campaigners fear 300,000 homes are at risk of their hot water and heating remaining continually on - or being cut off from electricity altogether. Energy UK says more than 1,000 RTS meters are being replaced each day - but based on end-of-March figures, firms would need to remove 5,000 meters daily to remove every single one. Simon Francis of End Fuel Poverty Coalition warns Brits with RTS meters could end up receiving sky-high bills if their energy is stuck on constantly. "We 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," he told the Guardian. RTS meters were mainly installed for Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariffs for cheaper night-time electricity, as well as RTS-only tariffs like Comfort Plus and Total Heat Total Control, and controlling storage heaters or water heaters. According to experts over at Energy Savings Trust, you might have an RTS meter if you: Use electric heating to heat your home. Have a tariff where the price of electricity changes at different times of day. Have a separate box near your electricity meter with the words 'radio teleswitch' or 'radio telemeter'. You have two codes on your electricity bill that start with the letter S. These are 'supply numbers' or 'S numbers'. Live in a house with no gas connection (more common for those living in rural regions). Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money WHATSAPP GROUP: Get money news and top deals straight to your phone by joining our Money WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Brits with RTS meters are being urged to get in contact with their energy supplier as soon as possible to get it replaced. Your supplier has a responsibility to replace your meter and make sure that there is 'no disruption' to your electricity supply. "Your supplier should upgrade you to a smart meter for free," Energy Savings Trust said. "If you can't have a smart meter, it still has to replace your RTS meter with a suitable alternative." If your supplier says it can't replace your meter before June 30, you have a right to make a complaint. You can view Citizens Advice's example letter here.
The Herald Scotland
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
UKGov warn firms as 100,000+ Scots face energy cuts over meter crisis
As of March 8, some 160,246 Scots households, were still reliant on old meters that rely on the Radio Teleswitching Service (RTS) which enables electricity suppliers to switch households different energy tariffs including Scotland only tariffs Total Heat Total Control from OVO, Comfort Plus from Scottish Power, and Economy 7 or Economy 10. It helps deliver specific savings for customers who use electricity for their heating and hot water provision. The BBC radio service that supports RTS meters was due to be switched off at the end of March, last year, as plans to roll out smart meters across Scotland that allows existing heating and hot water to work without needing to use the radio signal has faltered. But that deadline has extended to June 30. (Image: Scottish Power) According to the Energy UK trade association, efforts to replace them across the whole of the UK in April stood at over 1,000 installations a day although it says that the replacement programme is "gathering momentum all the time". And they have admitted that it will be "undoubtedly challenging " to be able to meet the deadline. It has led to concerns that tens of thousands of Scottish households will be cut off. The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), Blackwood Homes and Care and Wheatley Group are now among those to call for greater action from energy companies to replace affected meters. READ MORE: Why has Scotland been hardest hit in the big BBC radio switch-off 'crisis' The great £60bn green energy 'carve up': Anger over Scots contracts going abroad Herald reporter recognised as 'Fuel Poverty Hero' Energy boss: Scots could have 'cheapest electricity in UK' under zonal pricing Brian Wilson: Let the lesson be learned: security of energy supply is paramount Briefings from Ofgem, the energy regulator over RTS warn that if people choose not to upgrade to smart meter "your heating and hot water may be left continually on or off". It also means electricity bills could be higher as the supplier cannot accurately monitor usage during peak and off-peak times. The Herald has been told that the energy consumers' minister has told Energy UK and Ofgem on a fortnightly basis to discuss progress and energy suppliers' plans for the switch-off to have a "particular focus on Scotland and remote and rural areas". The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Energy has warned that suppliers are "obligated" under their licence conditions to ensure that a suitable alternative metering system is installed and that the customer's service is not disrupted. And a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero source said: "We demand that suppliers must meet their obligations to consumers and ensure that no one loses heating or hot water. Energy consumers minister Miatta Fahnbulleh 'This includes rapidly increasing the pace of replacements so that there is a smooth transition and consumers are protected. "The Government will do everything it can to ensure that all consumers are protected." He added: "For years the pace of the RTS replacements has been too slow, which is why the government has taken decisive action to put the transition back on track. "The RTS and the work to replace it, is industry owned and led. The date for the switch off was agreed by industry and work on replacing meters is overseen by Energy UK and Ofgem. "Energy suppliers have been contacting households and businesses with RTS meters to arrange appropriate metering solutions before the switch off. If consumers think they have an RTS meter they should contact their supplier immediately. Frazer Scott, chief executive of Energy Action Scotland, which has been in a meeting with representatives of Ofgem and Energy UK said there issues around funds to support people who need additional electrical work. He said there was a process still being worked out to identify a pot of funding with less than two months to go before the switch off with "no detail and no criteria." And he said that the installations were just "not ramping sufficiently". "The pace of change is too slow and people are being put at risk," he said. "They are at risk of losing heating and hot water or face spiralling energy costs if there systems stay on. "Suppliers need to communicate better with customers, meet commitments that they meet on installations and get their installers to get upgrades right first time." Last year Scotland was at the bottom of the British league table over the installation of smart meters, which is due to replace RTS, despite the energy regulator Ofgem