Latest news with #RTSmeter
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Family faces shock £1,400 demand for meter switch-off or face having no heating
An energy firm tried to charge a Scots family £1,400 to change their meter before it is switched off this month, it has emerged. MSPs and consumer groups last night issued a warning to families that their energy supplier must pay the cost of replacing Radio Teleswitching Systems (RTS) meters. It follows revelations that a supplier tried to charge one Orkney household £1,400 to replace their meter, including £200 for a hotel booking, £382 for a ferry and £820 for a day's work. The supplier – which has not been named – only backtracked from forcing the family to pay when challenged by Liam McArthur, Liberal Democrat MSP for Orkney. It triggered a warning that customers should never pay for work which needs to take place before the RTS system is shut down at the end of this month. As of last month, 124,864 of the RTS meters still needed to be replaced in Scotland. Mr McArthur, said: 'I am deeply concerned to hear reports of some energy suppliers attempting to charge constituents to have their RTS meters replaced with smart meters. 'It is the obligation of suppliers to ensure customers have a working meter, and that there are no upfront costs for customers, including businesses, who pay for their meters through billing. 'Suppliers should also not be telling customers in places such as Orkney that they are required to cover costs related to accommodation or travel for engineers. This is simply not the case.' Mr McArthur said he contacted the supplier and it dropped the demand for payment. The RTS system – a feature of older electricity meters linked to heating and hot water usage – uses a longwave radio frequency to switch between peak and off-peak rates. But the technology is becoming obsolete and energy firms have a deadline to change customers' meters by June 30. It has led to concerns that some households could lose their heating and hot water if their meter is not replaced in time. Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, which runs said: 'Suppliers should install smart meters at no cost. If that is not possible, they still have a duty to replace RTS meters with a suitable alternative, and customers should not be charged.' Advice Direct Scotland supported one customer who faced a £700 kitchen repair bill following a meter replacement, and another quoted £1,290 to move a fuse by an inch for a smart meter. Energy UK, which represents most suppliers but not the one responsible for imposing the £1,400 charge in Orkney, said: 'Customers should not expect to pay for an RTS meter replacement. We also urge customers to look out for scammers pretending to be suppliers.' A spokesman for Ofgem said: 'We will look into this and hold to account any supplier that breaches our rules.'
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Fears thousands of power meters won't work after tech switch-off
Octopus Energy is urging customers with outdated radio teleswitch (RTS) meters to upgrade to smart meters before 30 June, when the broadcasting signal will be switched off, affecting over 600,000 customers. RTS meters, introduced in the 1980s, use longwave radio signals from the BBC to switch between peak and off-peak rates, but this system is being discontinued. The energy supplier explained that if you have a large black box next to your meter, you may have an RTS meter. Jan Shortt of the National Pensioners Convention noted that many affected households may be unaware of their RTS meters or the impending switch-off. Customers who do not switch to smart meters may face overcharges for electricity or be left without hot water and heating.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Octopus Energy issues urgent warning to households which will see meters deactivated this month
Some households could be left without hot water and heating if they don't make the 'vital' switch to a modern smart meter. Octopus Energy has warned customers with an outdated radio teleswitch (RTS) to get a smart meter before the old ones stop working at the end of this month. The major energy supplier explained RTS meters, which were first introduced in the 1980s, use longwave radio signals from the BBC's RTS meters to switch meters between peak and off-peak rates. However, the equipment which broadcasts the signal will be switched off on 30 June – which will affect more than 600,000 customers. Jan Shortt, the general secretary of the National Pensioners Convention, said many of those living in homes affected by the RTS meters switch-off will be older people. 'A good proportion may not even be aware they have such a meter, or if they do, won't know they are about to be switched off,' she said. The energy supplier explained that if you have a large black box next to your meter, you may have an RTS meter. Octopus Energy is now deploying additional engineers to ensure all properties with outdated meters can switch to smart meters before the deadline, in hopes of minimising disruptions. It has also fast-tracked the switch for its customers, covering nearly a quarter of affected households. John Szymik, CEO of Octopus Energy Services, said: "Octopus has boosted its service capability to offer fast-tracked assistance and ensure that no one is left without heating. 'We urge all affected customers, of any supplier, to book their meter exchange now to ensure a smooth transition." Those who do not make the switch in time may be overcharged for electricity or see their hot water and heating cut off. Explaining the switch off in a YouTube video, Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy, said: 'This isn't one of those usual messages where energy companies are trying to get you to use a smart meter, this is specifically for the 2.5 per cent of customers which have these RTS meters that are going to stop working later this year. 'It's really important to make the switch as soon as possible because as we are changing these meters so resources will be tight, and we can't leave it all to the last minute.'
