News / RTS meter switch-off will now be phased, Ofgem confirms
ENERGY regulator Ofgem has confirmed for the first time that radio teleswitch service (RTS) meters will be switched off in a phased move from the end of June.
It comes as customers in Shetland are being offered smart meter upgrades past the 30 June deadline.
RTS meters provide heating and electricity to thousands of addresses in Shetland, with the radio signal to the meters due to be switched off at the end of June.
However concerns have repeatedly been raised that the speed of upgrading to smart meters has not been fast enough, and could have left customers without hot water and heating from the end of the month.
Energy regulator Ofgem had reassured people that their energy supply would not be lost if a smart meter had not been fitted before 30 June.
However Ofgem has now confirmed to Shetland News that the RTS switch-off will be rolled out area-by-area, instead of a blanket switch-off.
It said it could not share specific arrangements at this stage, with Ofgem continuing to work with energy suppliers to ensure the roll-out can happen as quickly as possible.
Despite the news, Ofgem said customers still needed to take the RTS switch-off “seriously” and to book a smart meter upgrade whenever offered.
Ofgem said it had emphasised to energy suppliers that they needed to have resources in place in areas like Shetland for any RTS customers affected by the switch-off.
Shetland News understands one resident was offered a smart meter upgrade on 22 July, over three weeks after the RTS deadline.
The company’s retail pricing and systems director Charlotte Friel said they had told energy suppliers last year “they have to move faster”.
“Following that intervention, the rate of meter replacements has increase from around 1,000 a month to more than 1,000 a day,” she said.
“However suppliers need to do more and ensure customers are protected from detriment, which is why industry is putting in place a phased area-by-area shutdown beginning from 30 June.
“We have made clear that the signal serving a specific area should not be switched off until suppliers have demonstrated that they are ready and able to respond quickly to any issues customers experience.
“While this carefully managed phaseout should reassure customers that they will be protected, it remains crucial that these meters are replaced so I would urge customers to engage with their supplier when offered an appointment – even if it is after the 30 June date that marks the beginning of the process.”
Ofgem has said that energy suppliers like OVO and Octopus are updating them fortnightly about their progress.
They are also being required to demonstrate how they will protect any customers who remain on RTS beyond 30 June.
MSP Beatrice Wishart said the RTS switch-off continues to be a “source of anxiety for many customers”, who were “now facing added uncertainty”.
“It is far from clear how a phased area-by-area shutdown will be implemented, and a short extension of the deadline will only push the switch-off closer towards the winter months.
“Latest figures show there are still over 4,000 RTS meters needing replaced in Shetland. Ofgem are telling people to still book RTS meter replacements after 30 June and I am hearing from constituents who have only been offered one after this date.
“I am attending a roundtable with the UK minister for energy consumers next week and will be seeking clarity on these points.”
Anyone with an RTS meter who has any questions or concerns about upgrading is asked to contact their energy supplier.
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