Government delays the phasing out of RTS energy meters

Government delays the phasing out of RTS energy meters

0:01 AM, 23rd June 2025, About 3 weeks ago 2

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The government has intervened to delay a planned mass switch-off of the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters which are used by 314,000 households.

The signal was due to be switched off on 30 June but with thousands of homes, including lots of rented properties, still waiting for conversion meant they would not be able to heat their homes or get hot water.

Instead, there will now be a gradual transition which will begin this summer, targeting a limited number of homes and businesses in specific areas to ensure minimal impact on working families.

RTS meters, introduced in the 1980s, use radio signals to toggle between peak and off-peak electricity tariffs and control heating and hot water schedules.

1% of homes use the meters

With the service nearing the end of its operational life – around 1% of UK homes still rely on these ageing devices – progress in replacing them has been slow.

Now ministers are to enforce a more structured phase-out plan.

The Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh, said: “We have stepped in to ensure that thousands of vulnerable consumers with RTS meters do not experience any sudden disruption at the end of this month.

“I will be watching suppliers closely to make sure they are doing everything they can to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible.”

Trial areas for switch off

The new approach will start on a smaller scale, focusing on regions with few RTS users, allowing energy suppliers to address issues swiftly and prioritise vulnerable households.

Customers will receive advance notice from their suppliers, who will arrange appointments to install modern replacements.

The government expects suppliers to accelerate these installations in the coming weeks to maintain momentum.

Users must be protected

Ofgem, the energy regulator, is overseeing the process to ensure consumer protection.

Charlotte Friel, the director for retail pricing and systems for Ofgem, said: “Ofgem has been clear that customers must be protected at every stage of the phased area-by-area shutdown, and we are spelling out to suppliers’ key requirements that must be met before an area loses its RTS signal.

“At the same time, we expect energy companies to go faster, building on the work of the cross-sector taskforce set up by Ofgem that has seen the upgrade rate rise from 1,000 meters per month to more than 1,000 per day.”


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Cider Drinker

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10:12 AM, 23rd June 2025, About 3 weeks ago

I fully expected this to happen.

The energy provider and OFGEM tried to replace my mother’s meter under the ruse of the RTS switch off on a number of occasions. It isn’t an RTS meter and instead, it uses an internal clock to make the switchover.

Had we allowed them to fit a Smart meter, I was advised (by the energy supplier) that she would lose the afternoon (cheap rate) boost and any changes to the internal wiring would not be covered by the supplier.

I wonder how many non-RTS meters have been changed unnecessarily.

moneymanager

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11:29 AM, 23rd June 2025, About 3 weeks ago

Four hundred property owners or tenants in this one building have been badgered by suppliers, a few have changed the meters but none can work in Smart mode, the reality is that all the dual tarrif meters are pre configured and so although there is an RTS connection, the meters don't rely on it at all, something about a party in a brewery comes to mind.

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