Ofgem has issued an urgent warning that those who do not switch to an RTS meter before the deadline could lose access to their heating and hot water.
The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) will switch off for good on June 30, 2025.
Around 600,000 households will be forced to install a smart meter or face higher bills within six months, as the BBC shuts down a 40-year-old radio service.
Independent regulator Ofgem and trade association Energy UK launched a new campaign today to encourage owners of RTS meters to "act now" and get a meter upgrade from their energy supplier ahead of the system’s switch-off later this year.
A spokesman for Ofgem said: "The campaign has been launched because of the urgent need to increase the rate of RTS meter upgrades across Great Britain before the signal is switched off from June 30, 2025.
"It is important that RTS customers book their installation as soon as they are contacted by their supplier. All customers should have been contacted by their supplier by the end of 2024.
The RTS sends signals to adjust rates or control heating and hot water, but the equipment is outdated and difficult to maintain
GETTY"Failure to act may result in the heating and/or hot water being continually left on or off, or the charging-up happening at the wrong time of day, leading to higher bills."
The system enables customers to benefit from cheaper electricity rates during off-peak hours through tariffs like Economy 7 and Economy 10.
RTS meters use BBC Radio 4's longwave channel to communicate with energy companies, determining when to switch between high and low electricity rates.
The RTS sends signals to adjust rates or control heating and hot water, but the equipment is outdated and difficult to maintain.
The system is particularly common in homes and businesses off the gas network that rely on electricity for heating and hot water.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast today, Ben Boulos explained that people with older meters using the RTS service need to take action soon.
Boulos said: "The equipment is old and it’s hard to maintain. So it’s being switched off."
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Originally set to end in March 2024, the shutdown deadline has been extended to June 2025. He warned that if people don’t act, they may see a box next to their meter indicating the switch has been deactivated.
He warned: "The thing is, there are still 600,000 households and businesses using these old meters, and the message is this: you need to switch before June, or you risk losing your heating and hot water. Your supplier should have been in touch already."
The replacement of an RTS meter comes at no extra cost, Ofgem said, adding customers should be wary of scams.
Charlotte Friel, director for retail pricing and systems for Ofgem said: "In most cases, the answer will be getting a smart meter, and that will actually open up potentially a wider range of tariffs and options to those customers that could give them more control over their bills and certainly more visibility of their energy use.
The BBC has broadcasted from the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) since the 1980sGETTY"But if customers have any concerns about the tariff arrangement or the metering arrangement that they’re being offered to switch to, then they should contact the supplier to understand the best options available to them.
"The Government told us it’s working with Ofgem, the regulator, and energy suppliers to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible."
