Energy professional says Brits could lose heating this winter if they do not do one factor
Energy suppliers have replaced over a quarter of a million RTS meters across the country but there are still 172,000 left across Great Britain to replace so there’s still a long way to go
Act now or risk losing heating this winter, households warned. Thousands of British households and businesses have been warned that they could lose heating and hot water this winter if they don’t replace their old meters.
More than 153,000 customers with RTS meters are being urged to get in touch with their energy supplier – or respond to any contact – as soon as possible to arrange a meter replacement.
This will ensure that their heating and hot water continue to work as normal through the colder months and that customers can continue to benefit from cheaper off-peak electricity rates.
Since the beginning of 2025, energy suppliers have replaced over a quarter of a million RTS meters across the country. There are still 172,000 RTS meters left across Great Britain to replace, of which only 19,000 appointments have been booked.
Peter Senyk, a retired prison officer from East Renfrewshire had his meter replaced in 40 minutes.
“There were no issues at all and it was a really good experience. The engineer even called me later on to check that everything was working as it should,” he said.
Since getting the smart meter, Peter has had automatic meter readings and near real-time energy tracking via his phone. He’s also started saving money by taking part in a flexible energy-use reward scheme.
“If anyone still has an RTS meter, I’d recommend getting it replaced sooner rather than later. It’s understandable that people might be apprehensive, but it’s definitely a change for the better,” he added.
Smart meters are installed at no extra cost, helping households track energy use and access savings schemes. RTS technology was introduced in the 1980s and is now reaching the end of its operational life.
The infrastructure that powers the RTS signal is increasingly at risk of failure and if it stops working, customers could be left without heating or hot water when they need it most.
In areas where the RTS signal has already been phased out, customers may only realise how they are affected when they turn on their heating as temperatures drop. Any customers experiencing a problem like this should contact their supplier immediately for help and advice.
Ned Hammond, deputy director, policy (customers) at Energy UK, said: “With ageing infrastructure at increasing risk of failure, the signal will be switched off for all customers before too long.
“At this time of year, with colder weather setting in, heating and hot water are more important than ever. Our message to customers is simple: please take action. Don’t risk being left without warmth when you need it most.”
You may have an RTS meter if:
- You have received letters, emails, texts or calls from your electricity supplier
- You have a switch box near your energy meter labelled “Radio Teleswitch” or “RTS”
- You have electric or storage heaters
- You have no gas supply in your area – you may live rurally or in a block of flats
- You get cheaper energy at different times of day. Your tariff might be: Economy 7, Economy 10 or Total Heat Total Control.
