Advice Direct Scotland is urging people with RTS meters not to postpone the switch to smart meters.
7 things you should do before turning the heating on
People in Scotland with ageing energy meters that are being gradually switched off have been urged not to delay having them replaced, amid fears that public awareness about the issue is falling.
Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the energy advice service energyadvice.scot, is warning of waning interest among customers about the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) switch-off. However unless the meters are replaced, customers risk losing control of their heating and hot water or being moved onto a more expensive single-rate tariff.
The charity has recorded a downturn in people asking about the issue, despite a high-profile campaign involving TV presenter Lorraine Kelly. This is likely to have been caused by the last-minute decision to delay the switch-off, which was supposed to happen at the end of June but is now being done in phases instead.
READ MORE: Demand for Warm Spaces to rise as clocks go back this weekendREAD MORE: Households to receive stronger protection against energy firms under new plans
Advice Direct Scotland is urging people with RTS meters not to postpone having them changed to avoid potential disruption when the signal is turned off.
Advice Direct Scotland recorded 270 queries about the RTS switch-off during May and June, in the run up to the original deadline of June 30.
But over the following two months, after the decision was taken for a phased switch-off, the number of calls dropped by nearly three quarters (73 per cent) to just 72.
The latest data from energy regulator Ofgem shows that as of September 19, there were still 61,436 RTS meters remaining in Scotland.
Introduced in the 1980s, RTS meters use outdated longwave radio signals to switch between peak and off-peak rates.
Anyone with an RTS meter should have been contacted by their electricity supplier before the end of June to arrange an upgrade to a smart meter at no extra charge.
However, Advice Direct Scotland is urging customers who think they might be affected to contact their supplier directly, rather than waiting.
Jillian Edmund, energy project lead at Advice Direct Scotland, said: “Slowly but surely, RTS meters are being phased out. The cliff-edge deadline might have been removed, but that doesn’t mean affected customers can switch off.
“If you have one of these meters in your home or business, you still need to act now and accept the offer of an upgrade from your energy supplier. Those who fail to do so risk experiencing disruption to their heating and hot water, as well as the threat of significantly higher bills.
“If you have an RTS meter, you should have heard from your supplier by now, but if you haven’t, contact them directly and ask about smart meter upgrades.
“Don’t delay – the switch-off is happening, and the consequences could be costly. Always remember that if you feel confused or overwhelmed, help is at hand. Reach out to us at www.energyadvice.scot or on freephone 0808 196 8660, and we will support you all the way.”
