Latest news with #RadioTeleswitchService
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fears 300,000 British electricity meters will not work after tech switch-off
The adverts featuring Lorraine Kelly paint a worrying picture of people left without heating or hot water or, perhaps worse in mid-summer, their radiators on full blast. Either outcome could be possible when the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS), which controls an old type of electricity meter found in almost 400,000 homes across Great Britain, is switched off from 30 June. In the ads, the Scottish TV presenter urges people to contact their supplier, with the tagline adding: 'Don't delay. The RTS switch-off is on the way'. Although 1,000 of these old meters are being ripped out every day, the daily rate would need to top 5,000 to stand a chance of reaching everyone in time. Campaigners fear that more than 300,000 homes could be left with a meter that does not work. One reader, Sarah*, who contacted the Guardian, has been trying for several months to get a new meter but was told by her supplier, ScottishPower, it did 'not have a solution' for her home set-up. Introduced in the 1980s, RTS was designed for people who also use electricity for their heating and hot water. It uses the long wave radio frequency to switch meters between peak and off-peak rates. These old-fashioned heating systems can include panel heaters or immersion heaters in water tanks that charge overnight when electricity is cheaper. Users are clustered in rural Scotland, northern England and northern Wales, as well as cities including London, Leicester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The technology is being retired because the equipment that produces the radio signal has reached the end of its operational life and can no longer be adequately maintained. The switch-off could mean households have no hot water or heating, or have it stuck on constantly, potentially running up huge bills, according to Simon Francis, the coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition. '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,' Francis said. When Sarah bought her flat in Edinburgh she inherited a complicated RTS system that involved two meters on different tariffs – one for heating and hot water, and another for general use. 'Heating at any time is lower cost,' she said. 'This includes our heaters, hot water and electric shower, which are wired into a heat meter and specific circuit. The RTS system heats the hot water overnight. 'The email they [ScottishPower] have sent states that if there is no solution by the time of the switch-off, that my system will either be permanently on, or permanently off.' Another worry is that her tariff will no longer be available and the 'best match' will result in significantly higher bills. Experts said the RTS switch-off would not involve the actual flicking of a switch to cut the signal nationwide. While the advertised date is 30 June, the process will happen by area from 1 July through to 30 September. The latest figures showed that as of mid-April there were still 392,000 households with RTS meters. Energy UK, the trade association for the energy industry, said suppliers were focused on accelerating the rate of installations as the initial deadline loomed. 'It will undoubtedly be challenging to replace all these meters by 30 June,' said a spokesperson for Energy UK. 'It means getting access to every single property to carry out the installation, many of which are in remote areas, and ultimately it requires all customers to respond to contact from their supplier.' Ofgem, the energy regulator for Great Britain, is keeping a close eye on proceedings with suppliers required to submit fortnightly updates. It said that in recent weeks it had seen evidence of suppliers significantly 'stepping up their activity' and that solutions to improve smart meter connectivity in the north had been launched. '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,' a spokesperson said. '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,' they added. Sarah finally secured a meter-switch appointment earlier this month only for it to be cancelled and a new date given in mid-August. ScottishPower said it had reached the halfway mark in its replacement programme and appointments were booked for more than 30% of the remaining customers with RTS meters. The switch-off presented 'some early technical challenges, including finding a suitable solution for those customers who couldn't initially be moved over to a smart meter', it said. 'We overcame these technical challenges a number of months ago and are able to offer a solution to all our customers through the installation of a smart meter. 'Customers with appointment dates past the 30 June switch-off are still within the RTS service timeframe.' * Names have been changed Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Still waiting for my replacement meter from EDF – even the CEO couldn't help
Ofgem is optimistic in suggesting that contacting your energy supplier again will solve the problem of getting an appointment to replace old Radio Teleswitch Service electricity meters (Fears 300,000 British electricity meters will not work after tech switch-off, 26 May). Contacting the CEO of EDF hasn't done it yet for me, though I have had an apology and a flurry of emails. My March appointment was cancelled on the day, three subsequent attempts to rebook were fruitless, and then EDF sent an aggressive letter accusing me of taking no action and refusing their offers of support. Apparently appointments were ready and waiting, were I to do as they had been begging me to, and I would find plenty of available bookings by going online or phoning. There weren't any, and as even the CEO hasn't yet been able to find one for me, I think Ofgem needs to recognise that trying again is a waste of JaineBlackawton, DevonError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Energy meter warning for 300,000 customers facing HUGE bill hikes due to major switch off in DAYS
