Today I can confirm that my Department has stepped in to ensure that there will be a managed and more controlled start of the radio teleswitch service phase-out from 30 June. People with an RTS meter will not face any unexpected disruption to their heating or hot water at the end of the month.
The radio teleswitch service uses radio signals to switch older electricity meters between different tariffs such as peak and off-peak, and can also be used to turn heating and hot water systems on and off at specific times of the day.
The technology behind RTS is reliant on infrastructure that was introduced in the 1980s that is due to be switched off as it is reaching the end of its operational life. The phased approach to switch-off was agreed with relevant industry parties on behalf of energy suppliers.
For years the pace of RTS replacements by industry has been too slow—leaving 314,935 RTS meters still in premises as of 30 May 2025.
My Department has worked to ensure that industry will pursue a more controlled approach to the phase-out, beginning with a very small number of homes and businesses in carefully targeted local areas. During this process, the Government and Ofgem will closely monitor supplier that readiness to ensure the process is smooth and vulnerable consumers are identified and protected.
These steps will help to ensure that suppliers are ready to respond quickly in case of any issues and that working families and the elderly are protected throughout the phase-out process.
The Government are working closely with the industry and Ofgem to ensure this next period is planned effectively and that consumers, particularly those who are vulnerable, are protected. The Government are clear that suppliers must fulfil all their legal obligations to their customers, and will work with Ofgem to hold suppliers to account.
I will continue to meet Ofgem and Energy UK on a fortnightly basis to review how the gradual and targeted phase-out is progressing, with a particular focus on Scotland—where over 100,000 RTS meters are installed—as well as remote and rural areas, to ensure that all efforts are made to reach these households.
To provide additional protection to consumers, Ofgem has recently consulted on plans to introduce new RTS-specific licence conditions for energy suppliers. These will include a provision that suppliers must take all reasonable steps to provide a tariff that leaves their consumers “no worse off” than under their existing arrangement as a result of an RTS meter replacement. Ofgem will publish its response to the consultation shortly.
Suppliers will continue contacting consumers to book replacement appointments and consumers are urged to respond as soon as possible. In most cases, this will involve replacing the RTS meter with a smart meter—which can work in the same way as RTS meters, with automatic peak and off-peak rates, and the ability to turn heating and hot water systems on and off—ensuring minimal disruption to households.
In advance of any phase-out activity in their area, households and businesses will be contacted by their energy supplier to inform them well ahead of time if their meters will be affected.
The Government have also made it clear to industry that suppliers must fulfil all their obligations to consumers and drive up the rate of RTS meter replacements. In recent months, suppliers have taken various steps to speed up their replacement rates, and this must continue. The Department continues to impress upon suppliers the importance of resourcing themselves effectively to ensure that they can reach all their RTS consumers in good time, including those in rural areas.
Although the RTS and the work to replace it is industry-owned and led, this Government are doing everything we can to ensure that all consumers, particularly those who are vulnerable, are protected from any negative impacts.
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