More than half a million homes will be forced to have a smart meter before June

Over 600,000 households in the UK will have to switch to a smart meter this year.

This shift comes as the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) is set to come to an end this June.

The RTS shutdown

The RTS has been doing its job since the 1980s, communicating with energy firms through a long wave channel for BBC Radio 4.

Multi-rate tariffs like Economy 7 or Economy 10 use it to charge different rates depending on the time of day, helping you save on your energy bills.

The BBC has kept it running until now, but it’s finally time to say goodbye as the RTS will be switched off for good in June.

Ofgem expects suppliers to transfer 100,000 RTS customers each month leading up to June.

Time to switch

With suppliers lagging behind in the transition, Ofgem has stepped in.

Households are now receiving letters urging them to switch to smart meters or risk losing heating and hot water.

Pros and cons of switching to a smart meter

• Smart meters automatically send readings to your energy supplier, so you won't need to do it manually.
• Your bills will be more accurate because they’ll be based on actual usage rather than estimates.
• You can easily track your energy consumption, day and night.
• An in-home display shows your energy usage and costs in real-time.
• You’ll be able to stay on a flexible tariff like Economy 7 or Economy 10.

Some people are worried about technical problems or privacy when it comes to handling data from smart meters.

Energy companies have said they’re the only ones who can access your data and it can’t be shared with anyone else without your consent.

Energy UK says companies who work with your supplier might be allowed to see info collected from your meter.

You might also be remotely switched to a prepayment meter if you’re struggling to keep up with energy bills, which might lead to your supply being cut off.

How to know if you have an RTS meter

• Look for a switch box labelled ‘Radio Teleswitch’ next to your meter.
• Some meters have the RTS switch box integrated within them as a single unit.

If you’re still unsure, simply give your energy supplier a call.

They should be able to quickly tell you which type of meter you have.

What’s next?

If you rely on an RTS meter, it’s important to act quickly and get your meter upgraded to a smart meter rather than leaving it until the last minute.

Don’t worry, you won’t be expected to pay for any upgrades.