A critical situation is developing across Britain as approximately 156,000 homes remain at risk of losing their heating and hot water supplies this winter.
These properties still rely on outdated Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters, which are being deactivated as the supporting signal infrastructure faces shutdown.
The technology, dating back to the 1980s, enables households to access cheaper overnight electricity rates through Economy 7 tariffs.
However, the ageing system supporting these meters is increasingly prone to failure.
Energy suppliers have already replaced more than 250,000 RTS meters since the start of 2025, but thousands of households have yet to make the switch to modern smart meters.
The severity of this situation became apparent when John Berry, father of former Conservative Party chairman Sir Jake Berry, discovered his north Wales home had lost power without any prior notification.
The former cabinet minister revealed his father’s ordeal, explaining how the property became “like an icebox” on a cold morning.
“No letter. No phone call. Nothing. He spent hundreds on electricians looking for a fault that didn’t exist,” Sir Jake Berry stated, describing his father’s frustrating experience.
The electricians were unable to identify any technical problems because the issue stemmed from the remote deactivation of the RTS meter.
Around 156,000 households risk losing heating and hot water this winter
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GETTYSir Berry’s property relied on Economy 7 heating, which required the specialised meter to access reduced overnight electricity rates.
The phased deactivation of RTS signals began with an initial March deadline that was subsequently extended to June 30. Rather than implementing a single nationwide shutdown, Ofgem decided to deactivate the signal progressively across different regions at varying times.
Currently, 178,000 RTS meters across Britain require replacement, yet merely 22,000 installation appointments have been scheduled.
In locations where the signal has already ceased, residents might only discover the problem when attempting to activate their heating systems as temperatures drop.
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The ageing infrastructure behind RTS technology is becoming increasingly unreliable, raising the risk of unexpected breakdowns
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GETTYThe ageing infrastructure behind RTS technology is becoming increasingly unreliable, raising the risk of unexpected breakdowns.
Anyone who suddenly loses heating should contact their energy provider straight away for help and advice.
Ned Hammond, deputy director of policy (customers) at Energy UK, issued a stark warning to affected households: “Please take action now.”
Smart meter installations are provided at no cost and offer identical functionality to RTS meters
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GETTYHe emphasised the critical timing, stating: “At this time of year, with colder weather setting in, heating and hot water are more important than ever. Don’t risk being left without warmth when you need it most.”
The organisation stresses that households must respond promptly to correspondence from their energy providers or proactively contact them without waiting for notification.
Smart meter installations are provided at no cost and offer identical functionality to RTS meters whilst enabling real-time energy monitoring and access to competitive tariffs.