If you have a radio teleswitch or dynamically teleswitched energy meter

You might have been told by your electricity supplier you need to have your radio teleswitch (RTS) or dynamically teleswitched (DTS) electricity meter replaced. This is because the BBC radio frequency it uses is being switched off.

Ofgem, the energy regulator, currently expects all RTS and DTS meters to be replaced by the end of March 2024.

Check if you need to replace your meter

You’ll probably know if you have a radio teleswitch (RTS) or dynamically teleswitched (DTS) meter. You might have one if:

• you live in the East Midlands or Scotland

• your house is heated using electricity

• you have electric storage heaters

• you get cheaper energy at different times of day

• your hot water automatically turns on and off

You can check if you have a meter that needs replacing by looking for a transmitter or teleswitch box - this is usually next to your electricity meter. The box is how your meter connects with your energy supplier, it might have a ‘Teleswitch’ label on the outside. 

If you're not sure if your meter needs replacing, check on your electricity supplier's website, some have a list of RTS and DTS meters with pictures. You could also contact your supplier to check. 

Getting your meter replaced

If you’ve been contacted by your electricity supplier they should have told you how and when your meter is being replaced. 

Most meters are being replaced with smart meters. Smart meters work in the same way as your meter does now, so you'll still get an automatic peak and off-peak rate and it can turn hot water systems on and off.  

If you’ve not been contacted by your electricity supplier and you’d like a smart meter - contact them and ask for one. Check how to get a smart meter installed.

If you can’t get a smart meter

You might not be able to get a smart meter if you live in an area with poor phone signal. Smart meters use a Wider Area Network (WAN) to connect your energy meter to your supplier - this relies on a signal which works in a similar way to phone signal.

If you can’t get a smart meter your supplier will contact you. They’ll work with you to find a solution where your meter will work in the same way.

If you’ve not heard from your supplier and you don’t think a smart meter will work in your home, contact them to check.

If you don’t want a smart meter

You can ask your supplier to install a non-smart meter or a smart meter with the smart functionality turned off - this means your meter won’t automatically share your readings with your supplier.

If you have a non-smart meter or a smart meter with the smart functionality turned off installed, your meter won’t work in the same way as it does now. You won’t have a peak and off-peak rate and your meter won’t be able to control your hot water system. 

You’ll have one single rate for your electricity - this could work out more expensive if you have a storage heating system.

You could look at alternative heating options for your home such as:

• connecting your home to the gas grid and installing central heating - this might not be possible if you live in certain areas

• installing a heat pump - this is a low carbon way of heating that uses less electricity, but it can be expensive to install

You might be able to get help with the cost of a new storage heater or heat pump, or getting connected to the gas grid and getting central heating.

Check if you can get help making energy efficiency changes to your home.