Ofgem RTS Meter Switch Off 2026: Everything UK Energy Customers Should Know
The Ofgem RTS meter switch-off is one of the ongoing changes that will have a major impact on most homes in the UK throughout 2026.
According to Ofgem, thousands of homes depend on RTS meters (Radio Teleswitch Service) to provide control of electric heating, hot water systems, or use off-peak electricity tariffs. As the RTS (Radio Teleswitch Service) System comes to the end of its operational life, energy suppliers are replacing old meters with modern smart (electric) meters. There are many questions homeowners are asking, including: why are RTS meters being switched off? Will I have a supply to my home? What should I do prior to the RTS meter switch off date?
In this guide, we will discuss how the RTS meter works, what will happen to homes and households after the RTS meter switch-off, and how replacing RTS (Radio Teleswitch Service) meters with "smart meters" will allow households to more effectively manage their energy usage.
We will also discuss the responsibilities of suppliers, some of the common concerns customers express, and ways that they can better improve their home energy management through the transition.
Understanding the Ofgem RTS Meter Switch Off
What is an RTS electricity meter?
RTS meters are used in several households throughout the UK for managing heating and electricity consumption during off-peak periods of time. An RTS meter is typically found in homes that have electric storage heating, immersion heating. The RTS operates by receiving a signal sent by radio that automatically changes from peak price of electricity to off-peak electricity rates at specific times throughout the day.
Continued Use of RTS Meters and Plans to Phase Them Out
There continues to be a reliance on RTS systems by many households in Scotland and semi-rural areas of the UK for the management of their heating behaviour and electricity consumption. Ofgem has introduced RTS meter switch-off contingency plans and replaced them with new generations of smart meters because RTS technology is no longer in use.
What does RTS stand for in UK electricity systems?
RTS stands for Remote Radio Meter Reading. It is a system using longwave radio signals to control meters and communication between electric meter readers and electric suppliers. It also allows for automatic switching of tariffs by suppliers between on-peak and off-peak periods and provides the ability for suppliers to read and obtain meter-related information without having to go to the property.
While RTS technology has been in use for supporting UK residents for many years, the supporting infrastructure has reached the end of its life. This is one of the major reasons that RTS meters are being switched off throughout the UK.
After deactivation, consumers will continue to get electricity, but the supplier will no longer be able to read or control it.
RTS meter switch off date and latest Ofgem updates
The process of phasing out RTS meters will take place progressively over the course of 2025 and 2026 throughout the UK. In order to prepare for a complete phase-out of the RTS meter system, Ofgem and UK electricity suppliers are urgently recommending that all households currently fitted with RTS meters to upgrade to a smart meter as soon as practicable after the full implementation of this standard.
Most customers will not lose power entirely after RTS meters are switched off because the majority of consumers will still receive power after electric meters RTS switches off are deactivated. However, some older heating systems or functions of off-peak tariffs may cease to operate properly if the RTS meter is not replaced on time.
The Ofgem RTS meter switch-off is just one part of a wider strategy of modernisation of the UK’s electricity supply systems which aims to enhance energy efficiency as well as to enhance the accuracy of billing and energy monitoring within households.
RTS meter switch off delayed: what homeowners should know
The discussions regarding the timeline delay for switching off the RTS meter have been related to many households continuing to use older RTS's. The energy supply companies continue to install smart meters to provide time for the households still using RTS's to have an opportunity to upgrade to smart meters before the RTS meters switch-off across the country.
Homeowners need to understand that energy supply companies are required by law to exchange an RTS meter for a smart meter free of charge. If you still have an RTS electric meter, it is very important to contact your supplier and set up an appointment as soon as possible for replacement. Current delays may add to the transition period, but all RTS meters will be retired throughout the country eventually.
What Happens After the RTS Meter Switch Off?
Will RTS meters stop supplying electricity?
Many consumers worry whether they will lose power because Ofgem RTS meter switches off and is replaced by standard meters. In general, it is not anticipated that there will be a loss of supply to most homes once the meter has been disconnected from the meter-reading process.
There is the possibility that some appliances that currently use the RTS meter to control or monitor their electric consumption might stop working after the RTS meter is disabled as the Remote Radio Meter Reading (RRMR) system will no longer operate.
Devices such as older electric heating systems, storage heaters, or hot water systems that have been programmed to switch from peak to off-peak rates based on the RTS signals will no longer have a signal to switch between peak and off-peak. Consequently, suppliers are advising customers to replace their older RTS meters with smart technology prior to the deactivation of the remote meter reading systems.
