The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) used by older Economy 7 and Economy 10 meters began to be phased out in June 2025, but a national switch-off did not happen that month, according to the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE)1. The charity, which advises households on energy, says the transition is instead continuing in stages through 2026, and that the phase-out is being done slowly and gradually, targeted by postcode1.
The RTS is the service that tells older day and night meters when to switch between peak and off-peak rates. CSE says anyone with these systems on Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariffs will need a new meter to ensure their heating and hot water continue turning on and off as usual1. Households can check whether they have one by looking for a black box next to the meter with "radio teleswitch" written on it1.
Suppliers should have notified all affected customers in December 2024, CSE says, though some customers may have been missed1. Where a smart meter cannot be installed because of a lack of signal, CSE says the supplier will usually install a non-communicating smart meter which is preset to switch between tariffs at the right time of day1. Ofgem has told suppliers they should be matching clients as closely as possible with their existing tariff1.
On cost, CSE says that in most cases there is no cost, but on rare occasions if it is not possible to install a new meter there may be a cost, giving the examples of an asbestos board the meters are attached to, or no space for a new meter to be added1. CSE states it is unclear how these costs will be covered by people who cannot afford to pay for them1.
"A national switch-off did not happen in June 2025, instead, the transition is continuing in stages through 2026."
| Situation | What CSE says happens |
|---|---|
| Household still on Economy 7 or Economy 10 | Needs a new meter; contact the supplier and ask for one1 |
| No longer on an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff | No rush; the meter continues to function normally, and with all electricity on one circuit there should be no difference1 |
| Does not want a smart meter | Can ask the supplier for a non-smart meter instead1 |
| Smart meter cannot be installed | Supplier will usually install a non-communicating smart meter preset to switch tariffs at the right time of day1 |
Why it matters for households
For a home on an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff, the RTS is what triggers the cheap-rate window that charges storage heaters and hot water cylinders. If the service is withdrawn before a replacement meter is fitted, that switching can stop, and the household loses the ability to run heating and hot water on the off-peak rate. The staged, postcode-based approach means the timing of any change depends on where a home is, not on a single national date, so two otherwise identical homes could be moved at different points through 20261.
Because the phase-out is targeted by postcode and some customers may have been missed in the December 2024 notification round, a household that has heard nothing is not necessarily unaffected1. The practical question for energy independence is whether the replacement meter preserves the same cheap-rate hours: CSE says Ofgem has told suppliers to match customers as closely as possible with their existing tariff, and that a non-communicating smart meter can be preset to switch at the right time of day where signal is the obstacle1. Households that have already moved off Economy 7 or Economy 10 face no urgency, according to CSE, and should see no difference provided all their electricity is on one circuit1.
What happens next
The transition continues in stages through 2026, with no national switch-off date given1. Where a supplier refuses to arrange a new meter, CSE says a complaint should be raised with the supplier, and if it cannot be resolved after eight weeks the case should go to the ombudsman1. Households in the South Central and South West of England can be referred to CSE's advisors for further help1.