Highland residents urged to replace Radio Teleswitch electricity meters

Residents in the Highlands are being reminded to contact their energy suppliers to replace Radio Teleswitch Service electricity meters during the phase-out process which began on Monday 30 June 2025.

Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) electricity meters were first introduced in the 1980s and use radio signals to tell some older electricity meters when to switch between peak and off-peak rates. The equipment that produces the radio signal for RTS meters can no longer be maintained and RTS is now reaching the end of its natural operational life. These electricity meters must be replaced with smart meters before the service shutdown or consumers may experience disruption to their heating and hot water systems.

Councillor Glynis Campbell Sinclair, Chair of Highland Council’s Housing and Property Committee said: “There are thousands of properties in Scotland with Radio Teleswitch Service meters, many of which will be within the Highlands due to the region’s large proportion of off-grid properties with electric heating. These outdated electricity meters are now reaching the end of their operational life and will no longer function correctly. 

“This technology is effectively being switched off so if you believe your property is fitted with an RTS meter and you haven’t heard from your energy supplier, it’s important to act now and arrange a smart meter replacement with your supplier. This will ensure ongoing access to heating and hot water and is also likely to result in more accurate bills, better tariffs and automatic meter readings going forward.” 

RTS meter upgrades

The best way for a consumer to know whether they have an RTS meter is to contact their energy supplier. Suppliers have access to the most up to date information about what type of meter a consumer has.

Some things a consumer may look at that might give them an indication that they have an RTS meter are:

• The property is heated using electricity or storage heaters.
• Cheaper energy at different times of day (usually overnight). The tariff might be Economy 7, Economy 10 or Total Heat Total Control.
• There is no gas supply to the property. This is often the case in blocks of flats and premises in rural areas.
• There may be a separate switch box near the consumer’s meter with a Radio Teleswitch (RTS) label on it.

Smart meters are the like-for-like replacement for RTS meters and are the best option for the vast majority of consumers. Smart meters give access to a wider variety of tariffs, offer greater control over electricity usage and provide visibility of energy consumption which allows consumers to minimise usage and better control energy bills.

For more information and to check if you have an RTS meter, visit the Energy UK website.