What you need to know about the planned RTS meter shutdown

The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) uses a radio signal to tell some older electricity meters when to switch between peak and off-peak rates and when to switch the heating and hot water arrangements on and off. RTS was used for some traditional multi-rate meters to support those who use electricity for their heating and hot water. This may include those who use electric storage systems, panel heaters or immersion heaters in water tanks – some of which typically charge up overnight.

RTS was introduced in the 1980s, and the outdated system is now coming to the end of its operational life. The technology behind it can’t be maintained any longer and will be decommissioned from 30 June 2025, this means the signal will be switched off from this point on. 

The 2025 deadline applies to all electricity suppliers, and we're contacting impacted customers to exchange their meters before the RTS service ends. If your meter is affected, we’ll arrange a free meter upgrade, so you can continue using your electricity as you do now, without interruption.

If you're not sure whether you have an RTS meter, there are a few things you can look out for:

• There may be a separate switch box near your meter with a radio teleswitch label on it
• Your property is heated using storage heaters or electric panel heaters
• There's no gas supply to your area. This includes households in rural areas and high-rise flats
• You get cheaper energy at different times of day. Your tariff might be: Economy 7, Economy 10 or Total Heat Total Control.

What does a radio teleswitch meter look like?

Please see the image below.

You’ll be unaffected if you have a single-rate meter or newer versions of the multi-rate meters, as only some of the older versions of multi-rate or complex meters were fitted with RTS.

If you’re unsure if you have RTS equipment, get in touch with us so we can confirm if this will impact you.

If you decide not to upgrade, your home's heating and/or hot water provisions could be affected.

You may find that your heating and/or hot water is continually left on or off, or the charging-up happens at the wrong time of day.

You may not be able to see how much electricity you have used during peak or off-peak times, which could mean your electricity costs could be much higher than before.

Even if you're being billed on one rate (totalised), have had gas installed, or upgraded your heating system, if you have a RadioTeleswitch-controlled meter, it still needs to be changed.

We’re here to help make the switch simple—get in touch with us and we’ll guide you through the process.

The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) began a carefully managed phased shutdown on 30 June 2025.

While you may not have noticed any changes so far, if your meter still depends on the RTS signal, it’s only a matter of time before you start to see the impact and experience issues—such as your heating or hot water switching on at the wrong times, or problems with your electricity billing.

To avoid any disruption, it’s important to upgrade your meter before the signal weakens to the point where it doesn’t reach your meter anymore. We’re here to help make the process quick and easy.

To find out more about RTS, click the links below:

• Ofgem
• Citizens Advice
• Energy Networks Association

The good news is that most homes with an RTS meter can have it replaced, and we’ve made sure there’s a suitable meter available for every type of setup, even if we can’t provide an exact match to your current off-peak hours.

In a few cases, we might not be able to book your appointment just yet due to technical reasons—for example:

• The meter is in a tight or difficult-to-access space
• There’s asbestos on the meter board
• We need help from the local network operator to work on the electricity supply

Whatever the reason, we’re committed to working with you to find a safe and practical solution so we can replace your RTS meter.

In some situations, there may be work needed at your property, by you or your landlord, before we can safely carry out the meter change. If that’s the case, we’ll guide you through what’s needed and support you every step of the way.

As of 30th June 2025, the RTS network has entered a carefully managed phased shutdown. We’re stepping up support to make the switch as easy as possible and have expanded our engineering teams across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to offer meter upgrades for homes still using RTS technology. 

No one should be left without heating or hot water. That’s why we’re still sending our engineers to remote parts of the UK to replace old RTS meters, making sure everyone’s prepared ahead of the signal shutdown. We’ve already reached some of the UK’s most remote areas, but there’s more to do. If you missed one of our scheduled dates, don’t worry. We’re arranging follow-up visits so you’ll have another chance to make the switch. In some cases, we’ll even drop by in person if we haven’t heard back, just in case you’re in.

As part of the government-led initiative, all energy suppliers use meters that can provide smart services. However, if you chose not to have these services activated, you wouldn’t benefit from:

• Getting accurate bills based on the energy you’ve actually used, not an estimate
• Meter readings are automatically submitted, so there’s no need to manually provide your energy readings
• Keeping a closer eye on how much energy you’re using and how much you’re spending
• Seeing where you might be able to save energy, for example, by turning the heating down when you don’t need it or switching the TV off
• Access to ‘smart meter only’ tariffs

It’s normal to have questions about what this all means for you, so get in touch and let’s have a chat! We want to come up with the right solution that works for you.

It’s no secret that all energy suppliers now use meters that can provide smart services. However, you can choose not to have these services activated, but you’d be limited to fixed off-peak times.

Please remember that exchanging your meter is the only way to stop any potential disruption when the Radio Teleswitch Service ends. Contact us to discuss the latest metering equipment and the options available to you.

Whether you choose to get on board with the benefits of smart meters or not – make the switch now to replace your RTS meter!

What happens if you leave it until the last minute?

We can't guarantee a timely appointment, and if there is a surge of RTS customers who lose their supply, you may find yourself waiting longer than normal for an appointment.

We recommend you book an appointment before there's any impact on your supply. Appointments can be booked up to 8 weeks in advance.

Find out how you can exchange your meter by logging into MyAccount.

Upgrade your meter

If you're a Large Business customer, please email EBSSmartMeterBookings@edfenergy.com, and one of our team will contact you to discuss the next steps.