HUNDREDS of thousands of energy customers need to take action now to avoid being cut off in just a few months’ time.
Households with so-called Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters need to upgrade to a smart meter before June 30 this year, when the service is being switched off.
The switch off will mean that anyone who still has one of these meters could face issues like their heating or hot water not working properly.
Around 530,000 households are still yet to upgrade from an RTS meter, according to the latest figures from Energy UK.
Suppliers have been racing to move customers to smart meters before the deadline.
But a recent investigation by The Sun found many suppliers are facing a shortage of appointments, partly due to the vast number of RTS customers rushing to upgrade to smart meters.
Suppliers have individually been contacting their customers and urging them to book a smart meter installation.
Octopus Energy warned thousands of its own customers at the end of January.
Meanwhile, E.ON Next recently urged 65,000 customers to take action to avoid being cut off, and 60,000 EDF customers are being contacted to warn them of the deadline.
But many households may not even realise they have an RTS meter and need to make the switch.
How to check if you have an RTS meter
So how do you tell if yours is one of the meters affected?
It is actually quite easy to tell.
A key sign you have an RTS meter is if you get cheaper energy at different times of the day. You may be on a tariff known as ‘Economy 7’, ‘Economy 10’, or Total Heat Total Control.
Another is if your property is heated using electricity or storage heaters, according to Energy UK.
RTS meters also usually have a black switch box labelled “Radio Teleswitch” in small writing on the front, which is located next to the physical electric meter.
Others may have the RTS switch box included within the electricity meter as a single box on the wall.
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.
How to book a smart meter appointment
You can usually book a smart meter appointment via your energy supplier’s website or over the phone.
It’s a good idea to regularly check in with your supplier to see if they have slots available, and if they don’t, ask what date they release slots on.
For example, Octopus Energy states that it releases new slots on a Monday – and you need to get online early to secure a space.
You can also register your interest with most suppliers and get notified when slots became available.
Confirm the date and time you want the appointment to be and make sure you are home to let the engineer work on your meter.
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.
