UK Govt must spell out plan as RTS switch-off is pushed back

The UK Government is being urged to “spell out in detail” how they will support households in Highland waiting to switch away from Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters following the delay to the RTS switch off. 

Many households, particularly in the Highlands and Islands, feared they were going to go without heating and hot water or alternatively have their heating stuck on all the time if the RTS switch off was not delayed beyond 30 June. 

At the end of April, there were about 423,000 RTS meters still to be replaced in the UK, and nearly 135,000 of these are in the Highlands and Islands. However, the UK Government has now stated that “people with an RTS meter will not face any unexpected disruption…” as a the deadline is pushed back.

David Green, the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Caithness, Sutherland & Ross, said:

“While this is welcome news, we can’t forget that too many have already been left anxious and worried. It is evidently clear that energy companies have not done nearly enough to replace RTS meters. 

“This mess cannot be allowed to hang over folk as winter comes. No stone must be left unturned in ensuring any remaining smart meters are installed and everyone gets a fair energy tariff.

“Given the uncertainty about how the phased switch-off will now be delivered, the UK Government must spell out in detail what it plans to do going forward and commit to providing regular updates to ease concerns.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

As of 18 April, there were 4,204 meters still needing changed with a ZE postcode (Shetland), 3,820 with a KW postcode (Kirkwall), 8,148 with an IV postcode (Inverness) and 6,720 with a PH postcode (Perth).

Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael MP led a debate in the UK Parliament on 8 April. The Hansard copy can be found here: Radio Teleswitch Service Switch-off: Scotland - Hansard - UK Parliament

MSP for Shetland, Beatrice Wishart, also led a debate in the Scottish Parliament last month [20 May] where she highlighted the potentially devastating impact of the shutdown, particularly for homes in island and rural areas. The Office Report can be found here: Meeting of the Parliament: 20/05/2025 | Scottish Parliament Website