Starting 30th June, the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) signal will begin to be phased out in a carefully managed way. To ensure your heating and hot water continues running smoothly, we’d encourage you to book your meter upgrade appointment with us as soon as possible. Don't worry if your appointment is after June 30th – the phased shutdown means we’ll try to prioritise your upgrade before the shutdown in your area.
Book an appointment as soon as possible online below or by calling 0800 074 0058 Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm and Saturdays, 10am to 2pm. The longer you wait, the more chance you could experience delays to get your meter upgraded in time.
There are a few telltale signs you can look out for:
Still unsure? Please get in touch with us via webchat, available from 7am-11pm every day or call us on 0345 270 0700. We’re here to help you avoid any disruption to your heating and hot water.
When the RTS signal switches off, the meter should continue working on its current pattern until something triggers a change in your heating and hot water timings. For example, if there is a power cut or a power surge, or the clocks go forward an hour in the autumn.
It's like your mobile phone needing an upgrade, it should continue to work as you expect for a little while but ultimately will need upgraded at some point to continue working.
When this happens, you could be left without heating or hot water or find your heating is constantly on. Your heating may charge up at the wrong time of the day and your electricity costs could be much higher than before, as we won’t be able to confirm how much electricity you’ve used during peak and off-peak times.
This is why you must act urgently to upgrade your RTS meter. Or if you think someone you know might have an RTS meter, please urge them to book a meter upgrade or contact us as soon as possible.
The RTS signal will switch off, but the meter should continue working on its current pattern until something triggers a change in your heating and hot water timings. For example, if there is a power cut or a power surge, or the clocks go forward an hour in the autumn.
It's like your mobile phone needing an upgrade, it should continue to work as you expect for a little while but ultimately will need upgraded at some point to continue working.
The RTS shutdown begins on 30th June and will take until end of September to be fully closed down.
If we’re unable to upgrade your meter before the switch off in your area, your meter should continue to work as normal for a while. However, if you have any issues with your heating and hot water not switching on, please get in touch. We’ll make sure your meter upgrade is prioritised, wherever possible.
A smart meter can offer a similar service to an RTS meter. They can be programmed to switch between peak and off-peak times, which makes them the only available replacement to your RTS meter.
If your energy bill is in your name, you can choose to get a new meter installed. It’s simply recommended that you get your landlord’s permission before installing the new meter. Smart Energy GB have handy templates you can share with your landlord, find them here.
You’ll enjoy a similar service to your RTS meter and we can help find the right tariff for you. You’ll also benefit from:
Please book your smart meter easily online here or call us on 0800 074 0058 Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm and Saturdays 10am to 2pm. Most RTS meter upgrades are straightforward and should only take around an hour.
We want to help you avoid any inconvenience so please book your meter upgrade as soon as possible.
Last updated: 20 May 2025