Latest news with #RadioTeleswitchingSystem
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Ofgem urgent heating warning as 113,000 Scots at risk
The alarm has been raised by Ofgem, which revealed that 113,535 Scottish homes are still using outdated Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters—a technology that has been in use since the 1980s to control heating schedules via longwave radio signals. Originally due to be retired in March, the RTS signal shutdown was delayed to give households more time to upgrade. However, the new deadline of June 30 is now fast approaching, and many households still have not taken action. READ MORE: Hundreds of Ofgem staff in Glasgow vote to strike in pay dispute Ofgem has warned that households still using RTS meters could lose control of their heating and hot water, which may be left permanently on or off after the signal is phased out. "Heating and hot water may be left continually on or off," Ofgem cautioned, according to The Herald. While there won't be a mass switch-off on June 30, the signal will be phased out gradually in stages. Energy UK, which represents the country's energy suppliers, has issued clear guidance to customers. They have advised that they should book a smart meter replacement appointment as soon as possible. While some appointments may be scheduled beyond the June 30 deadline, the system will still be phased out in small groups. An Energy UK spokesman said: "There will not be a mass switch off of the RTS national signal on June 3. From this date, we will begin a phase-out of the RTS functionality for small groups of meters at a time. "Customers should still continue to book replacement appointments as soon as possible, and should not worry if the appointment they have been given is for after June 30. "All affected customers will be contacted in advance, but as we expect appointments to be booked up very quickly, the advice still remains for customers to contact their supplier to book a replacement at their earliest convenience." READ MORE: Energy Price Cap: Ofgem drops cap by £129 from July The organisation also confirmed that all affected customers should be contacted in advance, but encouraged people to proactively reach out to their energy supplier due to high demand for appointments. Most Scottish homes use standard meters and will not be impacted, regardless of whether they've switched to smart meters. However, for those still dependent on RTS meters, urgent action is needed. RTS meters were introduced in the 1980s to switch between peak and off-peak energy usage. Their numbers were expected to decline as smart meters became more widespread, but over 100,000 Scottish homes still rely on the technology.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Urgent warning to 100,000 Scots who could have hot water shut off within DAYS – here's what you need to do
Read on for advice on what to do SWITCH OFF Urgent warning to 100,000 Scots who could have hot water shut off within DAYS – here's what you need to do Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN URGENT warning has been issued as thousands of Scots could be left without heating or hot water in just days. Regulator Ofgem revealed that 113,535 households across Scotland are still using old Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters and haven't transitioned to a smart meter. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Thousands of Scots could be left without hot water or heating in just days Credit: PA:Press Association 3 Customers have been urged to to switch to smart meters Credit: Alamy The old technology is set to be switched off on June 30 after the deadline was pushed back from March. And customers have been warned that after the deadline, RTS meters will not work anymore. If people choose not to upgrade to smart meters, Ofgem has said that "heating and hot water may be left continually on or off", The Herald reports. There will not be a mass switch off from June 30, but a "phased approach". Energy UK, which represents energy companies, has revealed what homeowners can do if they still rely on RTS meters. They advise customers to book replacement appointments as soon as possible. And have stressed that people should not worry if the appointments are given after the deadline. All affected households should be contacted in advanced but Scots should contact their supplier to book a replacement as appointments are expected to be booked up quickly. An Energy UK spokesman said: "There will not be a mass switch off of the RTS national signal on June 3. From this date, we will begin a phase out of the RTS functionality for small groups of meters at a time. "Customers should still continue to book replacement appointments as soon as possible, and should not worry if the appointment they have been given is for after June 30. From TV to energy... tips to save you money on 7 bills that are going up in April "All affected customers will be contacted in advance, but as we expect appointments to be booked up very quickly, the advice still remains for customers to contact their supplier to book a replacement at the earliest convenience." Most homes have standard meters and will not be affected whether they have a smart meter or not. Since the 1980s, RTS meters have used a longwave radio frequency to switch between peak and off peak rates. The number of homes reliant on the signal was expected to drop as the roll-out of smart meters progressed.
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
New UK Government update for people on RTS energy meter ahead of switch-off this month
The Radio Teleswitch Service will start to be phased out from June 30. Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for all people over State Pension age in Scotland The UK Government has announced that thousands of households using the Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) 'will not unexpectedly lose access to their heating and hot water' once the deadline passes on June 30. Thousands of Scottish households with ageing energy meters will be affected when the mass RTS deactivation begins at the end of this month. The latest figures from Ofgem indicate that as of April 4, 2025, there were 129,814 RTS meters remaining in Scotland. However, Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh gave reassurance to RTS customers in a written response to Labour MP John Whitby, who asked what steps are being taken to 'ensure that people in rural areas retain access to functioning energy meters' following the RTS switch-off. Ms Fahnbulleh responded: 'Customers will not unexpectedly lose access to their heating and hot water after 30th June, and we will not allow widespread disconnection. 'Suppliers must fulfil all of their legal obligations to their customers, and that any future, localised phase-out of RTS meters after 30th June must be controlled, planned, and communicated properly to all customers in order to proceed. 'The UK Government will do everything it can to ensure that all customers are protected, and will work with Ofgem to hold suppliers to account if required. We expect energy suppliers to be taking measures, such as deploying roaming teams of installers including in rural areas, to ensure consumers receive replacement meters in a timely manner.' The head of Scotland's national advice service recently raised the alarm over the slow replacement of thousands of ageing energy meters, warning of a 'looming crisis' just weeks before the deadline. Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said vulnerable households were among those at risk of being 'left in the cold' with less than a month to go. In a letter to Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley, he warned that many households remain unaware of what will happen if their RTS meter is not replaced. A similar letter has also been sent to the regulator by Consumer Scotland, the independent statutory body which represents the interests of customers. In his letter, Mr Bartlett called for energy suppliers to proactively identify and prioritise vulnerable customers for meter upgrades, as well as a fresh public information campaign. With the RTS deadline fast approaching, Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national energy advice service has been receiving more calls from worried households. Anyone who has not received a letter or email should contact their supplier now. Support is also available at or by calling 0808 196 8660. Mr Bartlett said: 'With less than a month to go until the RTS signal starts being switched off across the country, it is increasingly clear that progress on replacing them has not been fast enough. Ofgem needs to urgently clarify if it intends to stick to the June 30 deadline and if a phased approach is being taken, which parts of Scotland will be affected first. 'We are picking up a lot of confusion among affected customers, some of whom are trying to have their RTS meters replaced but have been told it isn't possible until after the switch-off. 'At a time when thousands of people are struggling with energy debts and the cost of living, nobody should be left out of pocket for replacing their meter either. 'Our message to consumers is that if you know someone with an RTS meter, especially if they are vulnerable, encourage them to get it replaced before the deadline if they can. 'The most important thing to remember is that free help and advice is available. Anyone who is worried should visit or call 0808 196 8660 for assistance.'
