THOUSANDS of Leicester residents could be left without heating or hot water this summer unless they have their aging electricity meters replaced.
The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) – which was introduced over 40 years ago – uses radio signals to tell some electricity meters to switch heating or hot water systems on or off. It is due to be phased out by the end of June 2025, as the system is no longer viable.
There are about 600,000 RTS electricity meters across Britain and a national RTS Taskforce has been set up to upgrade them all before the switch-off date.
Around 4,000 households in Leicester are affected, most of which have storage heaters linked to an old-style RTS electricity meter that will need to be replaced as soon as possible.
Customers can now make appointments with their energy suppliers to have their RTS meters replaced with new smart meters at no additional cost. Energy suppliers will also be contacting customers directly. E.ON Next is leading in work across the city to significantly raise the replacement rate by devoting engineering resources as part of a targeted campaign.
The campaign is being supported by Leicester City Council to help encourage anyone who has and old-style RTS electricity meter – or who thinks that they might have – to contact their energy supplier as soon as possible to arrange an appointment to have it replaced.
Deputy City Mayor Elly Cutkelvin said: “We know that Leicester has a relatively high number of households with electric storage heating systems that will likely be connected to an old-style RTS meter.
“These meters need to be replaced as soon as possible to ensure that people aren’t left without heating when the switch-off happens this summer.
“The process to replace your RTS meter is usually straightforward and is carried out at no cost to the household. But time is running out. Energy suppliers will be contacting affected households directly and we would urge anyone affected to make an appointment to have their meter upgraded as soon as possible.”
The national RTS Taskforce was launched in January 2025 and includes energy regulator Ofgem and trade association Energy UK and is supported by consumer group National Energy Action.
It urges owners of RTS electricity meters to act now and accept the offer of a meter upgrade from their energy supplier.
Charlotte Friel, Director for Retail Pricing & Systems at Ofgem, said: “One of the key functions of the RTS Taskforce is identifying hotspot areas that need more targeted resources to accelerate the upgrade programme. So it is pleasing to see E.ON Next and other energy suppliers pushing to drive up the replacement rate in Leicester.
“This is a positive declaration of intent to meet the RTS challenge head on, so our message to people in the city is that support is ready and waiting. If you are contacted by your energy supplier to arrange an appointment, please book it.”
Dhara Vyas, Chief Executive at Energy UK, added: “Energy suppliers continue to make contact with customers who have an RTS meter and are working hard to prioritise support for vulnerable customers ahead of the deadline this summer.
“It’s really important that anyone with an RTS meter has it replaced as soon as possible – delaying this could result in their heating and hot water not working properly. Contacting their supplier to arrange a replacement - at no extra cost to the customer - as soon as possible will minimise the disruption, help ensure a smooth upgrade to a smart meter and mean that customers continue to enjoy the benefits they currently get from their RTS meter.”
A supporting campaign will run across TV, video on demand, radio, digital audio, billboards and local press, highlighting the urgent need for RTS customers to book the installation of a new meter as soon as their energy supplier contacts them.
Information about the RTS switch off is also available on the city council’s website