Energy Shock: The Great RTS Switcheroo
On 1 July, Britain’s power grid is set to go offline – literally. The Radio Teleswitching System (RTS), the old‑school network that quietly turns your heating and hot‑water controls on and off, is about to be turned off for good. If you’re part of the 392,000 households that still rely on those legacy meters, you might find your kettle hanging in balance and your heaters sleeping through the day.
Co‑ordinator Simon Francis: “We’re Doomed to Failure”
Simon Francis, the sharp‑tongued co‑ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, called the switch a recipe for disaster. He warned MPs that the RTS will be gone on July 1, yet thousands of meters will still be hanging around, like stubborn old phones.
“The process is doomed to failure,” Francis said at the Work and Pensions Committee. “We’re not going to see the RTS switch off on the first of July. There will still be hundreds of thousands of RTS meters in people’s homes on that date. What’s next? You’ll either be stuck with an unlimited hot‑water buffet and a colossal bill, or you’ll have no hot water at all – which, trust me, is a nightmare for pensioners. And who knows if the system will just ramp up the price. We have no clear answer.”
Energy UK’s Rapid‑Response Plan
Ned Hammond, Energy UK’s deputy director for customers, offered a more hopeful note. He said the replacement rate has risen, but the goal of zero RTS customers by the end of June is far from smooth sailing.
- Phase‑out plan – Coordinated with Ofgem and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Energy UK is tackling ups and downs to keep the energy supply steady.
- Vulnerable customers – Extra outreach to seniors, low‑income households, and anyone else who might be floundering. They’re pushing for face‑to‑face, phone, and online engagement in a pinch.
- On‑the‑spot support – If a meter goes haywire, the plan is to deploy support teams for rapid repairs and billing guidance.
Hammond assured the committee: “We’re working incredibly hard, and we’ll have the plan ready by the end of June. The aim is a smooth transition that keeps people warm and bills reasonable.”
We’ll keep watching to see if the British Bureau of Electricity (of course) can pull through without a blackout, or if we’re headed for a holiday of surprise plunges. Stay tuned!
