Over 160,000 Scots energy consumers are facing a heating nightmare over delays in rolling out smart meters. Householders and businesses could lose control of their heating and hot water systems when their old meters stop working at the end of June.
SNP Minister Alasdair Allan has called on the UK Government to take “urgent” action to protect Scots.
The Radio Teleswitching Service (RTS) still controls energy tariffs for many Scottish homes by sending signals via the BBC’s longwave transmitter. But the signal will not work from June 30th and tens of thousands of homes north of the border have yet to receive the upgrade.
Families, companies and schools could be left without heating and hot water if the roll out is not completed. The deadline has already been extended, but there is growing alarm over a botched roll out.
Allan, the SNP Climate Action Minister, has written to the UK Government about the dire consequences of homes not having the new meters.
He told the Record: “It’s concerning to see that more than 165,000 Scottish households and properties are still using the RTS service.
“If RTS equipment isn’t replaced by the switch-off date, not only could households, businesses, and public sector organisations be limited to a more expensive single-rate tariff, they may also no longer be able to rely on their heating and hot water switching on and off as expected, with the risk of them staying permanently on or off.
“I have written to the UK Government to record our growing concerns around the RTS switch-off and to highlight that significantly more needs to be done to protect consumers and maintain access to affordable energy.
“I believe that there must, as a matter of urgency, be RTS-related obligations included in Ofgem licence conditions on both suppliers and the Data Communications Company (DCC) that compel both to use every tool available to ensure households and businesses across the country are not left behind. If consumers have any questions, I encourage them to contact their supplier in the first instance. Free and impartial advice and support is also available from Advice Direct Scotland or Citizens Advice Scotland.”
Energy industry statistics from October provide a breakdown of the number of RTS properties by Westminster constituency in Scotland. Orkney and Shetland tops the list with 8436, Argyll is second on 7977 and Caithness is third highest on 6675. Dundee Central has 5116 old meter properties, Glasgow North has 4203 while Glasgow North East has 3590.
Frazer Scott, CEO of Energy Action Scotland, said: “After almost a decade of missed deadlines and extensions it is inconceivable that the electricity metering of households and business, dependent on the radio teleswitch, face a serious and potentially life-threatening situation.
“This is a situation that has not been caused by customers but by poor planning and execution and it should have had urgent action taken far sooner. When the signal is switched off people are likely to see their heating and hot water stay on permanently or they may find that it simply does not work at all. This could leave people without the means to stay warm, damaging health and risking lives.
“UK Government, Ofgem and energy suppliers need to accelerate support to people, provide guarantees that ensure that because of meter and meter related tariff changes that prices will not increase, people need continuity of power supply and those most vulnerable to a sudden loss of energy must be protected.”
An Ofgem spokesperson said: “While suppliers are upgrading RTS meters at an increasing rate, it is still short of where it needs to be and Ofgem will take every step to hold them to their obligations. This is why Ofgem set up a taskforce alongside Energy UK, bringing together suppliers and the wider sector to accelerate progress and solve complex technical barriers posed in certain remote regions.
“We expect suppliers to consider a range of innovative solutions to ensure their RTS customers get on to a metering and tariff arrangement appropriate for them. Ofgem has also demanded action plans from every supplier, which we are currently scrutinising to ensure that robust contingencies are in place to protect any customers who remain on RTS meters after the switch-off date.”
A DESNZ spokesperson said: “We are working closely with Ofgem and energy suppliers to upgrade meters and ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for consumers.
“There are now 37 million smart and advanced meters in homes and small businesses across Great Britain, making up 65 per cent of all gas and electricity meters. These are helping to give consumers more control over their energy and save money on their bills.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here