New good meter reprieve for 1000’s of properties amid fears many can be reduce off with out heating this winter
Energy suppliers are being forced to suspend the rollout of some smart meters over winter on fears homes could be cut off without heating or hot water.
The affected households are those with meters controlled by Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) technology. These may no longer work after the signal is stopped.
Up to 600,000 homeowners were told they must replace their RTS meter with a smart meter by June 30, with the warning: otherwise ‘you could lose heating and hot water’.
But after Money Mail highlighted how ‘bullying scare tactics’ were forcing Economy 7 customers to switch to smart meters, the regulator Ofgem stepped in to demand suppliers introduce a ‘phased switch-off’ over many months from this deadline to ensure there was no panic and no customers accidentally cut off without any energy.
Now, the switch has been put off until at least the spring, with Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael, who represents the constituency of Orkney and Shetland, where many customers rely on Economy 7, among those who demanded the delay.
He says he and other MPs met suppliers and Ofgem, and it was agreed ‘concerns about the consequences of the service being ended during the coldest months’ meant no customer would now be forced to switch from RTS until at least the spring.
On hold: Energy suppliers have been forced to suspend the rollout of smart meters controlled by Radio Teleswitch Service technology
He says: ‘Every big switch seems to leave people worse off – and this one is no different as customers are not automatically getting as good a deal as they had before switching to a smart meter.’
Most homes with RTS meters are on Economy 7 tariffs, but it is also used for Economy 10 and Total Heating Total Control.
Many have benefited from lower energy bills for years thanks to Economy 7, which is ideal for using appliances, such as night storage heaters, dishwashers and washing machines, at night when they are charged at the lower off-peak rate.
Economy 7 customers typically pay half the price of what those on a standard deal pay between midnight and 7am. But the day rate can be a third higher than a standard tariff, says GoCompare.
Energy UK says: ‘The phaseout is now paused for the winter months, but suppliers will continue to replace meters for all customers who request it.
There isn’t yet a date for the complete switch-off, but the infrastructure is old and at increasing risk of failure, so the sooner customers book an appointment, the less likely they are to be impacted by loss of the signal.’
