In June 2025, the Radio Teleswitch Service will come to an end. The Smart Meter Network Switch is one of the largest infrastructure upgrades in Britain’s Energy System.
The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) is one way that is generally used by older types of meters to ‘speak’ to their respective suppliers. RTS allows homeowners and businesses to use electricity tariffs that typically include cheaper rates around off-peak times – such as economy 7 and 10.
How do you know if your meter will need changing?
How will you know if your meter is connected to the RTS network –
- There may be a seperate switch box near the meter with an radio teleswitch label on it.
- Your home or business premises may be heated using electricity or storage heaters.
- You live in a rural area with no mains gas supply.
- You get cheaper energy at different times of day. You may be on an economy 7 or 10 or Total Heat Total Control tariff.
If you are unsure about what kind of meter you have you should contact your energy supplier. If you are unsure on who your energy supplier is this page explains how you can find out.
Energy UK advised that if customers don’t take action now, there is a risk that you may not be able to have your RTS meter replaced before the 30th of June 2025, and before the meter stops working.
Why are smart meters being provided?
Smart meters are being rolled out nationally, and are the natural technology to replace RTS. The new smart meters will replace roughly around 900,000 households currently reliant on RTS. This change will also give you a broader range of energy tariffs which could benefit you and through a smart meter you will also get more accurate bills based on the amount of energy used.
Does having a smart meter upgrade mean tariffs will change?
Having a smart meter means energy suppliers can offer more relevant and flexible tariffs.
Can all customers with RTS meter get a smart meter upgrade right now?
The smart meter network currently covers 99.3% of the country’s premises. However some homes and businesses are in areas which are not possible to connect to the national smart metering communications network yet. If this is the case for your home some suppliers may choose to provide a non-connected smart meter with a peak/off-peak switching times that are pre-programmed as a temporary solution.
What if you don’t accept the offer of a smart meter upgrade?
Smart meters are not mandatory, however they are the only option that provides a service similar to RTS. If you decide not to upgrade to a smart meter, there is a risk that the existing equipment in your home or business may be affected. Your bills may also be inaccurate.
