Consumer Scotland is urging greater protection for consumers affected by the RTS switch-off.
Consumers across the UK – including thousands in Scotland – are at risk of losing hot water and heating when the signal which controls their electricity meters start to be switched off from the end of June.
Most homes have standard meters and will not be affected. However, since the 1980s some customers have been put on Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters which use a longwave radio frequency to operate.
The technology is now becoming obsolete and energy companies are implementing the start of the switch-off on a phased basis from July to the end of September.
However, by mid-April some 132,000 households in Scotland were still waiting to have their meter upgraded and warnings suggest current replacement rates may mean some homes with RTS meters will not have been upgraded before the technology is switched off.
Consumer Scotland is seeking a number of assurances to ensure consumers are appropriately supported and protected including:
- ensuring further details are made available of the industry’s phased approach to switch-off including switch off dates in different regions and the criteria used to determine which areas will be switched off when
- action to ensure consumers, including those in rural, remote and island communities, are able to access an appropriate and timely appointment for the replacement of their RTS meter
- suppliers and Ofgem to have clear and robust plans in place to mitigate the risk to RTS meter consumers of a potential loss of heating and hot water following the switch off
- action to ensure consumers are not exposed to incidental costs, such as the cost of any rewiring which may be associated with RTS meter replacement
- extra support for consumers in vulnerable circumstances with high energy needs in case of loss of supply or more expensive tariffs
Consumer Scotland has written to Ofgem to raise these issues. As part of Ofgem’s working group on this issue Consumer Scotland will continue to monitor progress and help coordinate efforts to ensure consumers in Scotland are protected.
Consumer Scotland Head of Energy Markets Barry Coughlan said:
“While we are encouraged that the rate at which RTS meters are being replaced are improving, there remains a significant risk that not all RTS meter consumers will receive a meter upgrade by the time the broadcasts end.
“In these circumstances, it will be essential for suppliers and Ofgem to have clear and robust plans in place to mitigate the risk to RTS meter consumers of a potential loss of heating and hot water following the switch off given the consumer harm this would present.
“Consumer Scotland has written to Ofgem seeking a number of assurances to provide greater protections and support to consumers affected by the RTS switch-off.”