ENERGY CHANGE
Major update for 600,000 energy customers as meters will be switched off before June
We explain everything you need to know about smart meters
MORE than half a million energy customers could be moved onto smart meters in the next six months ahead of a big switch off.
Letters are landing on doormats of 600,000 households who are on old meters that use Radio Teleswitch Service, or RTS for short.
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RTS is the signal that's used to broadcast long-wave radio channels and is also used by hundreds of thousands of electricity meters.
These legacy devices have been used to charge customers on multi-rate tariffs, commonly called Economy 7 tariffs, more at peak times but less at off-peak times.
They need to be replaced before June 30 when the RTS signal we be switched off for good.
Suppliers have raced to get these customers moved to smart meters before the deadline.
The Sun reported in October how 800,000 customers still needed to make the move, slightly less than the 900,000 at the start of 2024.
Now new figures reveal that 600,000 are still on RTS meters with just six months to go before the big switch off risking them "going dumb".
Anyone on RTS who fails to move to a smart meter could see that their "heating and hot water supply stops functioning as normal"
This include higher bills as suppliers won't be able to tell if you've used energy at peak time, or off peak.
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There's also a risk that heating or hot water, or both, could be left on continually, or stay off.
The energy regulator Ofgem along with suppliers and consu er groups last year launched a major switchover plan to get those affected on to up-to-date meters.
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This has involved targeting regional hotspots where many households use RTS and prioritising vulnerable customers.
Suppliers have recently submitted plans to Ofgem on how they will target the remaining 600,000 and protect those who remain on RTS beyond this date.
They are targeting moving 100,000 a month to meet the June 30 deadline.
The RTS switch over had been due to take place by March 31, 2024, but was delayed
An Ofgem spokesperson said: “We expect suppliers to consider a range of innovative solutions to ensure their RTS customers get on to a metering and tariff arrangement appropriate for them.
“Smart meters are the best replacement for RTS meters – giving consumers more control of their energy usage and opening access to new money-saving tariffs – however, customers should speak to their supplier to understand the options that are available.”
Are you on an RTS meter?
You may be on an RTS meter according to EnergyUK, if:
- you have a separate switch box near your meter with a radio teleswitch label on it
- your property is heated using electricity or storage heaters
- there is no gas supply to your area. This includes households in rural areas and high-rise flats
- you get cheaper energy at different times of day. Your tariff might be: Economy 7, Economy 10 or Total Heat Total Control
If you're unsure you should contact your supplier to ask.
RTS is also sometimes called dynamically teleswitched (DTS).
What's the alternative to RTS?
Smart meters offer the same features as RTS in that it can record the different prices at different times of day offered by Economy 7 tariffs.
They work using a digital signal and can also show your energy usage in real-time, something many users find useful for reducing it and saving money.
Smart meters are being rolled out by suppliers across the country and around 36million households have one, though they are not without issues.
What is a smart meter?
Smart meters are gas and electricity meters that can digitally send readings to your energy supplier.
They show you how much energy you are using in pounds and pence, so can be used to help reduce your energy bill.
Unlike traditional meters, which simply register a running total of energy used, smart meters can record half-hourly price and consumption data and provide automatic meter readings to your energy supplier.
Most homes have two meters, one for gas and one for electricity – both will be replaced with smart meters.
You will also be offered an in-home display to show you the cost and amount of energy you are using at any given time
It will update every 30 minutes for gas and in near real-time for electricity.
Around one in ten are thought to be "dumb" according to recent data from Ofgem.
Issues include broken display and trouble connecting to the network in some areas, while many first-generation smart meters have out of date technology, though this is unlikely to be an issue with ones fitted now.
Suppliers should make efforts to fix smart meters that are not working, but you may have to make meter readings in the meantime to ensure accurate bills.
Monitors - the part of the smart meter that show readings and usage - less than 12 months old should be replaced or fixed for free.
You can ask your supplier for a traditional meter instead, but as smart meters are replacing them, they are not obligated to give you one.
Can I keep my RTS tariff?
Suppliers have been told by Ofgem that they must take resaonable steps to ensure they are on a like-for-like tariff after moving to a smart meter.
In some cases where this isn't possible, they must work with the customer agree an appropriate tariff.
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There may be more smart meter-only tariffs available to some customers that could save them money.
If you haven't been contacted by your supplier already, you don't need to wait for a letter asking you to switch, you can contact them directly.
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