RTS shutdown (Radio Teleswitch Service)

The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) has been phased out. This page covers the RTS shutdown, as well as what to do if you’re having issues with your replacement meter.  

What was the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS)?

The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) switched electricity meters between peak and off-peak rates at certain times of day. This let customers access cheaper, off-peak electricity. Such tariffs can reduce energy costs for people who rely on electricity for their heating and hot water.

Do I have an RTS meter?

If your meter is an RTS meter, then you might see a black box nearby with the radio teleswitch label on it.

However, lots of RTS meters don’t have this box. For this reason, it’s a good idea to check the type of tariff that you’re on. This can help you work out whether your meter used the RTS.

You may have an RTS meter if you are on a tariff that charges different electricity rates at different times of day (i.e. you have peak times and off-peak times). These types of tariff are very common if you have electric storage heaters. Some examples are:

• Economy 7
• Economy 10
• Total Heat Total Control (THTC)
• Comfortplus with WeatherCall/White Meter
• Heatwise
• Warmwise
• Budget Warmth

You definitely don’t have an RTS meter if:

• It’s a smart meter
• You don’t get cheaper, off-peak rates for your electricity

If you’re not sure whether you have an RTS meter, then it’s best to contact your electricity supplier. They will be able to tell you.

Why did the Radio Teleswitch Service shut down?

The RTS used longwave radio signals to switch tariff rates. It’s the same longwave radio signal that the BBC used, but which they had to move away from. The infrastructure for longwave radio signals is now obsolete – it’s no longer reliable and no-one makes replacement parts anymore.

When did the Radio Teleswitch Service shut down?

The RTS signal phase out started on 30 June 2025. The final switch off happened on 30 June 2026.

Previously, 30 June 2025 was meant to be the deadline for a total switch off. However, since a lot of meters still needed to be replaced, the shutdown happened in stages. Rather than a national shutdown happening all at once, meters were switched off in groups. Energy suppliers contacted customers in those groups to replace their meter before their area was switched off.

What happens now the RTS has shut down?

If you still have an RTS meter, it is likely that your hot water and heating will be affected. The heating and hot water might stay on all the time, not come on when you want it to, charge at the wrong time of day, or not come on at all. That’s why it’s important that anyone who still has an RTS meter contacts their supply as soon as possible.

See our RTS meters: What to say to your supplier guide for help with this.

What should I do if I still have an RTS meter?

If you still have an RTS meter, get in touch with your electricity supplier as soon as you can.  

Ideally, your supplier will switch you over to a smart meter. This means you’ll be able to keep using your electricity as before, taking advantage of off-peak rates.  

However, we’re aware that a number of people are having issues getting their supplier to switch them over to a smart meter. If you find yourself in this situation, please see the What if I am having difficulty getting a smart meter? section below. 

What if I rent my home from a Housing Association or Local Authority?

What you need to do depends on how you pay for your energy.

I manage my own energy costs

Managing your own energy costs means you get energy bills from your supplier or have a prepayment meter.

In these cases, you’ll need to ask your electricity supplier for an appointment to change your meter.

My Housing Association/Local Authority manages my energy costs

Some Housing Associations or Local Authorities manage energy costs for their tenants. For example, if you have a Heat with Rent agreement, you’ll pay energy costs to your landlord instead of the energy supplier.

In these cases, your Housing Association or Local Authority will need to ask the energy supplier to change the meter. If you think you still have an RTS meter, then you should speak to your Housing Officer. Ask them to find out whether your meter is an RTS meter and to contact the energy supplier if it does.

What if I rent my home from a private landlord?

What you need to do depends on how you pay for your energy.

I manage my own energy costs

Managing your own energy costs means you get energy bills from your supplier or have a prepayment meter.

In these cases, you’ll need to ask your electricity supplier for an appointment to change your meter. It’s a good idea to speak to your landlord first. That’s because there may be rules about changing the meter in your tenancy agreement. However, your landlord shouldn’t block a meter change if it’s vital for your heating to work properly.

My landlord manages my energy costs

Some landlords include energy bills in the rent.

In these cases, your landlord will need to ask the energy supplier to change the meter. If you think you still have an RTS meter, then you should speak to your landlord. Ask them to find out whether your meter is an RTS meter and to contact the energy supplier if it does.

What if I can’t get a smart meter in my area?

