From data gathered from energy suppliers Ofgem expect that within my constituency of Highlands and Islands approximately 898 constituents may be affected.
The Radio Teleswitch (RTS) Phase-Out which is now underway with the next stage due to commence from 11 August 2025. All of you due to be impacted will have been contacted multiple times already by your supplier to notify you that your meter is due to be phased-out.
To mitigate against the risk of consumer harm, the RTS Phase-Out will be conducted in a gradual and careful manner over the course of the coming months. Ofgem have provided information that you may find useful should you experience any interruption to your heating and/or hot water.
Background
RTS uses radio signals to instruct specific RTS electricity meters to switch between peak and off peak rates. These electricity meters were designed to support consumers who may use electric storage systems and panel or immersion heaters in water tanks, which typically charge and heat up at night.
Since 2011, energy suppliers have been obligated to take steps to replace traditional electricity meters such as those reliant on RTS infrastructure with smart metering equipment.
The infrastructure which supports RTS, first introduced in the 1980s, has reached the end of its natural operational life. Stakeholders involved in the provision and support of the infrastructure which support RTS – including the transmitters located in Droitwich, Westerglen and Burghead – have made clear that it can no longer be maintained on a long term basis. Maintenance of this infrastructure is no longer practical and is too costly to continue to maintain.
RTS Phase-Out
The radio signal, as noted above, is now being phased out. Consumers who have not received an upgrade to their RTS meter, may experience disruption to their heating and/or hot water provision within their home or business, or potentially will experience higher rates of tariffs when their RTS meter fails to switch between the different rates.
Ofgem alongside the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) will be closely monitoring the progress of the Phase-Out and the ability of energy suppliers to provide rapid support for any consumers who may be affected during this initial stage. They have received assurances from suppliers that they stand ready to support consumers during the Phase-Out. However, they have made clear that should they believe that suppliers are not adequately responding to consumers including prioritising those in vulnerable circumstances, they will pause the Phase-Out until such a time that they are confident that the necessary processes are in place to protect consumers.
Advice for consumers
Suppliers are currently upgrading RTS meters at a rate of over 1,000 meter points per day and expectation is that this number will increase as the RTS Phase-Out continues. The phasing-out of RTS meters will pause over winter months, however, RTS upgrade activity will continue at pace during these months before phase-out activity recommences in March/April 2026.
It is critical that any of you still with an RTS meter take steps to contact your supplier and secure an appointment for a smart meter upgrade.
If you think you may have RTS equipment in your home or business, you should contact your energy supplier, and they will arrange for it to be upgraded. If anyone with an RTS meter experiences issues with your heating and/or hot water, you should contact your energy supplier immediately. Energy suppliers are standing by to prioritise RTS meter upgrades and respond to any issues quickly.
RTS meter upgrades
The best way for you to know whether you have an RTS meter is to contact your energy supplier. Suppliers have access to the most up to date information about what type of meter you have.
Some things you may look at that might give you an indication that you have an RTS meter are:
- The property is heated using electricity or storage heaters.
- You get cheaper energy at different times of day (usually overnight). Your tariff might be: Economy 7, Economy 10 or Total Heat Total Control.
- There is no gas supply to the property. This is often the case in blocks of flats and premises in rural areas.
- There may be a separate switch box near the consumer’s meter with a Radio Teleswitch (RTS) label on it.
Smart meters are the like-for-like replacement for RTS meters and are the best option for the vast majority of consumers. Smart meters give access to a wider variety of tariffs and greater control over your electricity usage. Without a smart meter, your supplier may be unable to support the cheaper off-peak charging for their heating and hot water. A smart meter also gives you greater visibility of your energy consumption, allowing you to minimise your usage and save money.
The RTS Phase-Out Toolkit is available to access here.
Next steps
Ofgem will be monitoring and evaluating closely the progress that suppliers make in upgrading RTS meters during the Phase-Out.