The way some older electricity meters switch between peak and off-peak tariffs is about to change. If your home uses electricity for heating or hot water, this could affect you. From midnight on June 30, 2025, the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) – the system that controls these meter switches – will be permanently switched off.  

We’ve put together a summary of what this may mean for you below, but you can also find out more information in this guide.  

What is the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS)? 

RTS has been used for decades to help manage off-peak electricity tariffs – commonly used by people with electric heating systems like storage heaters or immersion water heaters. It works by receiving a radio signal that switches the power supply between peak and off-peak hours automatically. 

If your home uses electricity to heat water or run storage heaters (especially overnight), and you’re on a tariff like Economy 7 or Economy 10, you may be using an RTS meter – even without realising it. 

What’s changing?

 After June 30, 2025, the radio signal used by the RTS system will stop working. This means that: 

• Some heating and hot water systems may stop switching correctly, staying either always on or always off 

• If you’re on a time-based electricity tariff, you may lose the benefit of cheaper off-peak energy 

How do I know if I have an RTS meter? 

Not sure whether this affects you? Here are a few signs that your meter might be using the RTS system: 

• You can see a separate switch box near your meter labelled “Radio Teleswitch” or “Radio Telemeter” 

• You have electric heating or hot water (e.g. storage heaters, panel heaters, or immersion tanks) 

• There’s no gas supply to your home – common in high-rise flats or rural areas 

• You benefit from cheaper energy at night (for example on tariffs like Economy 7, Economy 10 or Total Heat Total Control) 

• Still unsure? The easiest way to confirm is to contact your electricity supplier, who can tell you if you have an RTS meter and whether it needs replacing. 

You can also find more information here: 

• Citizens Advice: RTS and smart meters 

What should you do? 

The good news is: you don’t need to panic. Energy suppliers are aware of this change and are offering free upgrades to smart meters, which can provide a similar service and even more benefits. 

✅ Contact your electricity supplier as soon as possible to check if your meter is affected and to book your upgrade. 
✅ If you’re not sure who your supplier is, you can find out by putting your postcode into this website: https://www.energynetworks.org/customers/find-my-network-operator    

Why upgrade to a smart meter? 

• It can be programmed for your current heating setup 

• It enables accurate billing (no more estimates) 

• You may gain access to smart-only tariffs 

• It helps you track and manage your energy use easily 

• Meter readings are automatic – one less thing to think about! 

Still waiting for a smart meter? 

Some areas may not yet be ready for the upgrade. If your supplier hasn’t contacted you yet, they will do so when appointments become available. In the meantime, if your heating or hot water stops working properly after June, the teleswitch could be the reason. You can check this with your supplier, but of course our repairs service is also here to help – find out how to contact us. Helpful resources: 

• Ofgem – Replacing your Radio Teleswitch electricity meter

• Citizens Advice – If you have a radio teleswitch or dynamically teleswitched energy meter

• Energy Networks Association – Radio teleswitch