The Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, reiterated this afternoon that the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) will begin a phased switch off on 30 June 2025. The switch-off will not be widespread in the first instance and will progress in a controlled fashion with oversight by both Ofgem and government.
- Ministers have confirmed that a widespread switch-off of Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters will not happen on 30 June – with this summer marking a limited start of a phase-out process.
- Industry will pursue a phased approach beginning with a very small number of homes and businesses in carefully targeted local areas, with government monitoring suppliers’ performance to ensure the process is smooth and working families are protected.
- Affected customers will be contacted in advance, and are urged to respond to energy suppliers and book appointments to have their meter replaced.
Thousands of people with a Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meter will not face any unexpected disruption to their heating or hot water at the end of this month, as the UK Government confirms there will be a cautious and targeted phase out to the service, protecting energy consumers.
The Radio Teleswitch Service uses radio signals to switch older electricity meters between different tariffs such as peak and off peak, and can also be used to turn heating and hot water systems on and off at specific times of the day. The service was introduced in the 1980s and, as planned, is now reaching the end of its life.
Ofgem has been continually monitoring the industry’s efforts to replace RTS meters. Last year they decided more needed to be done so convened the sector to form an RTS Taskforce 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.
But unacceptably slow progress to replace these meters has left around 314,000 households still using them as of last month – equal to around 1 per cent of British households.
The phase out will now begin on a significantly smaller scale, in accessible areas with very few RTS customers, meaning energy suppliers will be ready to respond rapidly to protect households who most need support.
In advance of any phase out activity in their area, households will be contacted by their energy supplier to inform them well ahead of time, before their meters are affected.
Government and Ofgem have been clear that they also expect suppliers’ momentum to install replacement meters to increase over the coming weeks.
Charlotte Friel, Director for Retail Pricing & 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 1000 meters per month to more than 1000 per day.
“While this carefully managed phaseout process should reassure customers, it remains crucial that these meters are replaced urgently so it’s vital to engage with your supplier when offered an appointment.”
This does not mean the process of replacing meters will slow down and I urge all affected constituents to contact their supplier. Further information on the RTS switch-off can be found on suppliers’ websites or on Ofgem’s dedicated RTS webpage: Replacing your Radio Teleswitch electricity meter | Ofgem