THOUSANDS of households are at risk of being left without heating or hot water this winter.
Approximately 156,000 British households are still using old Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters and haven’t swapped to a smart meter, Energy UK warns.
Households with these meters are being urged to get in touch with their energy supplier as soon as possible or reply to any letters or emails they receive.
If they don’t then they could be left unable to turn on their heating or have a hot shower during the colder months.
Meanwhile, if the RTS signal fails, they could also be charged incorrectly for their energy.
For example, they may be billed at peak rates instead of cheaper off-peak times.
Read more on energy bills
This could cause them to be hit with higher bills at a time when the cost of living is already high.
RTS meters are being phased out as the signal they need to operate is being switched off.
Since the beginning of 2025, energy suppliers have replaced over a quarter of a million RTS meters across Britain.
It’s free to get a smart meter and they can help you to keep track of your energy use and get access to cheaper tariffs.
There are still 178,000 RTS meters that need to be replaced across Britain but only 22,000 appointments have so far been booked.
Ned Hammond, deputy director of policy (customers) at Energy UK, warned: “Please take action now.”
He added: “At this time of year, with colder weather setting in, heating and hot water are more important than ever.
“Don’t risk being left without warmth when you need it most.”
What are RTS meters?
RTS technology was introduced in the 1980s but is now being phased out.
The infrastructure that powers the RTS signal is increasingly at risk of failure.
How do I know if I have an RTS electricity meter?
YOU’LL be able to tell if you have a meter that relies on the RTS quite easily.
The oldest RTS-powered meters have a switch box labelled “Radio Teleswitch” located next to the physical electricity meter.
Others may have the RTS switch box included within the electricity meter as a single box on the wall.
If you’re unsure about the type of electricity meter in your home – call your supplier as they’ll usually have this information on hand.
RTS is also sometimes called dynamically teleswitched (DTS).
Suppliers were initially given a March deadline to move customers to a smart meter.
But this was pushed back to June 30, then Ofgem said it would turn off the signal in different regions gradually, instead of doing one mass switch off.
The RTS signal is being phased out in stages and different regions will see it switched off at different times.
In areas where the RTS signal has already been turned off, customers may only realise when they go to turn their heating on now temperatures have fallen.
If this happens then customers should contact their energy supplier immediately for help and advice.
What’s the alternative to RTS?
Smart meters offer the same features as RTS and can record the different prices during the day offered by Economy 7 tariffs.
They work by using a digital signal and can also show you your energy usage in real time, which can help you to reduce how much you use and save money.
Smart meters are being rolled out across the UK by suppliers and around 36million households already have one.
But they are not without issues, and can stop working if they are unable to pick up the network signal or can’t connect to their in home display.
Can I keep my RTS tariff?
In most cases, RTS customers will be offered a smart meter.
The smart meter operates in the same way as an RTS meter on a multi-rate tariff such as Economy 7 or Economy 10.
If that is not possible then suppliers must take all reasonable steps to provide a similar tariff, so you do not see your bills increase.
Meanwhile, upgrading an RTS meter to a smart one should give you access to a wide choice of smart meter only tariffs that should save you money.
If your supplier has not contacted you already then you do not need to wait for a letter or email asking you to switch.
Get in touch with your supplier as soon as you can.
What energy bill help is available?
There’s a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.
Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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