While officially we may be two thirds of the way through the winter, it doesn’t really feel like that. Many people have told me about how they continue to keep a careful eye on their heating bills, not least because of the further rise in the price cap which came into effect on 1st January.
But aside from the significant problem of the bills themselves, another issue looming on the horizon has the potential to affect over 2,700 Western Isles households in a few months’ time. This one has crossed my desk both as local MSP and as Climate Action Minister in the Scottish Government, although any solution to it must lie at Westminster where political powers over energy are held.
The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) signals to some types of older electricity meters, telling them when to switch between peak and off-peak charging rates. These meters were first introduced in the 1980s and were designed to support households that use electricity for their heating and hot water – systems such as electric storage heaters, panel heaters or immersion heaters. However, on 30 June this year, the Radio Teleswitch Service is being switched off. There is a real concern that RTS meters that have not been changed by this point could get stuck on the peak rate charging, or even leave people’s heating systems permanently on or off.
Ofgem expects energy suppliers to have replaced all RTS meters before the deadline. However, progress on this front is frustratingly slow, and last month I wrote as a Scottish minister to the UK Government to urge them to introduce penalties for suppliers who fail to replace RTS meters with smart meters in time. While some suppliers are beginning to be proactive, others seem unwilling to act with any kind of urgency, and are instead responding dismissively to concerned customers.
It can be difficult at the best of times to make some energy suppliers send engineers to the islands to replace or repair meters. But the deadline at the end of June means there could be real consequences for customers if their electricity providers do not carry out the switch in time.
RTS meters will usually have a separate transmitter or teleswitch box next to the meter, with ‘radio telemeter’ or ‘teleswitch’ labelled on the box. But if you aren’t sure whether or not you have an RTS meter, your electricity supplier should be able to advise you, and book in a meter switch appointment if you do indeed have one needing replaced.
If any constituents are struggling to make progress with their electricity suppliers directly, I would urge them to get in touch with my office and I will take matters up with the company in question. Advice and support is also available from Citizens Advice Scotland and Advice Direct Scotland.
The RTS was originally due to be turned off in March 2024, but due to slow progress in switching relevant households to smart meters, this was delayed to June this year. However, there does not appear to be much prospect of a similar delay being applied again, and so I continue to push electricity suppliers to fulfil their obligations to all customers – in the islands and elsewhere – who have RTS meters, and to do so as soon as possible.
Alasdair Allan MSP
