Energy companies, Ofgem, and the government have issued a warning that approximately 300,000 homeowners still need to replace their electricity meters – or potentially face higher bills.
A phased switch-off of RTS meters, powered by the Radio Teleswitch Service, began on 30 June 2025. Properties that don’t replace RTS meters could risk higher bills or a loss of heat and hot water.
Replacing RTS meters – at a glance
- the phased switch-off of RTS meters started on 30 June 2025
- property owners with RTS meters need to replace them to avoid higher energy bills or service issues
- as of 30 May 2025, over 300,000 meters still needed replacing (over 100,000 of which were in Scotland)
- owners with RTS meters will be contacted by their energy supplier to organise an upgrade
- most RTS meters will be replaced by smart meters
What is an RTS meter and does my property have one?
RTS meters are a price effective energy option, offering cheaper electricity rates during off-peak hours through tariffs like Economy 7 and Economy 10.
They work by communicating with energy suppliers through a BBC longwave radio channel, and automatically adjust the rates you pay during specific hours.
They’re mostly found in premises that rely on electricity for heating and hot water. Your switchbox may have a Radio Teleswitch label attached to it.
As a result of the phased switch-off, without the longwave signal your meter won’t know at which time the prices are at their lowest to ‘charge up’.
Losing the signal also means properties could risk losing heating – or having it stuck on permanently.
What do landlords need to do next?
If your property uses an RTS meter, you need to upgrade your meter as soon as possible.
The switching off of RTS meters means that if you’ve yet to replace your meter, you could face higher energy bills for your property, or worse, have no access to hot water or heating.
This would be a breach of the The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, which clarifies a tenant’s right to heating and hot water.
If you don’t know if your tenants have been contacted about upgrading your meter, you or your tenant should reach out to the property’s energy supplier to arrange a replacement meter.
Independent regulator Ofgem suggests fitting a smart meter as a replacement for RTS meters. Charlotte Friel, Director for Retail Pricing and Systems at Ofgem, said: “[It] will open up a wider range of tariffs and options that could give [customers] more control over their bills and more visibility of their energy use.”
Government steps in to introduce phased switch-off
Originally, a mass switch-off of RTS meters was due to take place on 30 June 2025. However, it’s now a phased switch-off, which started at the end of June. This is because not enough RTS meters had been replaced in the lead up to the deadline, meaning too many households were at risk of a disrupted energy service.
The switch-off is now taking place on a smaller scale, and affected properties will be contacted by suppliers “well ahead of time”, according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
“We have stepped in to ensure that thousands of vulnerable consumers with RTS meters do not experience any sudden disruption,” said Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Minister for Energy Consumers.
“I will be watching suppliers closely to make sure they are doing everything they can to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible.”
Over 1,000 meters being replaced each day
Charlotte Friel from Ofgem added: “Customers must be protected at every stage of the phased area-by-area shutdown, and we are spelling out to suppliers key requirements that must be met before an area loses its RTS signal.
“At the same time we expect energy companies to go faster, building on the work of the cross-sector Taskforce set up by Ofgem that has seen the upgrade rate rise from 1,000 meters per month to more than 1,000 per day.”
Although homeowners still using RTS meters will no longer be affected by a mass shutdown, it remains important to upgrade affected meters as soon as possible.
Meter replacement deadline – 4 key takeaways
- A mass shutdown of RTS electricity meters has been replaced by a phased switch-off from 30 June 2025
- Around 300,000 RTS meters are still being used by homeowners, a third of which are in Scotland
- If you have an RTS meter in your property, your energy supplier will contact you about upgrading to a smart meter
- If you don’t replace your RTS meter, you could risk higher energy bills or a disrupted service once the RTS signal has been turned off
Replacing RTS electricity meters FAQs
What is the deadline for replacing old electricity meters in rental properties?
A phased switch-off of RTS electricity meters began on 30 June 2025. Homeowners with RTS meters in their properties are being urged to get the upgraded to smart meters as soon as possible.
Who is responsible for replacing old electricity meters – the landlord or tenant?
Landlords are ultimately responsible for making sure that their RTS meter is replaced ahead of the switch-off. However, tenants can also arrange a meter upgrade on their landlord’s behalf.
What happens if I miss the electricity meter replacement deadline?
If property owners continue to use an RTS meter after the signal has been turned off, they could risk being charged more for energy. They could also suffer from a disrupted energy service and in the worst cases have no access to heat or hot water.
More guides for landlords
- Landlord responsibilities – a guide to property maintenance and repair
- A guide to landlord boiler responsibilities and boiler maintenance
- How to remove mould in your rental property
- What does landlord insurance cover?
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