About 12,000 households are still using antiquated RTS meters, a technology that dates back to the 1980s, and British Gas has raised concerns about this. Once commended for using BBC longwave signals to automatically adjust to peak and off-peak electricity tariffs, these meters are currently on loan. Those who disregard the call to upgrade risk paying much higher energy rates or worse—being cut off from their heating and hot water systems entirely—when the signal is terminated on June 30, 2025.
Originally scheduled for 2024, the impending signal shutdown was postponed for a while due to the slow replacement pace. At the beginning of 2025, about 300,000 RTS meters were still in use across multiple suppliers in spite of that grace period. Sixty-one thousand were under the control of British Gas alone. The remaining 12,000 customers now face a strict deadline that is drawing near far too quickly, even though the majority of those customers have since taken action.
Smart Meter Warning: Why British Gas Customers Are Being Urged to Act Before June 30, 2025
Key Facts on British Gas Smart Meter Warning
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Energy Supplier | British Gas |
| Affected Technology | Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters |
| Number of Customers Affected | Approximately 12,000 households |
| Reason for Urgency | BBC is switching off RTS signal that powers older meters |
| Deadline | June 30, 2025 |
| Risk if Ignored | Loss of hot water/heating, permanent peak-rate charges, disconnection |
| Replacement Offered | Free smart meter installation |
| Public Statement | British Gas urges immediate bookings for meter replacement |
| Replacement Progress | 1,000 meters being replaced per day; 5,000/day needed to meet target |
Customers on Economy 7 and Economy 10 tariffs benefited most from the RTS meters. These meters made it possible to automatically apply off-peak pricing by adjusting rates based on signals that were embedded alongside BBC Radio 4’s broadcast. Deactivating that signal, however, will deprive the meters of this capability and might force them to bill during peak hours. Unbeknownst to them, households may find themselves charging their electric cars or running their washing machines during the most costly times of the day.
Along with other significant suppliers like Octopus Energy, EDF, and E.ON Next, British Gas has issued this warning, urging thousands of customers to take immediate action. For instance, Octopus still has about 20,000 clients to convert. EDF is encouraging 60,000 of its clients to follow suit. Over 400,000 RTS meters need to be replaced across the industry, highlighting the size of the logistical challenge that lies ahead.
For many landlords, this is a legal obligation as well as an energy management issue. Rental properties are required by the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1985 to have dependable hot water and heating. It might be considered a duty breach to let a tenant go without because their RTS meter has expired. A quick phone call to the energy provider or a visual check for a “Radio Teleswitch” label close to the meter box should be the first course of action for landlords who are uncertain whether their property is impacted.
The natural successor is being marketed as smart meters. These more recent gadgets have many more features and employ a secure digital mobile network rather than analog radio waves. They enable users to keep an eye on consumption trends and take proactive steps to lower their energy costs by giving them access to real-time usage data. Some models even connect to apps that track spending, show daily graphs, and recommend behavioral changes. According to British Gas, smart meters also qualify users for PeakSave, a program that offers credits and lower rates for off-peak usage.
Smart meters do, however, present a unique set of difficulties. According to Ofgem data, almost 10% of them are now “dumb,” which means they have lost their intelligence, frequently as a result of network outages. Inaccurate readings, non-functional in-home displays (IHDs), and trouble reconnecting following power outages are among the problems users report. British Gas assures consumers, however, that the smart meters that are currently in use are far better and more dependable than their predecessors. Customers who encounter issues can still temporarily submit manual readings to ensure billing accuracy, and monitors under a year old should be repaired or replaced at no cost.
Numerous media outlets, including GB News, The Sun, and Simply Business, have covered this smart meter issue in recent days, increasing its visibility. These tales are representative of the wider change in the energy infrastructure of the United Kingdom, which is a result of both a technological revolution and a social movement toward energy responsibility. Public personalities who have advocated for energy transparency include Dale Vince, an energy campaigner, and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, a celebrity homeowner who frequently promotes real-time data as a means of achieving lower costs and a greener lifestyle.
For British Gas customers, avoiding a cold, costly surprise is more important than avoiding a fine. Due to a missed appointment, households may find their heating stuck on full blast in the summer or turned off permanently during a cold spell. Scheduling a free smart meter installation via phone or online is incredibly simple thanks to the company. The main obstacle is still awareness, as many people are unaware that they have an RTS meter or are unaware of the consequences of the radio signal disappearing.
In addition to replacing antiquated technology, smart meters are paving the way for dynamic tariffs, usage insights, and more environmentally friendly options by utilizing contemporary connectivity. Although there are still some doubters, especially those who are worried about data privacy or meter issues, energy experts view the overall shift as especially novel and essential. Other regulatory voices concurred with Charlotte Friel of Ofgem’s assessment that this change could “unlock wider tariff options and offer customers greater control over their energy use.”
British Gas is now speeding up upgrades through strategic communication and a continuous rollout campaign, but it will still be logistically difficult to replace 12,000 meters in a few weeks. Without immediate consumer cooperation, it appears unlikely that the industry will reach the required daily replacement rate of 5,000 meters in time for the deadline.
