Households with older Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters are being warned to act now or risk losing heating and hot water as the technology is phased out. According to energy consultant Justin Nielsen of Wolf River Electric, the biggest mistake is assuming this is only a billing issue.
What Are RTS Meters?
RTS meters are older electricity meters that receive a radio signal to switch between different electricity rates. They were commonly used for homes on off-peak tariffs like Economy 7, particularly where households used electric storage heaters or water heating systems. Nielsen explained: "The easiest way to understand it is that the radio signal tells the meter when cheaper and more expensive periods begin and end. For many households, that has worked in the background for years."
Why the Urgency?
The RTS meters are being phased out, meaning households that have not had their meter replaced could see systems stop working as normal. Nielsen warned: "If that signal stops working properly and your meter has not been replaced, you could have heating or hot water coming on at the wrong time, staying on too long, not switching on properly, or causing billing confusion."
Who Is Affected?
Not everyone on Economy 7 has an RTS meter, but those with electric storage heating or older multi-rate electricity setups should check. Nielsen advised: "If your bill shows day and night rates, or if your heating and hot water have always switched on automatically at certain times, you should be more alert. Another clue is if you have a separate teleswitch box near the electricity meter, or if the meter has labels mentioning radio teleswitch, RTS, DTS, off-peak, peak, low rate or high rate."
What Should Households Do?
Energy suppliers have been contacting affected customers to arrange meter replacements. Nielsen urged: "The most important thing is to respond to your supplier. If they have written to you about an RTS meter, do not assume it is a sales pitch or a routine upgrade message. This is a practical household issue. If you miss the replacement appointment or never book one, you may end up dealing with disruption later." Households unsure whether they have an RTS meter should contact their electricity supplier and ask directly: "Do I have an RTS or DTS meter, and does it need replacing?" Nielsen added: "People should not panic, but they should check. The danger is not knowing you are affected until something stops working properly."
