Latest news with #EndFuelPovertyCoalition
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supposed to be switched off last year, but this was scrapped to allow energy suppliers more time to replace the out-of-date system.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.
Metro
23-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
Ofgem energy price cap falls by 7% - here's how much your bills will now be
Energy bills will drop by around 7% in July, energy regulator Ofgem has announced. A household using a typical amount of gas and electricity should see their bills fall by £129 a year. It comes as government regulator Ofgem reduce their price cap – the amount a supplier can charge for each unit of energy – for the first time in a year. The typical amount someone will pay per year is £660 (28%) lower than at the height of the energy crisis at the start of 2023. However it is still 9% higher than the price cap set for the same three month period last year. Ofgem said the cap, which is reviewed every three months has fallen because global wholesale prices for energy have gone down. Changes to supplier business costs have also made an impact, it added. The price cap, which is reviewed every three months, does not apply to Northern Ireland. Tim Jarvis, director general of markets at Ofgem, said: 'A fall in the price cap will be welcome news for consumers, and reflects a reduction in the international price of wholesale gas. 'However, we're acutely aware that prices remain high, and some continue to struggle with the cost of energy. 'The first thing I want to remind people is that you don't have to pay the price cap – there are better deals out there so it's important to shop around, and talk to your existing supplier about the best deal they can offer you. 'And changing your payment method to direct debit or smart pay as you go can save you up to £136.' He added that in the longer term, the UK needs an energy system where prices are insulated from the volatile international gas market, ensuring more stable prices and energy security. 'And we're working closely with government to get the investment we need to reach our clean power and net zero targets as quickly as possible,' he said. 'We're also doing everything we can to support consumers today and pushing ahead with more changes to help consumers. This includes working on ways to support those trapped in energy debt and bringing in reforms to standing charge tariffs for this winter.' Citizens Advice chief executive Clare Moriarty said the drop would ease the burden of high bills for some households but urged the government not to lose perspective. She added: 'Bills will still be 52% higher than before the energy crisis and nearly seven million people live in households that have fallen behind on bills. 'Today's announcement will be cold comfort to the millions paying off a mountain of debt on top of their monthly costs. 'The government has said it hopes to provide more support to pensioners this winter but we know that people with children are often struggling most of all with energy. 'It must provide more targeted energy bill support to those hardest hit, and upgrade five million homes with money-saving energy efficiency measures.' Meanwhile, Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition said: 'The government's reverse ferret on Winter Fuel Payments are a clear sign that ministers know that people are struggling with energy bills – but sticking-plaster solutions and U-turns won't help people in the long-term. More Trending 'While bills may fall slightly in July, they're still significantly higher than before the energy crisis and remain tied to the unpredictable cost of fossil fuels. Without urgent reform and real investment, millions will continue to face unaffordable bills and cold homes.' Here's how much you will pay in England, Scotland and Wales, according to Ofgem. If you are on a standard variable tariff (default tariff) and pay for your electricity by direct Debit, you will pay on average 25.73p per kilowatt hour (kWh). The daily standing charge will be 51.37p per day. This is based on the average across England, Scotland and Wales and includes VAT. If you are on a standard variable tariff (default tariff) and pay for your gas by Direct Debit, you will pay on average 6.33 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh). The daily standing charge is 29.82 pence per day. This is based on the average across England, Scotland and Wales and includes VAT. Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: The average amount Brits have in savings, according to their age MORE: I ate at the little-known Home Bargains Café — an 'immense' 99p treat blew me away MORE: More pensioners will now be eligible for winter fuel payments
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Campaigners urge Ofgem to draw up ‘crisis plan' ahead of RTS meter switch off next month
Nearly 400,000 homes are still waiting to switch over to a smart meter before the June 30 cut-off date. Energy campaigners have urged Ofgem to draw up a 'crisis plan' for July 1 when the Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) is switched off, saying hundreds of thousands of households remain likely to face considerable disruption. Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, warned MPs that the switch-off is 'doomed to failure', adding that hundreds of thousands of RTS meters will still be in people's homes on the date they are due to be switched off for good. Energy UK, which represents firms, said 392,000 households still had the meters as of mid April, including 129,814 in Scotland. The RTS system, used by older electricity meters to control heating and hot water, uses a longwave radio frequency to switch between peak and off-peak rates, however, the technology is becoming obsolete and energy companies have a deadline to change their customers' meters by June 30. But firms 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. Mr Francis told 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, and even in the summer that's going to be disastrous for people, especially pensioners, in not having access to hot water, or it's going to fix in to a mode where it's going to start charging you at the higher rate, and again, that's going to be a real problem. 'And I don't think we've heard anything from industry about which of those is most likely, indeed, it might be a combination of different factors in different areas.' He added: 'So, it's really concerning and we need the industry and Ofgem to present a crisis plan as to what is going to happen on the first of July, to offset this challenge.' Most homes have standard meters and will not be affected, whether or not they have a smart meter. Ned Hammond, Energy UK's deputy director for customers, told the committee that there was 'a lot of work to do here still'. He said: 'While the replacement rate has increased a lot, it is clearly not at the point it would need to get to, to get down to zero customers by the end of June. 'We're working incredibly hard as an industry with Ofgem and Desnz (The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) on a carefully managed phase out plan to ensure than we can replace all the RTS meters over time and minimise any of those impacts on customers. 'We're very focused on vulnerable customers in these circumstances, in particular as well, to make sure that we are as much as possible trying to engage with them through different methods to help them through that and also be ready to provide them with any support if there are any of those issues. 'We are working very hard on that plan at the moment and we'll have it in place in time for the end of June.' 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. Charlotte Friel, director for Retail Pricing & Systems for Ofgem, said: '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. '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. 'While this carefully managed phaseout should reassure customers that they will be protected, it remains crucial that these meters are replaced so I would urge customers to engage with their supplier when offered an appointment - even if it is after the 30 June date that marks the beginning of the process.' The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to the watchdog and the UK Government to raise concerns about the pace and communication of the meter replacement effort. 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 as soon as possible. Ofgem also warns that if someone contacts you claiming you need to pay to change your meter it is likely to be a scam.
