MORE than 7,000 homes in Edinburgh could be cut off from heating and electricity unless their ageing electricity meters are replaced with newer alternatives.
Radio teleswitch (RTS) meters have been around since the 1980s but have now reached the end of their “natural operational life”, Ofgem and the UK government claim, with the maintenance of the equipment used to transmit the radio signals becoming more difficult.
The signal supplying the meters was meant to be cut off earlier this year, but a UK Government intervention meant that the final cut off for the meters has been pushed back to an undetermined date next year.
Instead, Ofgem has been undertaking a phase out of the meters, getting in contact with effected households and encouraging them to swap their dated RTS meter for a new smart meter, which uses national wireless networks.
Smart meters were first rolled out in the early 2010s and will now likely entirely replace the antiquated RTS meters (C) Siân Wynn-Jones on Unsplash
Meters are installed by the private energy providers which supply Britain’s energy and control when heating and hot water is switched on and off in homes.
Nowadays, the meters installed are smart meters, which utilise private wireless mobile networks, but RTS meters were the standard until the rollout of smart meters at the beginning of the 2010s.
The equipment used to transmit radio signals for RTS meters can no longer be adequately maintained, with many spare parts no longer being manufactured.
While this is a UK-wide issue, Edinburgh has a particularly high proportion of people still using RTS meters.
In Edinburgh, 7,367 still have to be replaced, while there are 52,779 Scotland-wide, meaning that just under 14% of the meters still to be replaced in Scotland are in Edinburgh.
If meters are not replaced before their signal is cut off, households can lose control of their electricity, meaning it could cut off entirely or remain persistently on, running up high bills.
This summer was supposed to mark the official switch off of the RTS signals, but due to the high number of people still using the old meters and therefore at risk of having heating and electricity shut off, the UK Government intervened and cancelled the change.
Ofgem were forced to instead undertake a review of the sector and convened the RTS Taskforce of energy suppliers and stakeholders to work collaboratively to gradually replace the old meters.
Following the government intervention and the reconfiguration of Ofgem’s approach after 30 June a phased shutdown of the RTS signal began, with more than 1,000 meters reportedly being replaced per day at certain points.
The process of shutting down the signal has been paused, but will recommence in the spring, with the network expected to be fully decommissioned at some point next year.
Consumers and suppliers are advised, however, that despite a pause in the signal shutdown, it is still advisable to replace meters during the winter months.
Speaking today, an Ofgem spokesperson said: “Ahead of colder winter months, the switch off of the RTS signal has been paused across the country to ensure a continuous service for all households.
“However, we have made clear to suppliers that the replacement of RTS meters – which has risen from 1,000 a month to more than 1,000 a day – must continue.
“Ofgem has been clear that customers must be protected at every stage of the phased area-by-area shutdown, and we have spelled out to suppliers key requirements that must be met before any area is moved off its RTS signal on to an alternative.
“We continue to urge customers who think they might have an RTS meter to engage with suppliers, so they are replaced as quickly as possible.”
Ofgem has stressed how important it is for consumers to engage with suppliers to get their meters replaced before the final switch off next year.
They have provided information on their website as to how people can have their smart meter replaced.
Elderly customers can receive additional support.
UK-wide, there are still more than 160,000 households using outdated RTS meters.
It is hoped that all of these meters can be replaced by the end of next year.
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