Winter Warning: 156,000 UK Homes Face Heating Cut-Off
More than 156,000 households across Britain are at risk of losing their heating and hot water this winter due to a major system upgrade. The properties affected are those still using outdated Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters, which are being deactivated as the supporting signal infrastructure faces shutdown.
The Obsolete Technology Putting Homes at Risk
The technology in question dates back to the 1980s and enables households to access cheaper overnight electricity rates through Economy 7 tariffs. The crisis came to light after a prominent case involving John Berry, father of former Conservative Party chairman Sir Jake Berry, whose north Wales home lost power without any prior notification.
Sir Jake Berry revealed his father's ordeal, explaining how the property became "like an icebox" on a cold morning. "No letter. No phone call. Nothing. He spent hundreds on electricians looking for a fault that didn't exist," the former cabinet minister stated.
Urgent Calls for Action and Government Response
Ned Hammond, deputy director of policy (customers) at Energy UK, issued a stark warning to affected households: "Please take action now." He emphasized that "at this time of year, with colder weather setting in, heating and hot water are more important than ever. Don't risk being left without warmth when you need it most."
Ofgem, the energy regulator for Great Britain, has assured that "no customer should be financially disadvantaged" as a result of the meter swap. Suppliers should be "offering the same or equivalent tariffs after their RTS meter has been upgraded," the regulator added.
The government has announced that the energy minister, Ofgem and Energy UK will meet fortnightly to review the progress of the phase-out, with particular attention paid to Scotland, where about one third of the remaining meters are located.
Charlotte Friel, the Ofgem director for retail pricing and systems, said the cautious approach being adopted "should reassure customers" but it "remains crucial that these meters are replaced urgently." She added: "It's vital to engage with your supplier when offered an appointment."
Concerns Over Implementation Timeline
Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, warned that the RTS switch-off process was doomed to failure after it became clear that the original deadline was simply unachievable.
"We now need to see a plan published that sets out how the gradual switch-off will take place, including which regions will be affected and when," he stated.
"Crucially, we also need firm and binding reassurances that no customers will be left without heating or hot water, and that no household will face higher bills as a result of the changes."
