Shetland Times Column 14th February 2025
In the 1980s the future was flexible energy tariffs using a nationwide Radio Teleswitch (RTS) system. Relying on a signal from the BBC Radio 4 longwave service energy rates were switched between peak and off-peak tariffs, but the technology is now seen as “end of life” with smart meters suggested as a modern alternative.
The RTS signal will be shutdown on 30th June 2025, the deadline for suppliers to find a solution for any energy customer that has one of these meters in their home. It is not clear what will happen when the signal is lost, but it should be completely unacceptable that any homes are at risk of being left without heating and hot water, or paying higher charges, through no fault of their own. Throughout my time as an MSP I have raised this issue with both the UK and Scottish governments, the energy regulator Ofgem and individual suppliers on behalf of constituents.
The advice of national campaigns highlighting the switch-off in recent weeks is to act when your energy company gets in touch, but this is frustrating for local people who have been proactively contacting their supplier only to be told there is no solution for them yet. Considerable anxiety is being caused for those who have been in contact with me. This is an issue that energy companies have known was on the horizon for years and this is not the first time I have stated that suppliers and industry must ‘get their act together’.
With around 700,000 RTS meters across the UK still to be reached the current pace of change has simply not been quick enough. Energy suppliers have had years to address this issue. The latest figures indicate that around 5,000 homes in Shetland still have RTS meters. While suppliers appear to have increased their activity in Shetland recently, too many customers are still being told to ‘wait and see’.
It is not clear given the time remaining how all customers can be reached by June and I recently wrote to the UK Government to ask what preparations are being made to protect customers. Nobody should be left disadvantaged by changes to systems that are outwith their control.
Smart meters will not be the solution for everyone due to local problems with their signal coverage. Pre-programmed meters which do not connect to the network, but change tariffs at predetermined times, are being offered by suppliers as an alternative This would not allow customers to take up newer tariffs though, such as offers for half-price energy use on Sunday, cheaper rates for charging electric cars, or to allow those who have solar panels installed to sell energy back to the grid.
Energy bills remain unaffordable for many homes. I am deeply concerned that the issues around RTS may mean that local customers will continue to pay more for a worse service.