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3w ago

Over 300,000 UK Homes at Risk as RTS Meter Phase-Out Deadline Nears

With two months left until the June 30 switch-off, Ofgem demands urgent action plans from energy suppliers to protect vulnerable households from heating and hot water disruptions.

Thousands have been warned to switch to a smart meter ahead of the 30 June deadline (Photo: PA)
Thousands have been warned to switch to a smart meter ahead of the 30 June deadline. Provided by elen.Kelly@smartenergygb.org
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Overview

  • The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters, reliant on BBC longwave signals, will cease functioning on June 30, 2025, leaving affected households without heating or hot water unless replaced.
  • Energy suppliers are replacing over 1,000 RTS meters daily, but the pace must quintuple to meet the deadline, with over 300,000 homes still at risk of disruption.
  • Ofgem has labeled the transition an 'urgent consumer welfare issue,' requiring suppliers to submit action plans and implement contingencies for households not upgraded in time.
  • Vulnerable and rural households face heightened risks due to limited engineer availability and logistical challenges in remote areas like Scotland's Highlands and Islands.
  • Smart meters, the designated replacement, provide equivalent tariff functionality and real-time energy data, but concerns persist over installation delays and customer resistance to the technology.