Up to 300,000 homes potentially at risk of losing heating and hot water services within the next two months due to meter shutdowns.
Get Set to Sweat: Over a Quarter Million Homes on the Edge of a Hot Water Crisis
Prepare for some chilly showers and cold houses, as a whopping 300,000 homes in the UK might lose their hot water and heating by July 1. Energy companies have confessed that the current rate of meter replacements places thousands at risk of being left in the cold.
The culprit? The antiquated Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters, which switch between peak and off-peak rates using a longwave radio frequency. This technology, however, is rapidly becoming obsolete, with a deadline to replace them by June 30 rapidly approaching.
Energy UK, the umbrella organization representing energy companies, reported that as of the end of March, 430,000 homes still rely on the RTS meters, with approximately 1,000 being replaced each day. To meet the deadline, a significant increase in replacement rates is necessary.
As the switch-off looms, campaigners are raising the alarm, stating that over 300,000 households may be faced with an inoperative meter come July 1. Ned Hammond, of Energy UK, disclosed to the BBC that the replacement pace is speeding up, though a substantial boost is still needed.
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition wrote to the watchdog, Ofgem, and the Government to address the "dangerously behind schedule" replacement effort. Co-ordinator Simon Francis sounded the warning bell: "Over 300,000 households will find their RTS meter stops working properly come July 1. Government, regulators, and energy firms need to confront the impending crisis and kick up efforts to provide support."
Insights:- Energy suppliers are hastily replacing RTS meters with smart meters, which replicate off-peak switching functionality, before the deadline in 2025.- Failing to replace the RTS meters in time could lead to service disruptions, billing issues, and technical failures for up to 300,000 households.- Ofgem advises affected customers to contact their energy suppliers promptly to schedule upgrades, and the End Fuel Poverty Coalition urges the government, regulators, and energy firms to expedite efforts to protect vulnerable households.
- The Rapidly approaching deadline of June 30 for replacing the antiquated Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters could lead to a crisis, with 300,000 homes potentially losing their hot water and heating by July 1.
- The Energy industry is currently accelerating the replacement of RTS meters with smart meters, which replicate off-peak switching functionality, to ensure compliance with the deadline in 2025.
- In a letter to Ofgem and the Government, the End Fuel Poverty Coalition highlighted the need for increased action to address the dangerously behind-schedule replacement effort, citing potential service disruptions, billing issues, and technical failures for up to 300,000 households.
- Demonstrating concern for vulnerable households, the End Fuel Poverty Coalition coordinator, Simon Francis, urged the government, regulators, and energy firms to expedite efforts to prevent the impending crisis and provide necessary support.
