The legacy industry-run service that supports Radio Teleswitch (RTS) meters is being phased out and is planned to end 30 June 2025, according to consumer advice published by Energy UK, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ofgem1. RTS is a form of radio communication between some electricity meters and their energy suppliers, telling the meters when to swap between peak and off-peak rates, and has been in use since the 1980s2. The shutdown is happening because the equipment that produces the radio signal is no longer maintained as it was previously3.
The scale of the change is disputed across published figures. Smart Energy GB states that as of Autumn 2024 there were approximately 800,000 RTS meters in Great Britain3, while the British Gas Energy Trust says the switch-off affects over 300,000 households and businesses2. Ofgem expected energy suppliers to replace all RTS meters before the switch off in June 20253. Energy UK said the network is due to be phased out from June 2025 and affected customers will need to move to an alternative metering solution4.
The Centre for Sustainable Energy reports that a national switch-off did not happen in June 2025 and that the transition is continuing in stages through 2026, targeted by postcode5. It states that energy suppliers should have notified all affected customers in December 2024, and that some customers may have been missed5. Consumer Scotland, responding to an Ofgem consultation in March 2025, said the industry had been aware of the need to switch off the RTS signal for well over a decade and that several extensions had already been granted6.
"From June 2025, RTS will be switched off in phases, affecting over 300,000 households and businesses."
Households on Economy 7 and Economy 10 tariffs will need a new meter to ensure their heating and hot water continue turning on and off as usual5. If a smart meter cannot be installed because of a lack of signal, the supplier will usually install a non-communicating smart meter preset to switch between tariffs at the right time of day5. Ofgem has told suppliers they should match customers as closely as possible with their existing tariff5. In most cases there is no cost, but on rare occasions, such as where an asbestos board is present or there is no space for a new meter, there may be a cost5.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Planned end date | 30 June 20251 |
| Phasing | In stages from June 2025, by postcode2 |
| Meters affected | Approximately 800,000 in Great Britain as of Autumn 20243 |
| Customer notification | Suppliers should have notified affected customers in December 20245 |
| Replacement | Smart meter, or non-communicating smart meter where signal is lacking5 |
Why it matters for households
RTS meters lose functionality when the signal is switched off. Heating and hot water could stop working as expected, get stuck on or off, or storage heaters could charge at the wrong time of day3. Electricity suppliers will not know how much electricity RTS customers use during peak and off-peak times, which means electricity costs could be much higher than before3. Consumer Scotland warned that affected consumers may experience disruption to their heating or hot water, or higher tariffs when RTS meters fail to switch between rates, and that those in rural areas such as the Highlands and Islands face particular risk6. For a household, the practical effect is that the timing mechanism underpinning an off-peak heating and hot water setup depends on equipment that is being retired, and the replacement meter determines whether cheap-rate periods still apply as before.
What happens next
The phase-out is being done slowly and gradually, targeted by postcode, and is continuing in stages through 20265. Suppliers should arrange a new meter; if a supplier refuses, a complaint should be raised, and if it cannot be resolved after eight weeks the case should go to the ombudsman5. Consumer Scotland has recommended that explicit protections and compensation mechanisms are established for affected consumers, and has advocated for a coordinated, area-based approach to RTS meter replacements across suppliers6.
Sources6 cited
- Energy consumer advice for Autumn/ Winter 2022 England and Wales, ofgem.gov.uk
- Over 300,000 households to be affected by the Radio Teleswitch Service switch-off - British Gas Energy Trust, britishgasenergytrust.org.uk
- The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) switch off | RTS meters, smartenergygb.org
- Energy UK Explains: smart meters - Energy UK, energy-uk.org.uk
- Important reminder for Economy 7 and 10 meters - Centre for Sustainable Energy, cse.org.uk
- Response to Ofgem Consultation on Modifications to Current Electricity Metering Obligations (HTML) | Consumer Scotland, consumer.scot