Daily Record
02-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
New energy bill update for thousands of people affected by RTS meter switch-off this month
The Radio Teleswitch Service will start to be phased out from June 30. Ofgem has announced its intention to introduce Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) specific licence conditions for suppliers to protect people from the risk of heating and hot water supply disruption and higher energy bills, according to the UK Government. The energy regulator recently consulted on this and is expected to publish a response in the coming weeks. Thousands of Scottish households with ageing energy meters will be affected when the mass RTS deactivation begins on June 30. The latest figures from Ofgem indicate that as of April 4, 2025, there were 129,814 RTS meters remaining in Scotland. Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh answered several written questions from MPs on the topic, including whether or not the deadline could be extended and what steps are being taken to help households still waiting on their energy supplier to install a smart meter. In a written response to Conservative MP David Mundell, who asked about the switch-off process, Ms Fahnbulleh said that energy suppliers led by the RTS Taskforce are planning a careful phase out of RTS from June 30. She added: 'The Government is working closely with the RTS Taskforce, industry and Ofgem to ensure the phase out process is planned effectively and consumers are appropriately protected.' Liberal Democrat MP Edward Morello asked about support for people whose electricity meters are not replaced before the deadline, through no fault of their own. Ms Fahnbulleh responded: 'The Government has made clear to industry that suppliers must fulfil their obligations to customers and drive up the rate of Radio Teleswitch (RTS) meter replacements. 'As part of the RTS Taskforce we are doing all that we can to protect consumers from any negative impacts, and make sure that the carefully managed phase out process of RTS from 30 June is as smooth as possible for consumers.' Mr Morello also asked about the potential merits of extending the deadline due to delays from suppliers in fitting new meters. The Energy Minister explained there will be a 'carefully managed phase out of the service starting from 30 June' because the RTS is 'reaching the end of its operational life and can no longer be adequately maintained'. She added: 'The Government is working closely with the RTS Taskforce to ensure the phase out process is planned effectively and consumers are appropriately protected.' Mr Morello also submitted a question asking what steps are being taken to protect customers if their meter is not replaced by the deadline at the end of this month. Ms Fahnbulleh responded: 'Ofgem has announced its intention to introduce RTS specific licence conditions for suppliers to protect consumers from the risk of heating and hot water supply disruption and higher bills. Ofgem has recently consulted on this and will publish a response in the coming weeks. 'These new protections are in addition to current conditions put on suppliers to ensure that a suitable alternative metering system is installed in RTS premises and that consumers' services are not disrupted.' The head of Scotland's national advice service has also raised the alarm over the slow replacement of thousands of ageing energy meters, warning of a 'looming crisis' just weeks before the deadline. Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said vulnerable households were among those at risk of being 'left in the cold' with less than a month to go. In a letter to Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley, he warned that many households remain unaware of what will happen if their RTS meter is not replaced. A similar letter has also been sent to the regulator by Consumer Scotland, the independent statutory body which represents the interests of customers. In his letter, Mr Bartlett called for energy suppliers to proactively identify and prioritise vulnerable customers for meter upgrades, as well as a fresh public information campaign. With the RTS deadline fast approaching, Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national energy advice service has been receiving more calls from worried households. Anyone who has not received a letter or email should contact their supplier now. Support is also available at or by calling 0808 196 8660. Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said: 'With less than a month to go until the RTS signal starts being switched off across the country, it is increasingly clear that progress on replacing them has not been fast enough. Ofgem needs to urgently clarify if it intends to stick to the June 30 deadline and if a phased approach is being taken, which parts of Scotland will be affected first. 'We are picking up a lot of confusion among affected customers, some of whom are trying to have their RTS meters replaced but have been told it isn't possible until after the switch-off. 'At a time when thousands of people are struggling with energy debts and the cost of living, nobody should be left out of pocket for replacing their meter either. 'Our message to consumers is that if you know someone with an RTS meter, especially if they are vulnerable, encourage them to get it replaced before the deadline if they can. 'The most important thing to remember is that free help and advice is available. Anyone who is worried should visit or call 0808 196 8660 for assistance.'
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.
