Octopus Energy urges customers to 'act now' or face cut off in June
Octopus Energy has given a warning to UK households with outdated electricity meters that they may be cut off if they fail to act now. The energy supplier warns that anyone with a radio teleswitch meter (RTS) must get an upgrade as RTS will stop working this June.
First introduced in the 1980s, RTS meters rely on longwave radio signals to switch meters between peak and off-peak tariff rates.
But the equipment which broadcasts the signal is being deactivated on June 30, after becoming almost obsolete, affecting roughly 600,000 customers.
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Due to the system being switched off, households that fail to upgrade face being left without heating or hot water, as well as an increase in energy bills.
Octopus told customers: "RTS equipment receives updates through Long Wave radio broadcast, the same radio frequency as the BBC uses for radio programming.
"The BBC has announced plans to migrate unique Long Wave content to other broadcasting platforms – effectively ending RTS communication capabilities on 30th June 2025."
Octopus Energy says it is fast-tracking upgrades for customers with RTS meters, covering nearly a quarter of affected households, recruiting additional engineers to ensure households can switch to smart meters before the cut off.
Switching to a smart meter can bring a myriad of benefits, according to the energy supplier, including better overviews of energy usage, access to smart tariffs and the opportunity to take part in free-energy periods when the grid has lots of green energy.
John Szymik, CEO of Octopus Energy Services, said: “Octopus has boosted its service capability to offer fast-tracked assistance and ensure that no one is left without heating. We urge all affected customers, of any supplier, to book their meter exchange now to ensure a smooth transition.”
Octopus says it is also offering all customers who switch a free Octopus Home Mini. The device securely connects to a customer’s smart meter, showing real-time energy usage and how much it is costing, allowing customers to have better control over their energy usage.
Customers who are looking to switch to a smart meter can register their interest on their Octopus account.