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Page last updated on 9th January 2025

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The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) signal switch off

From June 2025 the signal that controls RTS meters is being switched off. If you know you have an RTS electricity meter, book your new meter installation now, to avoid disruption. Visit your electricity supplier's RTS page to find out how to book your installation. Type the name of your supplier in the box below.

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RTS switch off - what you need to know

Some homes and businesses in Great Britain have a type of electricity meter called a Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meter. From June 2025, the signal that controls RTS meters will start to be switched off.

When this happens, RTS meters will lose functionality. This will affect customers with a Radio Teleswitch meter in their home or business. Heating and hot water in properties with these meters could stop working as expected. The heating and hot water could get stuck on or off. Or the charging-up of appliances, such as storage heaters, could happen at the wrong time of day. Electricity suppliers won’t know how much electricity customers with RTS meters use during peak and off-peak times. This means that electricity costs could be much higher than before.

How to find out if you have an RTS meter

If you have an RTS meter, your electricity supplier should have contacted you.

If your energy supplier has got in touch with you about replacing your RTS meter, you need to book your new meter installation now. To avoid disruption to your service, book a new energy meter installation. Get in touch with your energy supplier now to book your new energy meter installation.

If you’re not sure whether you have an RTS meter, there are a few things you can look out for to find out if you have one. If your property matches any of these criteria, you may have a Radio Teleswitch meter:

There is a separate switch box near your meter. This is often labelled 'Radio Teleswitch'.
Your property is heated using electricity or storage heaters
There is no gas supply to your area; this includes properties in rural areas and high-rise flats.
Your energy tariff is Economy 7, Economy 10 or Total Heat Total Control. So, you get cheaper energy at different times of day.

You can also reach out to your energy supplier to find out whether you have an RTS meter or not.

Book your meter replacement now if you have an RTS meter

If you have a Radio Teleswitch meter, you need to book a new meter installation now. Appointments may be booked up quickly, so book now to avoid disruption to your service.

The signal that controls RTS meters will start to be switched off from June 2025. RTS meters losing functionality after this date may cause issues with heating systems. Customers with an RTS meter may find their heating and hot water supply stops working as normal.

Type the name of your electricity supplier in the box below to go to their RTS page, for more information.

Please note, not all suppliers are included in the list as not all suppliers currently have information about this. If your energy supplier is not in this list, contact them directly. You can go to their website, or use the contact details listed on your energy bill.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS)?
What is a Radio Teleswitch meter?
Do all Economy 7 customers have an RTS meter?
Why is the RTS switch off happening?
Can you stay on the same tariff after your meter is replaced?

What is the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS)?

The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) uses a radio signal to tell some older electricity meters when to switch between peak and off-peak rates. RTS is also known as Dynamic Teleswitch Service (DTS).

RTS is used for some traditional multi-rate meters. It was designed to support customers who use electricity for their heating and hot water. This may include customers who use electric storage systems, panel heaters or immersion heaters in water tanks – some of which typically charge up overnight. RTS allows energy suppliers to offer different tariff rates. This allows customers to make use of cheaper off-peak tariffs to charge their heating or hot water systems up overnight.

RTS was introduced in the 1980s and will start to be turned off in June 2025.

What are peak and off-peak rates?

Peak energy times are when there is most demand for energy. For example, one peak time might be evenings on weekdays, when many people are getting home from work, cooking dinner, or watching TV.

Off-peak energy times are when there is less demand for energy, including during the night and at weekends.

What is a Radio Teleswitch (RTS) meter?

An RTS meter is an older type of electricity meter that uses the RTS radio signals to switch between peak and off-peak rates. These meters will no longer function as they are currently after the RTS switch off from June 2025. So, customers with an RTS meter may find their heating and hot water supply stops functioning as normal after this date.

As of Autumn 2024, there were approximately 800,000 RTS meters in Great Britain. Ofgem, the energy regulator for Great Britain, expects energy suppliers to replace all these RTS meters before the switch off in June 2025.

RTS switch off and Economy 7 - do all Economy 7 customers have an RTS meter?

Some older Economy 7 meters use the RTS service, and these meters will be affected by the RTS switch off. But this won’t affect all Economy 7 meters. If you know you’re on an Economy 7 or 10 tariff, you’ll need to follow the steps above to find out if you have an RTS meter. If you do have an RTS meter, it will need replacing by the June 2025 deadline.

Find out if you have an RTS meter

Why is the RTS switch off happening?

The Radio Teleswitch Service, which was introduced in the 1980’s, is being switched off from June 2025. The shutdown is happening because the equipment that produces the radio signal is no longer maintained as it was previously.

Without the technology to tell RTS meters when to switch between peak and off-peak rates, they may no longer work properly. RTS meters losing functionality may mean that a consumer’s heating and hot water supply stops working as it should. These meters will need to be removed and replaced with new energy meters.

Can you stay on the same tariff after your RTS meter is replaced?

Your supplier will be able to tell you which tariffs are available to you. They should offer a tariff that is suitable for the hot water and heating set up in your property.

If you think you have RTS equipment in your home or business, or you’re unsure, contact your electricity supplier. They will let you know whether you have an RTS meter, and when you can get a meter upgrade.

To upgrade your RTS meter, contact your electricity supplier who will be able to tell you when you can have your meter upgraded. You can search for your energy supplier below to visit their RTS information page.

Please note, not all suppliers are included in the list as not all suppliers currently have information about this.

Find out more about RTS

Ofgem's guide to replacing your Radio Teleswitch meter

Citizens Advice's energy meter guides

Energy Networks Association’s guide to Radio Teleswitch

Ofgem's energy advice for households