Smart meter warning for 530,000 energy customers from watchdog as they risk being cut off

HUNDREDS of thousands of vigor customers stay astatine hazard of disconnection owed to a large energy metre switch-off, according to the regular.

Ofgem is proposing caller rules for energy suppliers to negociate the phase-out of Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters, which volition halt moving aft June 30, 2025. 

Around 530,000 customers, galore connected Economy 7 oregon different multi-rate tariffs, presently trust connected these meters, which connection cheaper energy rates astatine definite times of day, according to Energy UK.

RTS meters enactment by receiving a awesome broadcast alongside BBC Radio 4's long-wave channel.

This awesome triggers the metre to power betwixt antithetic energy rates.

Some RTS meters besides power heating and blistery h2o systems. Once the RTS awesome is switched off, these meters volition nary longer relation correctly.

This could permission immoderate stuck connected peak-time rates, starring to importantly higher bills, portion others whitethorn find their heating permanently connected oregon off.

In an unfastened missive to stakeholders yesterday, Ofgem outlined caller plans designed to support consumers from imaginable disruptions and rising energy bills arsenic the RTS strategy nears its shutdown.

However, its halfway connection remains to prohibit suppliers from providing energy done RTS meters beyond this deadline, a determination that risks leaving hundreds of thousands of households without power.

This risks leaving hundreds of thousands of households without power.

To forestall this outcome, the regulator is pushing to accelerate the replacement of these outdated meters.

Ofgem has projected that erstwhile a lawsuit with an RTS metre switches vigor suppliers, the caller supplier indispensable regenerate the metre wrong 30 moving days.

Suppliers volition besides beryllium required to marque each tenable efforts to regenerate RTS meters, adjacent successful challenging circumstances.

Crucially, Ofgem is besides proposing that suppliers connection replacement tariffs that are nary little favourable than existing RTS tariffs.

This aims to guarantee that consumers aren't financially penalised for having their outdated meters replaced.

The regulator is presently consulting with vigor suppliers connected these proposals earlier formally drafting changes to vigor supplier licence conditions.

They are peculiarly keen to recognize the imaginable interaction connected consumers, arsenic good arsenic the challenges suppliers look successful replacing RTS meters.

In caller weeks, suppliers person been racing to modulation customers to smart meters up of the looming deadline. 

At the extremity of January, Octopus Energy put retired a plea to thousands of its ain customers.

Similarly, implicit 65,000 E.ON Next customers are besides being urged to travel forward and get a astute metre installed.

How bash I cognize if I person an RTS energy meter?

You'll beryllium capable to archer if you person a metre that relies connected the RTS rather easily.

The oldest RTS-powered meters person a power container labelled "Radio Teleswitch" located adjacent to the carnal energy meter.

Others whitethorn the RTS power container included wrong the energy metre arsenic a azygous container connected the wall.

If you're unsure astir the benignant of energy metre successful your location - telephone your supplier arsenic they'll usually person this accusation connected hand.

RTS is besides sometimes called dynamically teleswitched (DTS).

What's the alternate to RTS?

Smart meters connection the same features as RTS successful that it tin grounds the antithetic prices astatine antithetic times of time offered by Economy 7 tariffs.

They enactment utilizing a integer awesome and tin besides amusement your vigor usage successful real-time, thing galore users find utile for reducing it and saving money.

Smart meters are being rolled retired by suppliers crossed the state and astir 36million households person one, though they are not without issues.

Around 1 successful 10 are thought to beryllium "dumb" according to caller information from Ofgem.

Issues see breached show and occupation connecting to the web successful immoderate areas, portion galore first-generation astute meters person retired of date technology, though this is improbable to beryllium an contented with ones fitted now.

Suppliers should marque efforts to hole astute meters that are not working, but you whitethorn person to marque metre readings successful the meantime to guarantee accurate bills.

Monitors - the portion of the astute metre that amusement readings and usage - little than 12 months aged should beryllium replaced oregon fixed for free.

You tin inquire your supplier for a accepted metre instead, but arsenic astute meters are replacing them, they are not obligated to springiness you one.

Can I support my RTS tariff?

Suppliers person been told by Ofgem that they indispensable instrumentality resaonable steps to guarantee they are connected a like-for-like tariff aft moving to a astute meter.

In immoderate cases wherever this isn't possible, they indispensable enactment with the lawsuit to hold an appropriate tariff.

There whitethorn beryllium much astute meter-only tariffs disposable to immoderate customers that could prevention them money.

If you haven't been contacted by your supplier already, you don't request to hold for a missive asking you to switch, you tin interaction them directly.

An Ofgem spokesperson said: "We expect suppliers to see a scope of innovative solutions to guarantee their RTS customers get connected to a metering and tariff statement due for them.

"Smart meters are the champion replacement for RTS meters – giving consumers much power of their vigor usage and opening entree to caller money-saving tariffs – however, customers should talk to their supplier to recognize the options that are available."