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CAMPAIGNERS SAY HOMES WITH RTS METERS COULD BE LEFT WITH HEATING THAT IS PERMANENTLY OFF, OR ON, FROM 30 JUNE. 08:48, 29 May 2025 300,000 British electricity meters will not work after a

tech switch-off, it is feared. Campaigners say homes with RTS meters could be left with heating that is permanently off, or on, from 30 June. Adverts featuring Lorraine Kelly, the ITV star,

warn over the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS), which controls an old type of electricity meter found in almost 400,000 homes across Great Britain, being switched off from 30 June. Lorraine

warns: “Don’t delay. The RTS switch-off is on the way”. The switch-off could mean households have no hot water or heating, or have it stuck on constantly, potentially running up huge bills,

according to Simon Francis, the coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition. READ MORE FOREIGN OFFICE ISSUES 'IMPORTANT' WARNING FOR UK TOURISTS 'WHO HAVE HEALTH

CONDITION' “We need to ensure contingency measures are in place for those who do not make the deadline and require energy suppliers to ensure fair metering and billing practices,”

Francis said. One household told the Guardian: “Heating at any time is lower cost. This includes our heaters, hot water and electric shower, which are wired into a heat meter and specific

circuit. The RTS system heats the hot water overnight. Article continues below “The email they [ScottishPower] have sent states that if there is no solution by the time of the switch-off,

that my system will either be permanently on, or permanently off.” “It will undoubtedly be challenging to replace all these meters by 30 June,” said a spokesperson for Energy UK. “It means

getting access to every single property to carry out the installation, many of which are in remote areas, and ultimately it requires all customers to respond to contact from their supplier.”

“We urge any customers who may have previously struggled to get their RTS meter replaced to please contact their supplier again to arrange an appointment,” a Ofgem spokesperson said. “Ofgem

has also demanded action plans from every supplier, which we are scrutinising on an ongoing basis to ensure that robust contingencies are in place to protect any customers who remain on RTS

meters after the phased switch-off process begins,” they added. The switch-off presented “some early technical challenges, including finding a suitable solution for those customers who

couldn’t initially be moved over to a smart meter”, Scottish Power said. “We overcame these technical challenges a number of months ago and are able to offer a solution to all our customers

through the installation of a smart meter. Article continues below “Customers with appointment dates past the 30 June switch-off are still within the RTS service timeframe.”