Ofgem, the energy industry regulator, has advised that there is now a technical solution for every home. This means that if your energy supplier previously said that there’s no technical solution for replacing your RTS meter, this is no longer the case. Therefore, you should contact your supplier as soon as possible to arrange for them to exchange your old meter.

What if I’m having difficulty getting a smart meter?

We know that some householders are having problems getting a smart or pre-programmed smart meter installed. In February 2026, Ofgem confirmed it will take forward new rules which mean customers will automatically receive a £40 payment when:

• They have to wait more than six weeks for a smart meter installation appointment
• A smart meter installation appointment fails due to a fault within the supplier’s control
• A customer reports a problem with their smart meter, but the supplier does not provide a resolution plan within five working days of the report

These new standards are in place to support smart meter rollout and provide better outcomes for consumers. They form part of Ofgem’s wider work to improve the smart meter experience by toughening up requirements and taking action to drive up supplier performance.

If you are still experiencing difficulties or are unable to arrange an appointment with your supplier, you can call the Energy Ombudsman on 0333 300 1620. The Energy Ombudsman is a free and impartial service that can help you to resolve issues with your energy supplier.

What if I don’t want a smart meter?

You don’t have to have a smart meter, but it’s the recommended replacement for meters that use the RTS. If you’re unsure about smart meters, it might be helpful to look at our smart meter page. We’ve included a myth-buster section to address some common concerns.

If you definitely don’t want a smart meter, you can discuss alternatives with your energy supplier. Installing a non-smart “legacy” meter is at the supplier’s discretion. If the supplier is willing to install a non-smart meter, then you may have to make changes to your electricity system. This would involve paying for an electrician to change your home’s internal wiring and the way you control your heating.

It’s also important to bear in mind that your supplier will likely have to change your tariff. They will probably start charging a flat rate for electricity, instead of offering cheaper, off peak rates.

My energy supplier replaced my RTS meter with a smart meter, and now my energy prices are higher.

Ofgem say they take seriously any reports that households who have proactively engaged with their supplier and arranged a meter replacement are finding themselves financially worse off.

In many cases this is due to backend-billing errors on the supplier side, meter configuration issues and non-operating smart meters. Ofgem say they have raised these cases directly with suppliers in order to find a resolution.

Billing errors can also be caused by a smart meter fault. Suppliers are now obliged to complete an initial assessment of any smart meter fault, take appropriate action and offer an update to households within five working days otherwise the consumer will receive compensation.

If you are having billing issues, the first thing you should do is contact your energy supplier.

If after this you are still experiencing difficulties or are unable to come to a resolution with your supplier, you can call the Energy Ombudsman on 0333 300 1620. The Energy Ombudsman is a free and impartial service that can help you to resolve issues with your energy supplier.

My supplier replaced my RTS meter, but I’m still having problems with my heating.

We’re aware that some households are having problems using their heating. Problems we have been made aware of include: 

• Issues with new or existing meters, including hot water timers not functioning correctly 
• Problems with tariffs, including help with choosing new tariffs and communication with suppliers
• Billing problems including prepayment meters and heat with rent for social tenants  

If your supplier switched your RTS meter and you are having heating issues, the first thing you should do is contact your energy supplier.  

If after this you are still experiencing difficulties or are unable to arrange an appointment with your supplier, you can call the Energy Ombudsman on 0333 300 1620. The Energy Ombudsman is a free and impartial service that can help you to resolve issues with your energy supplier. 

I replaced my RTS meter with a smart meter and lost the automatic heating/hot water function of RTS. How can this be fixed?

The newest generation of 5-Terminal smart meters all have an in-built functionality called Auxiliary Load Control Switching (ALCS) that allows them to automatically switch your heating/hot water on and off, mimicking the functionality provided by RTS. However, sometimes ALCS functionality is incompatible with the electricity wiring some homes. This is most common in homes with a 3-rate RTS meter.

In these cases, the most common practice in the industry is to install contactors so that the switching functionality is maintained even after an RTS meter is exchanged with a smart meter. Ofgem say they have heard from most suppliers that they are installing contactors free of charge for RTS consumers.

We advise you to contact your supplier and request to get a contactor installed in your property. If a supplier is not installing contactors where required, Ofgem suggest households switching to a supplier who can offer this functionality.

We are also aware of other instances where suppliers are failing to align ALCS times on smart meters with the consumer’s heating/hot water appliances. Ofgem is engaging with individual suppliers to demand that they are being proactive in identifying where there might be a mismatch between ALCS peak/off-peak times and a consumer’s usage.