Over 300,000 households to be affected by the Radio Teleswitch Service switch-off

What is the Radio Teleswitch Service?

The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) is a form of radio communication between some electricity meters and their energy suppliers. It tells the meters when to swap between peak and off-peak rates.

What is happening to it?

RTS has been around since the 1980’s and is now reaching the end of its operational life. With the rise of smart meters and modern energy management tools, the transition to more efficient systems will ultimately benefit consumers.

From June 2025, RTS will be switched off in phases, affecting over 300,000 households and businesses. If you have an RTS meter, this may mean your heating and hot water supply will stop working as usual.

What does this mean for consumers?

Your electricity supplier will be in touch to install a suitable meter before the end of June 2025.

This could involve upgrading to a smart meter and discussing potential tariff options for your account moving forwards.

Having a smart meter comes with its own benefits, such as:

• electricity readings submitted automatically
• access to ‘smart meter only’ tariffs
• the ability to monitor your energy usage
• accurate bills based on the electricity you’ve used, not estimates

In some instances, your supplier may not be able to offer you a smart meter. If this is the case, they must make sure you have a suitable meter installed, and that your service is not disrupted. Speak with your supplier to understand the options available to you.

If you are affected by the switch-off, make sure to speak with your energy supplier for more details on how the transition will affect you and what steps you should take next.

You can also get information about the RTS switch off from Trust funded organisations, Citizens Advice or Energy Advice Scotland.

Click here for a leaflet explaining about the Radio Teleswitch Service switch-off.