Suppliers And Stakeholders Seek To Replace Old RTS Meters Before Customers Lose Meter Use

Written by

Jennifer Warren

Last updated: October 6, 2024

Given the limited and unviable nature of old Radio Teleswitch meters in 2024, the system they rely on is due to discontinue next June. Energy suppliers and stakeholders have now committed to replacing all 800,000 units before the shutdown.

Radio Teleswitch or RTS meters are electricity meters that utilise radio broadcast signals to transmit relevant data.

These meters, first introduced in the 1980s, were designed to adjust between on- and off-peak electricity periods as related to Economy 7 and Economy 10 tarrifs; the former of which involves seven hours of off-peak energy and the latter, ten hours. They adjust when a radio broadcast signal is sent out to the RTS meters.

New Industry Pledge To Replace Old RTS Meters

However, the technology they rely on is outdated and cannot be sufficiently maintained. The system they use is now due to shutdown from June 30th, 2025.

In response, industry suppliers and stakeholders have come together through the RTS Call to Action with a pledge to speed up RTS meter replacements. This pledge includes focusing on locations with relatively high numbers of RTS meters.

Ofgem’s Director of Consumer Protection and Retail Markets has said it would take four years to replace all RTS meters with the current replacement rate, hence the importance of this pledge.

Replacing Your RTS Meter With A Smart Meter

The new pledge will hopefully result in all 800,000 RTS meters being swapped out before the June 2025 deadline.

Customers who currently have an RTS meter should contact their energy supplier for guidance on how and when they might get a replacement.

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The good news is that by having your RTS meter replaced with a smart meter, you’ll still benefit from on- and off-peak rate changes.

Unsurprisingly, smart meters can adjust between various rates, plus smart meters offer additional benefits such as access to solar export tariffs (i.e. the ability to sell solar energy you generate) while allowing you to submit data direct to suppliers.

As a result, digital smart meters generally provide more accuracy which may result in lower bills.

However, it is worth noting that in some cases, those living in rural areas may find their smart meter has connectivity issues. That said, your supplier should be able to provide you with a sense of what to expect from your smart meter.