Thousands of British Gas customers confront potential escalation in bills this summer due to smart meter concerns, as the company issues an urgent warning.
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Brace yourselves, households! British Gas has issued a bombastic alert to a whopping number of customers, forewarning potential skyrocketing electricity bills this summer if they fail to upgrade their old electricity meters.
Homeowners using antiquated Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) technology for their meters need to drop everything and upgrade to smart meters pronto if they want to steer clear of hefty electricity bills or worse – losing their water and heating supplies altogether. The deadline for procuring new meters is fast approaching, June 30, 2025, when all old models will cease working.
Though the majority of UK households aren't affected, as they do not utilize RTS-dependent meters, campaigners are freaking out over more than 300,000 homes potentially being left in the lurch. The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has demanded immediate action from the government and Ofgem to tackle this impending crisis, given concerns about the speedy replacement process and the approaching deadline.
Energy companies have echoed similar sentiments, asserting that replacing all the RTS meters before the June deadline will be an uphill task, with approximately 430,000 households still clinging to this outdated technology as of March 2024.
British Gas is urgently advising its 12,000 customers with RTS meters to book a free appointment with an engineer for an immediate upgrade. Other energy providers, such as Octopus Energy and E.ON Next, have also claimed they have tens of thousands of customers relying on RTS meters, as reported by GB News.
RTS meters were first introduced during the '80s and rely on longwave radio signals from the BBC's transmitter to switch between peak and off-peak tariff rates. With the equipment being pretty much obsolete, it's prompting their termination.
So, how can you tell if your home is hooked up to this ancient technology? Keep an eye out for a switch box near your energy meter labeled 'Radio Teleswitch', or electric or storage heaters in your home. RTS meters might also be present if there's no gas supply in your area, particularly in rural areas or high-rise flats. Moreover, customers on tariffs such as 'Economy 7', 'Economy 10', or 'Total Heat Total Control' may also be impacted.
Don't sweat it though, if you've got an RTS meter, the replacement won't cost you a dime. Be wary of scammers asking for payment details when scheduling an appointment, and remember you don't have to pay a cent for this upgrade.
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Those who enjoy lower energy bills at different times of day may also find themselves in a pickle. To ensure a smooth transition, effort should be made to arrange a free smart meter replacement appointment with an engineer as soon as possible. Act now to avoid the horrifying possibility of potential bill hikes or a freeze this summer!
Ofgem has cautioned that failure to act may result in your heating and/or hot water being left on perpetually or switching on at the wrong time of day, causing higher bills. So grab your smartphone, call your energy supplier, and schedule an appointment before it's too late!
Source:- [1] https://gbnews.khanapptements.com/news/uk-energy-crisis-fuel-poverty-campaigners-urge-government-action-as-350000-homes-could-lose-heating-and-hot-water-this-year/- [2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57281440- [3] https://www.thetimes.co.uk/articles/hundreds-of-thousands-of-homes-risk-being-left-in-the-dark-as-smart-meters-are-installed-r9tmsmqm2- [4] https://www.mailonline.co.uk/news/article-10884717/Hundreds-thousands-homes-GAS-and-electricity-supplies-could-SWITCH-OFF-next-year-under-warm-home-upgrade-scheme.html- [5] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/smart-meter-energy-bill-gas-water-heating-b0200783.html- [6] https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/jan/17/best-energy-deals-fixed-tariffs-beat-price-cap-uk-brexit-news-2022-business
- British Gas has advised its 12,000 customers with Radio Teleswitch (RTS) meters to urgently book a free appointment with an engineer for an immediate smart meter upgrade.
- The Energy industry is undergoing a significant upgrade, with the rapid replacement of outdated RTS meters being a crucial part of the process.
- Heaters in homes using the Radio Teleswitch System (RTS) technology may indicate that the household needs to upgrade to a smart meter to avoid potential energy and water supply issues.
- The Finance sector, particularly energy providers like Octopus Energy and E.ON Next, are confronted with the challenge of replacing approximately 430,000 RTS meters by the deadline of June 30, 2025.
- The business community, including technology companies, is being urged to lend their expertise to help the energy sector swiftly navigate this major metering upgrade.
