ADAMSON GIVES WARNING ON RTS METER SWITCH OFF

Clare Adamson MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw has warned that 5,100 RTS meters in North Lanarkshire are still awaiting replacement ahead of the system ending in summer.

Ms Adamson is urging constituents to check their energy meters as the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) will be switched off on June 30, 2025. 

RTS stands for Radio Teleswitch Service - a system dating back to the 1980s that uses a radio signal to tell meters to switch between different electricity price rates.

If you have an old RTS meter, you'll need to have it replaced with a smart meter before this date to avoid potential disruptions to your heating and hot water.

Figures suggest by the end of April there were about 432,000 RTS meters still to be replaced in the UK - with nearly 135,000 located in Scottish properties.

How do I know if I have an RTS Meter? Some things to look out for:

• You get cheaper electricity at different times of day – and the switching occurs automatically. Your tariff might be called:

  - Total Heating Total Control 

  - Economy 10

  - Storage Heating Control

  - Standard Economy & Heating Load

  - Restricted Hours tariffs A,B,C and D

  - ComfortPlus White Meter

  - ComfortPlus White Meter with Weathercall

  - ComfortPlus Control 

  - or Economy 7.

• Some - but not all - RTS systems have a separate box near the electricity meter with the words "radio teleswitch" or "radio telemeter".

• Work out the type of meter you have on Citizens Advice Scotland's website.

• Homes with electric storage and water heaters are more likely to use the equipment.

• On your electricity bill/statement, the top line of the MPAN (the Meter Point Administration Number, a unique identifier for your electricity supply) will start with ‘02’.

Ms Adamson, SNP MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, said:

“Though most households will be unaffected by the RTS switch off, I am really concerned that it will have a disproportionate impact in Scotland where we have a higher number of people off the mains gas grid.

“There are reportedly over 5,000 RTS meters in North Lanarkshire still in use.  And energy suppliers appear to be behind with people finding it difficult to get an appointment.

“The SNP has called for the switch-off date to be delayed, or for a guarantee of compensation if customers face increased costs.  This is a matter reserved to the UK Government so we need to see some urgency from the Labour administration.

“Your energy supplier should get in touch to offer you a smart meter before the RTS switch-off on Monday 30 June 2025. But it is best to contact your energy supplier directly rather than waiting as we are close to the deadline.

“If your RTS meter isn’t replaced, your heating could end up always on, never on, or turning on and off at unsuitable times for you.

“Please be wary of people trying to charge for replacing your meter; scammers exploit these kinds of situations.  Your energy supplier should replace old RTS meters for free, though there may be costs if re-wiring is involved.”

More information on the switch-off and how to tell if you have an RTS meter is available from Home Energy Scotland: homeenergyscotland.org/RTS-switch-off

More from Citizens Advice Scotland: If you have a radio teleswitch or dynamically teleswitched energy meter - Citizens Advice