Have you been impacted by the change? We'd love to hear from you - email us on money@ SAY WATT Energy meter warning for 300,000 customers facing HUGE bill hikes due to major switch off in DAYS AN ENERGY meter warning has been issued for 300,000 customers who face huge hikes to their bills due to a major switch off. Homes with electricity meters using the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) need to upgrade to a smart meter before June 30 - when the service is being switched off. 1 Homes are being replaced with smart meters to ensure they are not cut off from power Credit: Getty The switch off will mean that anyone who still has one of these meters could face their heating or hot water not working properly. Some of these systems also automatically turn the heating and hot water system on and off at different times during the day. So those who don't switch in time risk permanently blasting their heating during peak time. This could lead to huge bill hikes for those who don't meet the deadline. Suppliers have been racing to ensure that homes are fitted with smart meters before the June deadline. Octopus Energy warned thousands of its own customers at the end of January. Next urged 65,000 customers to take action to avoid being cut off, and 60,000 EDF customers have also been contacted to warn them of the deadline. Energy regulator Ofgem was forced to step in last year as energy providers had been initially slow with the roll out. The latest figures show some 392,000 households still have an RTS meter across Britain, according to The Mirror. Currently, suppliers are switching 1,000 RTS meters a day, but in order to meet its target of 400,000 homes this figure would need to rise to 5,000. It feels colder than the arctic in my home but I've found the best hack to keep warm without pushing my energy bill up A spokesperson for Energy UK told the outlet it would be "challenging" to replace the meters by June 30." They added: "It means getting access to every single property to carry out the installation, many of which are in remote areas, and ultimately it requires all customers to respond to contact from their supplier.' But many households may not even realise they have an RTS meter and need to make the switch. HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE A RTS METER One way to tell if you have a RTS meter is if your home has a separate switch box near your meter with a Radio Teleswitch label. Another sign is if you get cheaper energy at different times of day, for example, you might be on an Economy 7, Economy 10, or Total Heat Total Control tariff. RTS meters are also typically used in areas with no gas supply, such as for high rise flats or houses in a particularly rural setting, so if this applies to you it's worth checking your meter. If you're still not sure, contact your energy supplier and ask whether you have RTS equipment. They will be able to confirm for you. You will not be charged for upgrading an RTS meter to a smart meter as all electricity suppliers are required to offer this upgrade at no extra cost to customers. When you switch you may be offered a smart meter. These devices offer the same features as RTS in that they can record the different prices at different times of day offered by Economy 7 tariffs. It can help you save money as they help you avoid estimated energy bills as the reading are sent to your supplier automatically. The device can also help you track your energy use as you can see how much you're using and when you're using it.
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Almost 6,000 Ayrshire households at risk of losing heating and hot water
The signal which controls radio teleswitch meters, or RTS meters, will be switched off on June 30 and thousands of people in Ayrshire are still to have theirs replaced. Almost 6,000 households in Ayrshire have still to have their radio teleswitch (RTS) meters replaced just weeks before the signal is switched off. The latest available figures, from mid-April, revealed that 5,923 households across the county were still relying on an RTS meter to record their energy usage. At the current rate of replacement, more than 4,500 homes in Ayrshire will still be relying on RTS meters when the signal is turned off on Monday, June 30. RTS meters, introduced in the 1980s, use outdated longwave radio signals to switch between peak and off-peak rates. Without replacement, customers risk being stuck on the wrong setting, moved onto a more expensive single-rate tariff or losing heating and hot water. Consumers are being urged to check their meters and contact their energy suppliers if they think they need a replacement, rather than waiting to be contacted. Last week, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley MSP Elena Whitham took part in a debate in the Scottish Parliament calling for more to be done to support people with the transition or to postpone the switch-off date so that everyone affected can prepare. Ms Whitham said: 'The RTS switch-off takes place on June 30 - and it could have real consequences for households that have been unable to make the switch. 'I have heard from constituents who have done their part to get ready for the cut-off date but have faced hurdles which have left them in limbo. 'This is completely unacceptable and the UK Government must take control of the situation to ensure no one is left worse off. 'The switch-off date must be postponed, or full compensation must be given to those affected. 'Households are already struggling financially and the prospect of being stuck on a higher rate is the last thing they need to be dealing with. This is even more so the case for those who have RTS meters who are already experiencing fuel poverty. 'While challenges are clearly being experienced, I encourage everyone to do their part and replace their RTS meter ahead of switch-off at the end of June - this is one of those simple changes that can save a lot of stress down the line.' Across Scotland, nearly 125,000 properties are still using the obsolete energy meters but replacements are only happening at a rate of around 5,000 every two weeks. Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national energy advice service has warned that urgent action is needed to avoid households being left without control of their heating or hot water when the signal controlling Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters is switched off on June 30. Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said: 'With less than six weeks to go until the deadline, these figures lay bare the scale of the challenge ahead. The replacement rate simply isn't fast enough and must urgently speed up. 'We are continuing to see a rise in the number of calls from worried households and expect this to increase as we get nearer to June 30. 'The system isn't working as it should, putting thousands at risk of losing heating or hot water. 'Anyone who thinks they might be affected should act now and contact their supplier. If you know someone with an RTS meter, especially if vulnerable, encourage them to act. 'Free advice is available at or by calling 0808 196 8660.'
