MORE than 100,000 Scottish households – predominantly in the Highlands and Islands – could see their annual energy bills rise by thousands of pounds following the shutdown of RTS (Radio Teleswitch) meters, it has been warned.
RTS meters, which use long-wave radio signals to switch between cheaper and more expensive electricity rates remotely, are disproportionately common in off-gas-grid and rural areas. A full deactivation of the system was scheduled for June 30.
But just 11 days before that deadline, the UK Government paused the planned blanket switch-off in favour of a phased approach, citing the fact that 314,000 households across the UK – including 105,000 in Scotland – were still using the meters.
The Scottish Government had raised concerns that the shutdown could disrupt heating and hot water systems for those still relying on RTS meters, while potentially triggering steep hikes in energy costs.
However, Shetland resident John Inkster said he is already feeling the impact after being moved off the RTS system by provider EDF Energy. He described the resulting rise in bills as “unjust” and said it flies in the face of assurances given by Ofgem, the energy regulator.
Ofgem has stated that consumers should be left “no worse off” as a result of switching away from RTS meters. But Inkster said that for islanders like him – living in areas without access to mains gas – the reality is starkly different.
“I think we spend about £4000 a year heating our house at the moment, before the RTS meter changeover,” he said. “I imagine that might go to £6000.
“You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to work out that people are going to be completely fleeced here.”
Before the switch, Inkster had two meters: one charging 27p per unit of electricity for standard use (lights, appliances, sockets), and another offering a reduced 15p tariff for heating and hot water.
Since EDF replaced his system, most of his heating, except for storage heaters and a portion of water heating, is charged at the higher rate.
Based on his calculations, the change equates to a 74% increase in costs on around half of his heating and hot water use. That could see his annual bill rise from £4000 to around £5500.
“There are a lot of people who don't understand this who have it in their house, to be honest with you,” he said. “It is a bit complicated.
“But it doesn't take any kind of a genius at all to work out that customers will be much, much worse off.”
He went on: “It’s said people are dying in Scotland in the cold because they can't afford to heat their homes. You hear that, don’t you?
“Well, how is this going to affect those statistics? Improve them or make them worse?”
Inkster said he was aware of other Shetlanders who had already “torn panel heaters out of their houses” in response to the soaring cost of using them under the new tariffs. He warned that many affected households might only realise the full extent of the change when their winter energy bills arrive.
The Shetlander has enlisted the help of his local MP, LibDem Alistair Carmichael, who has written to EDF chief executive Simone Rossi with his concerns.
“At best, what EDF is doing goes against the spirit of that commitment – at worst, it looks like an active attempt to evade the new rules. Ofgem and the Government must come down hard on this sly behaviour.”
EDF did not respond to the Sunday National’s request for comment.
A spokesperson for Ofgem said: “We have made clear to suppliers that we expect them to treat customers fairly – not only in terms of shielding households from unnecessary costs but also offering the same or similar tariffs after their RTS meter has been upgraded.
“It is crucial that customers are protected at every stage of the phased shutdown, and we are spelling out to suppliers key requirements that must be met before an area loses its RTS signal.
“While this carefully managed phaseout process should reassure customers, it remains crucial that these meters are replaced urgently so it’s vital to engage with your supplier when offered an appointment.”