Wales Online
22-05-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Call for 'crisis plan' as hundreds of thousands face disruption on July 1
Call for 'crisis plan' as hundreds of thousands face disruption on July 1 392,000 households are currently in the line of fire A man investigates his fuse box at home - by the light of a candle - in a blackout Energy campaigners have urged Ofgem to draw up a 'crisis plan' for July 1 when the Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) is switched off, saying hundreds of thousands of households remain likely to face considerable disruption. Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, warned MPs that the switch-off is 'doomed to failure', adding that hundreds of thousands of RTS meters will still be in people's homes on the date they are due to be switched off for good. The RTS system, used by older electricity meters to control heating and hot water, uses a longwave radio frequency to switch between peak and off-peak rates. The technology is becoming obsolete and energy companies have a deadline to change their customers' meters by June 30. However, firms 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. Energy UK, which represents firms, said 392,000 households still had the meters as of mid April. Mr Francis told 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, and even in the summer that's going to be disastrous for people, especially pensioners, in not having access to hot water, or it's going to fix in to a mode where it's going to start charging you at the higher rate, and again, that's going to be a real problem. Article continues below 'And I don't think we've heard anything from industry about which of those is most likely, indeed, it might be a combination of different factors in different areas.' He added: 'So, it's really concerning and we need the industry and Ofgem to present a crisis plan as to what is going to happen on the first of July, to offset this challenge.' Most homes have standard meters and will not be affected, whether or not they have a smart meter. Ned Hammond, Energy UK's deputy director for customers, told the committee that there was 'a lot of work to do here still'. He said: 'While the replacement rate has increased a lot, it is clearly not at the point it would need to get to, to get down to zero customers by the end of June. We're working incredibly hard as an industry with Ofgem and Desnz (The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) on a carefully managed phase out plan to ensure than we can replace all the RTS meters over time and minimise any of those impacts on customers. 'We're very focused on vulnerable customers in these circumstances, in particular as well, to make sure that we are as much as possible trying to engage with them through different methods to help them through that and also be ready to provide them with any support if there are any of those issues. 'We are working very hard on that plan at the moment and we'll have it in place in time for the end of June.' 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. Charlotte Friel, director for Retail Pricing & Systems for Ofgem, said: '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 increase from around 1,000 a month to more than 1,000 a day. '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. 'While this carefully managed phaseout should reassure customers that they will be protected, it remains crucial that these meters are replaced so I would urge customers to engage with their supplier when offered an appointment – even if it is after the 30 June date that marks the beginning of the process.' 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. According to Ofgem, you may have an RTS meter if: Article continues below
North Wales Chronicle
21-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Ofgem urged to draw up ‘crisis plan' for July 1 RTS energy meter switch off
Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, warned MPs that the switch-off is 'doomed to failure', adding that hundreds of thousands of RTS meters will still be in people's homes on the date they are due to be switched off for good. The RTS system, used by older electricity meters to control heating and hot water, uses a longwave radio frequency to switch between peak and off-peak rates. The technology is becoming obsolete and energy companies have a deadline to change their customers' meters by June 30. However, firms 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. Energy UK, which represents firms, said 392,000 households still had the meters as of mid April. Mr Francis told 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, and even in the summer that's going to be disastrous for people, especially pensioners, in not having access to hot water, or it's going to fix in to a mode where it's going to start charging you at the higher rate, and again, that's going to be a real problem. 'And I don't think we've heard anything from industry about which of those is most likely, indeed, it might be a combination of different factors in different areas.' He added: 'So, it's really concerning and we need the industry and Ofgem to present a crisis plan as to what is going to happen on the first of July, to offset this challenge.' Most homes have standard meters and will not be affected, whether or not they have a smart meter. Ned Hammond, Energy UK's deputy director for customers, told the committee that there was 'a lot of work to do here still'. He said: 'While the replacement rate has increased a lot, it is clearly not at the point it would need to get to, to get down to zero customers by the end of June. 'We're working incredibly hard as an industry with Ofgem and Desnz (The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) on a carefully managed phase out plan to ensure than we can replace all the RTS meters over time and minimise any of those impacts on customers. 'We're very focused on vulnerable customers in these circumstances, in particular as well, to make sure that we are as much as possible trying to engage with them through different methods to help them through that and also be ready to provide them with any support if there are any of those issues. 'We are working very hard on that plan at the moment and we'll have it in place in time for the end of June.' 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. 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; – However, beware if someone contacts you claiming you need to pay to change your meter because it is likely to be a scam.
