Households are being warned they could be left without heating or hot water (Image: Getty)
UK households with old 1980s electricity meters face losing their heating and hot water as a service is axed this year.
and trade association Energy UK are urging households that have a radio teleswitch service (RTS) meter to “act now” and get a meter upgrade from their ahead of the system’s switch-off.
Any households that don’t update face being left without or hot water, as well as potentially higher energy bills, as the system is deactivated later this year.
RTS meters were first introduced in the 1980s and rely on longwave radio signals from the ’s RTS meters to switch meters between peak and off-peak tariff rates. But the equipment which broadcasts the signal is now almost obsolete and is being switched off on June 30.
Ofgem and Energy UK have now launched a campaign to encourage households to act before the service is axed.
An Ofgem spokesperson said: “The campaign has been launched because of the urgent need to increase the rate of RTS meter upgrades across Great Britain before the signal is switched off from June 30 2025.
“It is important that RTS customers book their installation as soon as they are contacted by their supplier. All customers should have been contacted by their supplier by the end of 2024.
“Failure to act may result in the heating and/or hot water being continually left on or off, or the charging-up happening at the wrong time of day, leading to higher bills.”
Ofgem said the replacement of an RTS meter comes at no extra cost but warned customers to be wary of scams.
The regulator said customers will not be asked to provide payment details or make any payment when booking an appointment with their energy supplier.
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As of January 2025, Ofgem said there were around 600,000 RTS meters in Britain, meaning more than half a million homes are at risk of losing their heating and hot water unless they take action.
The campaign is being supported by fuel poverty charities National Energy Action and Energy Action Scotland, who warn the switch-off could negatively impact poorer and more isolated areas.
Danni Barnes, director of development and partnerships at National Energy Action, said: “Radio teleswitch meters are often used with ageing electric heating systems, which are more common in areas experiencing severe fuel poverty.
“The switch-off could exacerbate costs for households already struggling and result in households losing control of their heating and hot water. In the worst cases, some may not be able to use their heating or hot water at all.”