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Alert To Over 100,000 Brits Who Could Lose Heating And Hot Water As Meters ‘Switched Off’
More than 100,000 UK households face the risk of losing control of their heating and hot water as their old electricity meters are set to be switched off.
Nearly 150,000 UK households with outdated electricity meters are being warned that they risk losing control of their heating and hot water if they do not upgrade to a smart meter.
Those still using the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) are being encouraged to switch before the RTS signal is permanently turned off this summer.
The phased shutdown, which switches off the RTS signal for groups of customers at a time, will restart in March in England and Wales and in April in Scotland, following a winter pause.
This temporary pause was intended to prevent customers from losing control of heating and hot water during the coldest months.
Since January 2025, over 300,000 RTS meters have been replaced. As of late January 2026, 154,000 RTS meters remain, but only 8,000 replacement appointments have been booked with energy suppliers.
Energy UK, together with consumer groups and regulator Ofgem, is urging the remaining 146,000 RTS customers to arrange a visit from an engineer through their supplier to ensure they maintain control of heating and hot water after the service ends.
Ned Hammond, Deputy Director, Policy (Customers) at Energy UK, said: “Suppliers have been working hard to deliver a carefully managed phase out of the RTS signal and have replaced more than 300,000 RTS meters in the last year. They’ve contacted affected customers multiple times, including people in remote and hard-to-reach locations. This long-running replacement programme was ramped up last year because the ageing RTS infrastructure was at increasing risk of failure, meaning customers needed to be moved onto more reliable metering solutions.
“The final switch off is now imminent and we’re expecting a rush for appointments in this final stage. Your supplier will notify you when your meter is being phased out but the best way to avoid any impact on your hot water and heating is to book an appointment as soon as you can.”
Introduced in the 1980s, RTS uses a long-range radio signal to switch between peak and off-peak rates. The equipment that generates this signal is now outdated, increasingly unreliable, and cannot be maintained effectively, raising the risk of unexpected failures.
Homes and businesses that do not arrange a meter replacement could lose control of heating or hot water, or face energy charges at the wrong time of day, leading to higher bills. Energy suppliers provide the meter replacement free of charge and can advise on suitable tariffs.
In most cases, RTS meters will be replaced with smart meters, which can automate peak and off-peak rates while offering access to a wider variety of tariffs. Customers worried about energy debt or paying bills should contact their supplier for support.
You may have an RTS meter if you:
- Have received letters, emails, texts, or calls from your electricity supplier regarding an RTS meter in your property
- Have a switch box near your electricity meter labeled “Radio Teleswitch” or “RTS”
- Use electric or storage heaters
- Have no gas supply in your area, such as in rural locations or blocks of flats
- Benefit from cheaper energy at certain times of day, like tariffs Economy 7, Economy 10, or Total Heat Total Control
For more information, visit Ofgem’s dedicated RTS webpage: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/replacing-your-radio-teleswitch-electricity-meter
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