How Remote Radio Meter Reading works
The RTS meter system is an electric meter system that helps electric utilities remotely control specific types of electric meters through long wave radio signals. The RTS technology allows electric suppliers to change an electric customer's rate between peak/normal rates to off-peak rates automatically and read any meter data without having to visit a customer's home.
The RTS meter system has found considerable use in homes with electric storage heating. The RTS electric meter communicates with the remote radio readings electric meter and manages the heating schedule according to the customer's economy electric rate.
The UK electric industry has been phasing out the RTS meter due to the aging of the physical technologies associated with these types of electric meters and is instead adopting modern smart electric meters that provide a better way to measure the electricity usage of a customer and allow electric utilities to have better energy usage management and billing efficiency. One of the primary reasons why RTS meters is being switched off nation-wide transition to smart electric meters.
Why will there not usually be a power outage after deactivation
A lot of people are concerned that when the RTS meter switches off, they will lose power suddenly, but this isn’t really expected to happen. The RTS simply provides remote communication and tariff switching; it does not supply you with electricity.
When a RTS meter is being switched off, it still has the capability of simply delivering power from the power company. However, the power company may no longer be able to remotely read your meters or automatically manage your heating schedules. Other customers may experience incorrect time settings for their heating/hot water systems and therefore are being offered new smart meters for free by their power companies.
Therefore, the Ofgem RTS meter switching off is mainly an upgrade of technology, not a nationwide shutdown of electricity. Upgrading older-generation RTS systems to smart meters ensures that customers will continue to receive accurate billing, reliable heating controls, and more efficient energy use management into the future.
Smart Meter Replacements and Supplier Responsibiliti
Why energy suppliers are replacing RTS meters with smart meters
The Ofgem's decision to discontinue use of the RTS meter systems is a part of the overall UK strategy to revamp the national electricity grid. Older RTS electric meters utilize a radio signal system that has become obsolete as technology improves. Therefore, energy suppliers will be replacing all old RTS systems with modern smart meters that provide an improved method for managing energy consumption and billing accurately.
With smart meters, electricity readings are sent directly to the supplier automatically and digitally, eliminating the need for manual readings by technicians and eliminating the use of traditional remote radio technologies. Smart meters allow customers to monitor their real-time consumption of electric energy, control their electric energy costs more effectively, and choose from many current tariffs.
The primary reason why RTS meters are being switched off is that the existing infrastructure that is used to support Remote Radio Meter Reading (RRMR) has reached its "life expectancy".
In addition, smart meters will provide a longer-term solution for energy suppliers by providing a more reliable means of communication between utility companies and their customers.
Free smart meter replacement after RTS deactivation
Energy providers will be the primary entity helping customers who have DSM (Demand Side Management) electrical meters transition from their current meters to smart meters when the DSM electrical meter is turned off. Energy providers will generally replace these meters at no cost to the customer.
The process is being put into place to ensure that customers are able to continue receiving accurate measurement of energy consumption and also accurate control of heating within their homes after the DSM meter has been turned off.
Although the customer's energy supply usually will continue, there may be a problem with either heating systems and/or off-peak tariffs that the customer is currently using after the DSM meters have been taken out of service, if the smart meter is not replaced prior to the DSM meters being removed from service.
Customers should call their respective energy providers as soon as possible to schedule their appointment before the rts meter switch off date. If a customer is able to arrange an appointment to replace their DSM meter before the removal of their DSM meter, they can avoid the potential problems associated with timing of heating schedules, losing the ability to switch their tariff rates, and receiving incorrect meter readings.
RTS meter switch off British Gas and Scottish Power guidance
Several large energy companies in the UK, such as the RTS meter switch off British Gas and the RTS meter switch off Scottish Power, have started to inform their customers of any remaining RTS electricity metering services. They are recommending that all households use these metering services book in for their upgraded smart meters before fully decommissioning of all Remote Radio Meter Reading systems.
Both companies have advised customers not to expect a total loss of members after the RTS has been removed from their metering; however, customers with older types of storage and heaters will not be able to use them correctly if their RTS meters are decommissioned.
These companies also offer information regarding the availability and support of SMART meters and have provided some guidance surrounding the installation of these smart meters and how they will be supported throughout the transition period (for example: what to do if you believe you require one but have already had your meter replaced).
Households that are not sure whether they have an RTS meter or have transitioned to a SMART can check directly with their electricity suppliers for confirmation and upgrade options.
