146,000 Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) customers are being urged to take immediate action as the phase out of the RTS signal enters its final stage, ahead of targeted completion this summer.
The carefully managed phase out process – under which the RTS signal is switched off for groups of customers at a time – will resume in March for England and Wales and in April for Scotland, after a pause over the winter.
This temporary pause in the phase out prevented customers from losing control of their heating and hot water during the coldest months of the year.
Since the start of January 2025, over 300,000 RTS meters have been replaced. As of late January 2026, there were 154,000 RTS meters left to be replaced, with only 8,000 scheduled replacements booked with energy suppliers. This leaves 146,000 appointments yet to be arranged before the targeted end of the phase out this summer.
Together with consumer groups and the regulator Ofgem, Energy UK is urging those remaining RTS customers to make an appointment with their supplier for an engineer to visit their home or business to replace their meter. This will ensure they maintain control of their heating and hot water after the service is switched off.
Ned Hammond, Deputy Director, Policy (Customers) at Energy UK, said:
“Suppliers have been working hard to deliver a carefully managed phase out of the RTS signal and have replaced over 300,000 RTS meters in the last year. They’ve contacted affected customers multiple times, including those in remote and hard-to-reach locations.
“This long-running replacement programme was ramped up last year because the ageing RTS infrastructure was at increasing risk of failure, meaning customers needed to be moved onto more reliable metering solutions. The final switch off is now imminent and we’re expecting a rush for appointments during this final stage.
“Your supplier will notify you when your meter is being phased out but the best way to avoid any impact on your heating and hot water is to book an appointment as soon as you can.”
RTS was introduced in the 1980s and uses a long-range radio signal to switch between peak and off-peak rates. The equipment that generates the radio signal is now outdated and can no longer be reliably maintained – increasing the risk of an unplanned failure.
Homes and businesses that do not arrange a meter replacement could lose control of their heating and/or hot water, or they could be charged for energy at the wrong time of day, leading to higher bills.
Energy suppliers will not charge for a meter replacement and can advise customers which tariffs are suitable for their heating and/or hot water setup. Technical solutions are available for all households and businesses.
In most cases, RTS meters will be replaced with smart meters, which can work in the same way with automatic peak and off-peak rates while providing access to a wider variety of tariffs. If customers are concerned about energy debt or the ability to pay their bills, they should speak to their supplier.
You may have an RTS meter if:
- You have received letters, emails, texts or calls from your electricity supplier about an RTS meter in your property
- You have a switch box near your energy meter labelled “Radio Teleswitch” or “RTS”
- You have electric or storage heaters
- You have no gas supply in your area – you may live rurally or in a block of flats
- You get cheaper energy at different times of day. Your tariff might be: Economy 7, Economy 10 or Total Heat Total Control.
For more information you can visit Ofgem’s dedicated RTS webpage: Replacing your Radio Teleswitch electricity meter
Notes to editors
- Of the 154,000 RTS meters left to be replaced (as of late January 2026), 103,000 are in England, 47,000 in Scotland and 4,000 in Wales.
- In 2024 a taskforce was set up by industry to coordinate a range of activities and rapidly increase the pace and number of RTS replacements by devoting extra engineer resource, fast tracking RTS meter replacements, and prioritising customers in vulnerable circumstances. The RTS Taskforce includes Ofgem, Energy UK, energy suppliers, District Network Operators, Smart Energy GB, government and consumer groups.
- Energy UK is the trade association for the energy industry, representing companies investing billions of pounds to secure our country’s current and future energy needs. From growing start-ups to major electricity generators, grid and infrastructure developers and energy suppliers, our members are driving change across power, heat, transport and flexibility. We provide a collective voice for the sector working with governments, regulators, charities and other organisations to provide crucial insight that shapes policy, offers solutions and promotes best practice. Our broad view across the whole system supports evidence-based positions which are not tied to particular technologies, and are focused on delivering strategic benefits for people, businesses and the economy. We champion initiatives such as our Vulnerability Commitment, which pushes suppliers to go beyond regulation to support customers with additional needs, and TIDE, the industry’s drive for greater inclusion and diversity. Through our Young Energy Professionals Forum, we support the development of future leaders. We are equally committed to our team and are proud to be recognised as a ‘Gold’ Investors in People employer.