Hundreds of Thousands Could be Left Without Hot Water and Heating Due to Delays in Replacing Obsolete Electricity Meters
A looming crisis is unfolding in the UK as energy firms struggle to replace outdated electricity meters, leaving hundreds of thousands of households at risk of being without hot water and heating. The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has warned that old-style Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters, used by many households to control off-peak electricity supply for heating and hot water, are due to stop working on July 1.
According to the Coalition, energy firms are “nowhere near ready” to replace the meters in time, with only 1,000 being replaced daily. With 430,000 homes still using RTS meters as of the end of March, and only around 91,000 more likely to be updated before the switchover date, over 300,000 households face being left without hot water and heating. The Coalition’s coordinator, Simon Francis, said: “There is a very real risk that over 300,000 households will find their RTS meter stops working properly come 1 July 2025.”
The Bristol Post reports that the Coalition has written to ministers and Ofgem, accusing energy suppliers of dragging their feet and warning that vulnerable customers, particularly in rural areas, could be left in the cold. The letter also cast doubt on Ofgem’s “no detriment” commitment, which is meant to ensure consumers aren’t worse off after the meter change.
Campaigners are urging officials to ensure emergency measures are in place for those affected and to provide fair billing guarantees to prevent customers paying more due to a failure not of their own making. Frazer Scott, Chief Executive of Energy Action Scotland, said: “Time and time again consumers are left in the dark by the Government and an energy industry failing to deliver on its promises to deliver improvements.”
The Bristol Post understands that the problem is particularly acute in Scotland, where “tens of thousands” of households remain in limbo. Despite repeated warnings, there appears to be no comprehensive contingency plan in place, raising fears that families, pensioners, and people with medical needs could be left suffering the consequences of bureaucratic delays and corporate inaction.
Ofgem has advised households that the technology supporting RTS electricity meters will switch off from June 30, 2025. Without the technology to tell RTS meters when to swap between peak and off-peak rates, they may no longer work properly, and it may mean that a consumer’s heating and hot water supply stops functioning as normal. If you have an RTS meter, your electricity supplier will get in touch to arrange an upgrade to a smart meter before this deadline.
The Bristol Post has learned that the Coalition’s letter has also been sent to devolved governments in Scotland and Wales, where the problem is said to be particularly acute. With pressures on the replacement programme growing and limited engineer availability, especially in rural areas, there is a real risk of prolonged disruption, particularly for vulnerable households.
As the July 1 deadline looms, it remains to be seen whether energy firms can ramp up their efforts to replace the outdated meters and prevent a crisis. The Bristol Post will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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