writing to energy suppliers raising concerns at the speed of the roll out. "With such a short timescale and a mountain to climb, government, regulator and industry need to do much much more than they have. This is an avoidable crisis." Analysis shows that 51% domestic electricity meters were 'smart' in Scotland last year, compared to 63% for Great Britain. In 2023, 43% in Scotland were 'smart'. Of nearly 400 local authority areas of Great Britain the ten areas with the least take-up of smart meters, five were in Scotland. They are all in some of Scotland's more remote and rural local authorities with Shetland having just a 10% take-up a rise from 7% the previous year, Orkney with 12% up from 9%, the Western Isles Council area of Na h-Eileanan Siar with 16% up from 9%, Argyll and Bute with 27% up from 20% and Highland with 35%. The lowest take-up of electricity smart meters operated by energy suppliers in the UK is in the Isles of Scilly with just 7% converting. The SFHA said it is working with the energy regulator to raise awareness of the issue and is set to welcome a delegation from Ofgem to a social housing development in Aberdeen later this month. SFHA chief executive Sally Thomas said: 'Time is urgently running out to replace RTS meters across Scotland and prevent thousands of Scotland's social tenants being left without heating or hot water. 'Energy suppliers need to ramp up the replacement of RTS meters across Scotland, particularly in the most-affected rural areas, otherwise there is a serious risk of plunging thousands more tenants into fuel poverty." The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has already written to the energy consumers minister Miatta Fahnbulleh and the chief executive of the sector regulator Ofgem raising "serious concerns" about what it called a "crisis" over the meter replacement effort. The coalition has also challenged the lack of clarity around the regulator's 'no detriment' commitment, which is designed to ensure that people who move from an RTS meter to a new connection do not have to pay more for their energy. Ms Thomas added: 'SFHA has been working constructively with our member housing associations and the energy regulator, Ofgem, to raise awareness of the issue. 'It's vital that energy companies set out how they plan to clear the backlog of meter replacements and support those who will not have new meters in place by the deadline to ensure no tenant is left behind.' An Energy UK spokesman said: "Suppliers have been pulling out all the stops to replace the remaining RTS meters as soon as possible. This includes continuing to contact customers directly through multiple channels, in addition to extensive outreach and advertising campaigns in partnership with local authorities, consumer groups and Ofgem. Suppliers have been contacting and alerting customers about the switch-off for some time now and have stepped their efforts up further in recent months. 'Suppliers' main focus is on stepping up installation rates further and continuing this momentum ahead of the deadline. It will undoubtedly be challenging to replace all these meters by the June 30th date – it means getting access to every single property to carry out the installation, many of which are in remote areas, which can make both initial contact and arranging the replacement difficult, and ultimately it requires all customers to respond to contact from their supplier. 'So remaining RTS customers are urged to contact their supplier without delay to arrange a replacement and ensure a smooth switchover that enables their heating and hot water to continue operating in the same way. But the industry is also 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.'
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Accused plane ‘seat squatter' feels ‘framed,' hits back at critics: ‘I was just following directions'
Seat squatter or confused traveler? You decide. A flustered passenger shared how they were accused of being a 'seat squatter' in an uncomfortable situation. Reddit user @pinkney59 explained the confusion in a Delta Airlines thread, Fox News reported. The person said they were first on the standby list to be given a seat and were instructed to head back to row 29 to enjoy the flight. However, when the passenger got there, a person with a ticket for that seat was already settled in. A flight attendant stepped over to remedy the situation and reassigned the Reddit poster a seat in Comfort Plus. But just a few minutes later, a father walked over with his daughter and claimed the person was in their assigned seat. 'I super nicely explained I was just given this seat by the FA (flight attendant),' the person recounted, suggesting, 'Maybe there is a mix-up.' But when another flight attendant came over, they 'loudly scolded' the flyer. 'WHO told you you can sit there?!? Your ticket doesn't even say comfort+!!!' the second flight attendant said. The confused passenger described the flight attendant who had instructed them to sit in the Comfort Plus seat but was taken aback by being 'publicly reprimanded in front of the plane when I was just following directions,' they confessed. 'I wasn't trying to scam a comfort seat — this is literally where she told me to sit,' the traveler insisted. Fortunately, another passenger who witnessed the whole debacle stepped in to say, 'I saw this whole thing happen and heard her tell you to sit here, so don't worry,' which gave the person 'some relief.' 'After a whole commotion I was reseated for a third time, and frankly felt kind of pissed for being framed as some seat squatter when I was just following directions!!!' the Reddit user said. People flooded the comments with similar frustrating stories and complaints of airlines' seeming disorganization. Several people replied that something 'similar' happened to them. Although Redditor @pinkney59 didn't intentionally steal someone else's seat, other passengers are doing it on purpose — trying to get more than just a free upgrade. The seat squatter trend has been taking off over the last few months with many shaming the controversial attempt at upgrading an airplane seat. A person claiming to be a flight attendant shared an instance in which 'people sat down, received their pre-flight booze and then said, 'I'm just going to go say hi to my sister in the back of the plane,' and walked off with the free drink to obviously not return,' the Reddit user wrote. 'Some people have no shame. They pulled a fast one and probably post[ed] it to social media, too,' another Reddit user responded. 'Dignity and respect for others is out, pranks and hacks are in.' Air travel etiquette has become one of the most hotly debated topics online in recent years as Reddit threads have filled with complaints of 'aisle lice' and videos of unruly passengers go viral.
