As the meter deadline approaches, 300,000 households could lose their heating and hot water Are you one of them?

After their electricity meters turn off on June 30, households with Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters run the risk of losing heating and hot water

We describe what you can do and how to determine whether you have an RTS meter.

In just two months, electricity meter technology will begin to shut down, putting hundreds of thousands of homes with outdated meters at risk of losing heating and hot water.

Energy providers have until June 30 to replace the technology that powers Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters because it is becoming outdated.

The majority of homes will not be affected because they have standard or smart meters. Experts caution that there is a "looming crisis" for over 300,000 homes with outdated RTS meters, which may result in the loss of hot water and heating.

Customers may have their heating stuck on (or off) all the time if the meter turns on and off at the wrong times, according to Energy UK, a trade association. It claimed that it would be "an unprecedented situation" for customers to be left with the meters following the shutdown.

According to Energy UK, more than 410,000 households were using RTS meters for their hot water and heating at the beginning of April. Scotland is home to roughly 130,000 of these residences, or nearly a third. In London, RTS meters are installed in about 58,000 homes.

According to the trade association, over 1,000 RTS meters are being replaced every day.

Our primary goal is to increase installation rates even more and maintain this momentum before the deadline, a representative for Energy UK told BFIA.

"Replacing all these meters by June 30th will definitely be difficult because it will require access to every single property to perform the installation, many of which are in remote locations, making it difficult to make initial contact and set up the replacement. In the end, all customers will need to reply to inquiries from their supplier.

According to Simon Francis, a campaigner for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, "more than 300,000 households will find their RTS meter stops working come 1 July 2025."

The RTS meter replacement program is failing, he continues, so immediate action is required to keep vulnerable households from possibly losing their hot water and heating.

Last week, the campaign group warned of the risks in a letter to government ministers and Ofgem.

According to the report, homes that use electric storage heating run the risk of losing access to hot water and heating. Additionally, consumers might not be able to access less expensive off-peak rates, which would result in higher energy costs, and they might receive inconsistent or erroneous billing.

RTS meters have switched between peak and off-peak rates using a longwave radio frequency since the 1980s.

At the end of June, the technology will begin to be phased off.

The RTS upgrade program is an urgent consumer welfare issue, and Ofgem is committed to taking all necessary steps to protect customers when this aging 40-year-old technology is phased out starting on June 30, 2025, a representative for Ofgem tells BFIA.

A RTS meter: what is it?

Heating and hot water are typically managed by RTS meters on a different circuit from the rest of the electricity in a home.

Therefore, it is unlikely that the switch-off will affect items like plug sockets and lights.

In order to allow energy providers more time to replace all of the meters, the original plan to turn off the RTS network in March 2024 was extended.

How can I determine if I possess an RTS meter?

If you have an RTS meter, you may not be aware of it. Citizens Advice states that you may have one if.

Electric storage and water heaters help you get cheaper energy at different times of the day. For instance, if your electricity rate is peak and off-peak, your home may have a separate black switch box near your meter that may be labeled "radio teleswitch" or "radio telemeter."

RTS meters are more prevalent in places without a gas supply, such as high-rise apartments and rural homes.

If in doubt, consult your energy provider.

How do I proceed if I possess one of these outdated meters?

It's possible that your energy provider has already gotten in touch with you to encourage you to upgrade to smart meters.

Speak with your energy provider if you haven't heard anything or if you're concerned that you'll be left using an RTS meter after June 30.

According to an Energy UK spokesperson: "We encourage the remaining RTS customers to get in touch with their supplier right away to set up a replacement and guarantee a seamless transition so that their hot water and heating can keep working as before.

Suppliers might install a special kind of meter that is pre-set with the times for switching between peak and off-peak rates if a smart meter won't work on your property, for example, due to a weak signal.

In order to prevent customers' bills from rising, Ofgem expects energy suppliers to take reasonable measures to offer energy tariffs that are comparable to those coming off RTS meters.

The BFIA is aware that a working group comprising district network operators, government, Ofgem, and energy suppliers will guarantee that any remaining RTS households have priority support after the switch-off.