Warning to 300,000 UK homes with an 'old' electricity meter

More than 300,000 households across the UK could face heating and hot water this summer as electricity near their shutdown date. Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters are set to become obsolete by 30 June 2025, raising significant concern for energy consumers and regulators alike. These meters, introduced in the 1980s, have long used a longwave radio signal to toggle between peak and off-peak electricity rates, and are often found in homes using electric heating or storage heaters. These are often also linked to Economy 7 tariffs, which offer cheaper rates during off-peak hours.

With the network due to be switched off, households still relying on RTS meters risk losing automatic control over their heating and hot water systems. According to the industry body, Energy UK, there were a massive 430,000 RTS meters still being used at the end of March.

While energy firms have been replacing around 1,000 of these meters daily, that pace would need to increase significantly to reach everyone in time.

Regulator Ofgem has labelled the issue a matter of "urgent consumer welfare" and urged suppliers to act swiftly.

Vulnerable households, particularly in rural or hard-to-reach areas, face the greatest risk of disruption, with campaigners warning that some homes could be left without proper heating or hot water controls come July.

In some cases, households may experience their heating stuck in the 'on' position or not turning on at all.

Ofgem, however, clarified that these problems typically only affect circuits dedicated to heating and hot water, not general electricity use such as lighting or plug sockets.

The RTS switch-off had initially been planned for March 2024 but was extended to June to give energy providers more time to manage the transition.

While companies continue to target the new deadline, a gradual "managed phase-down" is now being considered to minimise service disruption.