If you have a radio teleswitch or dynamically teleswitched energy meter

You might have been told by your electricity supplier you need to have your radio teleswitch (RTS) or dynamically teleswitched (DTS) electricity meter replaced. This is because the radio frequency it uses to switch between peak and off-peak rates is being switched off.

The radio frequency is expected to be switched off on 30 June 2025. Ofgem, the energy regulator, currently expects all RTS and DTS meters to be replaced by this date.

Check if you need to replace your meter

You might not know if you have a radio teleswitch (RTS) or dynamically teleswitched (DTS) meter. You might have one if:

• you live in the East Midlands or Scotland

• your house is heated using electricity

• you have electric storage and water heaters

• you get cheaper energy at different times of day, for example if you have a peak and off-peak rate for electricity

Your teleswitch might be in the same box as your meter or in a separate box. If it's in a separate box it will usually be black.

Check the box, it might have ‘radio teleswitch’ or ‘radio telemeter’ printed on it.

Example

This is an example of an RTS electricity meter with a radio teleswitch in a black box to the right of the meter.

Example

This is an example of an RTS electricity meter that has a radio teleswitch in the same box. If you have one of these it might have ‘radio telemeter’ printed on it.

Important

If you’re not sure if you have an RTS or DTS meter

Contact your electricity supplier to check if your meter needs replacing.

If your meter doesn’t look like the examples above, you might still have a RTS or DTS meter.

Your heating and hot water could stop working if you don’t have your RTS or DTS meter replaced before the radio frequency is turned off.

Getting your meter replaced

If you’ve been contacted by your electricity supplier they should have told you how and when your meter is being replaced. 

Radio teleswitch (RTS) and dynamically teleswitched (DTS) meters are being replaced with smart meters.

You won’t have to pay your supplier to install a smart meter. If the smart meter needs to be in a different place to your old meter, you might need to pay for it to be moved. Your supplier will tell you if your meter needs to be in a different place.

Smart meters can work in the same way as your meter does now. You should still get an automatic peak and off-peak rate and it should turn hot water systems on and off.  

Your electricity supplier should recommend a smart meter tariff that will work in a similar way to what you have now, for example Economy 7.

If your new tariff can’t work in exactly the same way as your current meter, your supplier should explain what will change. For example, if your peak and off-peak times are slightly different.

If you haven't been contacted by your electricity supplier and you’d like a smart meter - contact them and ask for one. Check how to get a smart meter installed.

If you also have a gas meter and you want your supplier to replace it with a smart meter, ask your supplier. You don’t have to have your gas meter changed if you don’t want to.

If your gas and electricity supplier are the same, your supplier might be able to change both your meters to smart meters at the same time.

If you can’t get a smart meter

You might not be able to get a standard smart meter installed if you live in an area with poor signal.

If you live in an area with poor signal, you might need to have a special type of smart meter installed. It will be pre-set with the times for switching between peak and off-peak rates.

If you haven't heard from your supplier and you don’t think a smart meter will work in your home, contact them to check.

If you have a shared meter

If you think you have a shared RTS or DTS meter, contact the person or company you pay for your energy - this could be a landlord or management company.

If you don’t replace your RTS or DTS meter

Your heating might stop working as you expect. For example your hot water might be left on permanently or your storage heaters might use electricity at a more expensive time.

Your supplier won’t know when you’re using your electricity, so you might be charged the wrong amount. For example, you could be charged a peak rate for electricity you use during your off peak hours.

Your supplier might stop offering a RTS or DTS tariff, and move you onto a single rate tariff. This means you won’t get a cheaper rate for using electricity at night. If your heating system isn’t changed it might end up costing you more than you expect. 

If your electricity supplier tells you they need to replace your meter, don’t ignore them. They should try and work with you to find a solution that works for you.

Other heating options

You could look at other heating systems for your home such as:

• connecting your home to the gas grid and installing central heating - this might not be possible if you live in certain areas

• installing a heat pump - this is a low carbon way of heating that uses less electricity, but it can be expensive to install

You might be able to get help with the cost of a new storage heater or heat pump, or getting connected to the gas grid and getting central heating.

Check if you can get help making energy efficiency changes to your home.

Get more help

Contact the Citizens Advice consumer service if you need more help - a trained adviser can give you advice over the phone or online chat.

The consumer service will be able to help if you:

• can’t have a smart meter installed

• are being charged for a smart meter

• have problems with your smart meter after installation