Written by: Emma Rose, Communications Manager - Property Maintenance
If you’ve got an old-style electricity meter you’ll need to make sure it’s replaced by the end of June or your heating and hot water could stop working, and your bills might be wrong.
Some older Economy 7 and other similar meters use something called ‘Radio Switch Service’ (RTS) to work. This allows meters to switch between peak and off-peak rates, or turn your heating on and off so you can heat your home and let your water heat up over night when the rates are cheaper.
But the RTS is going to be switched off on 30 June 2025, so all of these old meters need to be replaced with modern smart meters before then.
How do I know if I have an RTS meter?
You might have an RTS meter if:
- your home has a separate switch box near your meter with a Radio Teleswitch label on it
- your home is heated using electricity or storage heaters
- there is no gas supply to your area, including households in rural areas and high-rise flats
- you get cheaper energy at different times of day, for example, you might be on an Economy 7, Economy 10, or Total Heat Total Control tariff.
If you have an RTS meter it might look like this:
This video can also help you identify if you have an RTS meter, and what you should do next:
If you’re still not sure you can contact your energy supplier and they’ll be able to tell you.
If you don’t know who your supplier is, you can find out through the Ofgem website.
What happens if I do need a new meter?
Your energy supplier should be in touch to arrange to install a new meter. If you haven’t hear from them you can contact them directly.
We’ll arrange for any meters that cover communal areas to be replaced.
What if my meter doesn't get changed?
If you don't change your meter before the deadline of 30 June 2025 then:
- your heating and hot water may be left continually on or off
- your electric storage heaters may charge at the wrong time of day, possibly leading to higher bills
- your supplier may be unable confirm your electricity usage during peak or off-peak times, and your electricity costs may be higher than before
- you’ll have a more limited choice of tariffs.
You can find out more about replacing your RTS meter on the Ofgem website.