Octopus energy warning as households may face 'much higher' prices if they don't make change
Octopus energy has issued an urgent warning to UK households with outdated electricity meters. The energy supplier warns that anyone who has a radio teleswitch meter (RTS) must get an upgrade or risk being cut off.
The meters will stop in June 2025 after first being introduced in the 1980s. They depend on longwave radio signals from the BBC's RTS meters to switch between peak and off-peak tariff rates. The broadcasting equipment is set to be deactivated on June 30, which will impact up to 300,000 customers.
The energy supplier say they are replacing RTS meters with smart ones because smart meters can be programmed to switch between peak and off-peak times. This means you'll continue to get cheaper off-peak energy. If you do not choose to replace your meter with a smart meter before the service ends, your meter's functionality may be affected.
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Octopus energy states: "You may find that your heating and hot water are continually left on or off, or the charging-up happens at the wrong time of day." They have warned that energy prices can be "much higher" than before as the supplier may be unable to confirm how much electricity you have used during your off-peak hours.
If a customer uses electricity for heating and hot water - through electric storage, panel heaters, and/or immersion heaters - and benefits from cheaper rates during off-peak periods, they likely have an RTS meter. Typically, there will be a large black box adjacent to the meter.
Octopus Energy Services' CEO John Szymik has announced enhanced service measures, stating: "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."