Edinburgh landlord struggles with RTS switch off delays

A retired Edinburgh schoolteacher is grappling with repeated setbacks in upgrading a soon-to-be obsolete meter at his rental property, raising concerns that his tenants may lose access to heating and hot water.

The Daily Record says that David Bateman, an 80-year-old landlord from Leith, has faced five failed attempts to install a smart meter to replace his Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) device, which is set to become inoperable after a nationwide signal termination on June 30.

Mr Bateman’s frustration stems from a series of cancellations, with his latest appointment rescheduled for July 28 – nearly a month after the deadline.

He adds that tenants are being inconvenienced when a switching date is set and that he is being treated like a ‘fool’.

RTS switchover ‘incompetence’

He tells the newspaper that ‘incompetence doesn’t even begin to describe what is going on here’ and he says he’s lost count of how often he’s tried to get the meter replaced.

His ordeal is part of a broader issue highlighted by Advice Direct Scotland, a charity running the energyadvice.scot service.

It says that with only six weeks until the RTS signal ends, thousands of Scottish households risk being left without essential utilities if their meters remain unchanged.

Andrew Bartlett, the charity’s chief executive, acknowledges that repeated cancellations and delays show that the replacement system isn’t working.

Communication is ‘ridiculous’

Recent UK government data indicates there are around 135,000 RTS meters still being used in Scotland by late April – 47,000 of them are in the Highlands and Islands.

These devices, introduced in the 1980s, rely on longwave radio signals to toggle between peak and off-peak electricity rates.

Post-switch-off, users face the possibility of being locked into incorrect settings or shifted to costlier single-rate tariffs.

Mr Bartlett says communication is ‘beyond ridiculous’ and he’s struggling to understand why switching meters is proving so difficult.

Call for advice

Advice Direct Scotland is intensifying efforts to raise awareness, featuring a countdown clock on its website and encouraging households to verify their meter status.

The charity has reported a surge in inquiries from concerned residents as the deadline nears.

For those affected, free guidance is available at energyadvice.scot or by calling 0808 196 8660.