Managing Home Energy More Efficiently After RTS Meter Replacement
UK households will soon convert to using smart meters for all electricity consumption and billing, which will help them track their daily energy consumption more accurately and manage their energy usage more effectively due to the Ofgem’s RTS meter switch-off (Electronic Time of Meter Reading).
With smart meters, you can track how much electricity you are using each day, reduce your electricity consumption unnecessarily, and use your heating and appliances more efficiently. There is also an increasing number of households purchasing battery storage and home energy management systems that can work with smart meters bbc rts switch off to further improve energy efficiency in their homes.
Reducing peak-time electricity costs after RTS meter replacement
The main advantage of moving from the older RTS system to the newer EcoFlow SYSTEM, is the ability to manage electricity and provide emergency supplies for power in a more efficient manner during peak hours (high cost of electricity).
For example, you can use an EcoFlow STREAM Ultra/Pro/Max Home Solar Battery to store energy for use later and avoid using expensive electricity from the grid at night. You can also use the EcoFlow Smart Meter to monitor your daily electricity consumption, track the performance of your battery system and make wise choices about electricity usage after you have changed systems (RTS meter removal).
EcoFlow STREAM Ultra/Pro/Max Home Solar Battery Usage Scenarios
EcoFlow Smart Meter for Smarter Energy Monitoring After the RTS Meter Switch Off
Conclusion
The Ofgem's RTS meters switch off is part of the changeover to modern and more efficient energy systems in the UK. Despite many reports about the deactivation of BBC RTS switch off meters being reported as a source of anxiety among many homeowners, the changes primarily involve the retirement of obsolete Remote Radio Meter Reading technologies and not the cutting off of electricity supplies to homes. In almost all other cases, homes will receive electricity after the RTS is deactivated. However, some heating controls and off-peak tariff functions may not work properly unless customers get a smart meter upgrade.
Energy supply companies in the UK are adopting new technologies; for example, a number of energy companies now provide costs for smart meters rather than RTS meters.
Additionally, smart meters will allow energy suppliers to deliver more accurate billing information and help customers measure their energy consumption and increase their home energy efficiency. Customers who still have RTS electricity meters are encouraged to contact their energy supplier immediately to arrange for their free smart meter replacement before the final date that RTS meters will no longer work is reached. Getting a smart meter upgrade prior to the final RTS meter switch off date may significantly reduce heating problems, tariff problems, and future electricity management problems and promote a better long-term usage of electricity.
FAQs
What is the Ofgem RTS meter switch off?
The Ofgem RTS meter deactivation is a complete discontinuation of the Remote Radio Meter Reading (RTS) system across the entire UK for older meters used for remote monitoring by energy suppliers to support off-peak tariffs and heating management. The RTS system uses longwave radio signals to allow remote management of these functions but is now considered outdated and being phased out by suppliers in favour of more modern smart meters.
What does RTS stand for?
RTS refers to the Remote Radio Meter Reading system that allows energy suppliers to remotely manage off-peak tariff switching and some types of heating control using radio frequency technology.
Will my electricity stop working after RTS deactivation?
As a general rule, yes, following the deactivation or RTS meter switch off, your power supply should still provide you with power. However, in some cases, your older style heating system or any other off-peak electricity service may not function properly due to the inability of your energy supplier to continue to provide you with a remote management service after the RTS Meter has been deactivated. As such, all energy suppliers are advising their customers to upgrade to smart meters before the deactivation of all RTS Meters.
What is the RTS meter switch-off June update and RTS meter energy switch off process?
The RTS meter switch-off June means that the UK will be phasing out the existing scale Remote Radio Meter System in order to move to the more current smart meter system (via of improvement in reading) for their electric meters.
The RTS meter energy switch off, is powered remotely using radio frequency, provides off-peak switching as well as communication between the RTS transmitter and the energy supplier's central network. As this system approaches the end of its useful life, energy suppliers will replace all existing RTS meters with modern smart meters to provide accurate meter readings, provide reliable switching of electricity tariffs and allow continual tracking of electricity consumption by customers.
Is smart meter replacement free after the RTS meter switches off?
Yes, the majority of UK energy companies have promised to replace prepayment meters at no cost to customers who were impacted by changes in the RTS meter. The RTS meter switches off Scottish power and British Gas are among those contacting their customers. So they can coordinate the installation of a new smart meter and make the transition to modern smart energy as effortless as possible.