THOUSANDS of households have been issued an energy meter warning which they must follow to avoid losing water and electricity supply.
Homes with electricity meters using the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS), will need to upgrade to a smart meter come June 30.
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The RTS switches electricity meters between peak and off-peak rates at certain times of day, letting customers access cheaper off-peak electricity.
But the service is being switched off at the end of June, meaning customers with this type of meter need to get an upgrade.
Around 530,000 households are still yet to upgrade from an RTS meter, according to the latest figures from Energy UK.
A number of councils have flagged the issue to their residents to ensure they do not miss out ahead of the deadline.
That includes Glasgow council who said it would deploy door knockers to directly reach customers and “emphasise the importance of getting an upgrade”.
Councillor Ruairi Kelly, convener for housing and development at Glasgow City Council, said: “It’s really important that anyone with one of these meters has it replaced, as it could lead to them not being able to use their heating.”
Leicester council also warned that around 4,000 need to upgrade their meter.
It said customers should contact their energy suppliers to arrange a meter upgrade.
If you think you have a RTS meter but are not sure what your next steps are it may be worth getting in touch with your local council and supplier.
One way to tell if you have a RTS meter is if your home has a separate switch box near your meter with a Radio Teleswitch label.
Another sign is if you get cheaper energy at different times of day, for example, you might be on an Economy 7, Economy 10, or Total Heat Total Control tariff.
RTS meters are also typically used in areas with no gas supply, such as for high rise flats or houses in a particularly rural setting, so if this applies to you it’s worth checking your meter.
If you’re still not sure, contact your energy supplier and ask whether you have RTS equipment. They will be able to confirm for you.
You will not be charged for upgrading an RTS meter to a smart meter as all electricity suppliers are required to offer this upgrade at no extra cost to customers.
WHAT’S THE ALTERNATIVE TO RTS METERS
Smart meters offer the same features as RTS in that they can record the different prices at different times of day offered by Economy 7 tariffs.
It can help you save money as they help you avoid estimated energy bills as the reading are sent to your supplier automatically.
The device can also help you track your energy use as you can see how much your using and when you using it.
Smart meters are being rolled out by suppliers across the country and around 36million households have one, though they are not without issues.
Around one in ten are thought to be “dumb” according to recent data from Ofgem.
Issues include a broken display and trouble connecting to the network in some areas, while many first-generation smart meters have outdated technology, though this is unlikely to be an issue with ones fitted now.
Suppliers should make efforts to fix smart meters that are not working, but you may have to make meter readings in the meantime to ensure accurate bills.
4 ways to keep your energy bills low
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won’t even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven’t browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
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