Tue, 29 Apr 2025

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 Warning electricity meters in 300,000 homes could stop working

Those without upgraded meters could also find their heating stuck on or off, energy watchdog Ofgem warns.
300,000+ Homes at Risk of Losing Heating or Hot Water as Old Meter Deadline Looms Energy companies face a "very difficult" task to replace hundreds of thousands of old Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters with smart meters before they are switched off on June 30. This could leave over 300,000 households without heating or with it stuck on constantly, according to campaigners. Deadline is June 30 The technology used in RTS meters, which controls heating and hot water on a separate circuit from the rest of the household's electricity, is becoming obsolete and needs to be replaced by June 30. Energy companies have been working to replace the old meters with smart ones, but at a rate that would need to increase significantly to meet the deadline. Current Replacement Rate Insufficient Currently, over 1,000 RTS meters are being replaced each day, but this rate would need to jump to around 5,000 per day to reach all households using the old technology by June 30. Energy UK's deputy director for customers, Ned Hammond, said that while the replacement rate is rising, it will be "very difficult" to get every meter switched over in time. Concerns Over Vulnerable Households Campaigners are warning of a "real risk of prolonged disruption" for vulnerable households, particularly those with limited engineer availability in rural areas. The Energy UK figures suggest that more than 300,000 households could be left with a non-functional meter from July 1. Smart Meters Not Always Reliable One challenge to switching to smart meters is the distrust among some customers due to concerns over inaccurate readings and inconsistent performance depending on location. Some customers have reported receiving conflicting information or being forced into getting a smart meter despite not wanting one. Ofgem Steps In The energy regulator, Ofgem, has called this an "urgent consumer welfare issue" and is urging energy companies to work urgently to increase the pace of replacements. Energy companies are developing plans for a "managed and careful phase down of the system" to protect vulnerable customers.
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