Radio Teleswitch Service Shutdown
It’s not as scary as it sounds.
- The radio signal that controls RTS electricity meters is being switched off because the equipment that’s needed to send the radio signals has reached the end of its operational life.
- This RTS switch off affects around 600,000 businesses and homes across Britain, mainly in northern England and Scotland.
If your business uses RTS meters, you have until October 2025 to exchange the meter.
Your Meter Operator will contact you to schedule the meter exchange.
Does the RTS Meter Switch Off Affect Your Business?
You might have an RTS meter if your business:
- Uses electric storage heaters or electric water heating
- Has a separate switch box near your electricity meter with “radio teleswitch” written on it
- Is being charged different rates for electricity at different times of day
What Happens After the RTS Switch Off?
The good news is that most businesses will have the meters exchanged by the deadline.
From October 2025, if your RTS meter has not yet been exchanged, when the clocks change, your heating and hot water timings could be off by about an hour.
OFGEM states that suppliers need to offer a tariff that means your business is no worse off after the RTS meter switch-off.
What this means for your business:
The only real impact on your business is if your RTS meter is still in place after October 2025, when clocks change back to GMT and your timings will be out for an hour on electric storage heaters or water heating
Do I need to have Smart meter installed?
You will need to replace the RTS meter with either a Smart or Advanced meter.
Your energy Supplier may offer a Smart (SMETS) meter, however for businesses we recommend choosing Advanced (AMR).
Have an RTS meter with Stark Connect?
If we are your Meter Agent, we will contact you to schedule the replacement. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
FAQs RTS Switch Off
Will my electricity be cut off during the RTS switch off?
No. The RTS switch off means that from 1 July 2025, RTS meters will stop functioning properly, but your electricity supply will continue. The only impact comes later after October when seasonal time changes affect any heating schedules you may have in place.
Do I need my commercial landlord's permission for RTS meter replacement?
If your energy bills are addressed to you, and you pay your energy supplier directly, you can arrange for your RTS meter replacement. You don’t need your commercial landlord’s permission, but it’s a good idea to let them know about the RTS switch off.
What if I don't use electric heating anymore - do I still need RTS meter replacement?
You should still get your RTS meter replaced before the switch off, but you won’t face the same heating timing issues.
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