British Gas has issued an urgent warning that 300,000 homeowners must replace their electricity meters by 30 June 2025 – or face higher bills.
RTS meters, powered by the Radio Teleswitch Service, will be switched off later this year, leading to potential loss of heat and hot water for the affected properties.
Those who don’t replace their meter by the 30 June switchoff date could face higher bills. This is because, 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.
‘Very, very difficult’ to replace all meters
Energy suppliers are urging customers to arrange a smart meter fitting in their properties – stating it’ll be “very, very difficult” to replace every RTS meter before the signals are switched off for good.
More than 1,000 RTS meters are being replaced each day. However, it’s estimated that 5,000 meters would need replacing daily to have every property upgraded by the 30 June deadline.
The RTS signal, originally launched in the 1980s, was initially set to be deactivated in 2024 but the deadline was extended when only 300,000 households made the switch. However, the signal will be shut off for good this year.
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.
What do landlords need to do next?
If your property uses an RTS meter, it’s imperative you make the switch before the end of June. Failing to do so will result in higher bills for your property, or worse, 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 ahead of the change. Charlotte Friel, Director for Retail Pricing and Systems, says: “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.”
To encourage action, Ofgem and Energy UK have launched a campaign urging property owners to ‘act now’ and make the switch ahead of the system’s deactivation.
The need to upgrade your property’s meters follows new energy efficiency rules for rental properties. Landlords will also need to make sure rental properties have a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2030.
This follows a 2024 Simply Business study of almost 2,000 landlords, which found that 33 per cent considered making their property more energy efficient their biggest challenge.
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- What does landlord insurance cover?
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