Octopus energy issues warning as households could be left in dark

THE ENERGY SUPPLIER HAS URGED CUSTOMERS TO MAKE A 'VITAL' SWITCH OR FACE BEING LEFT IN THE DARK AND COLD 19:40, 02 Jun 2025 Octopus Energy is advising customers to make a “vital”

switch or face having their electricity and hot water cut off. The major energy supplier says UK households with an outdated radio teleswitch meter (RTS) must switch to a modern smart meter

as soon as possible as the old meters will stop working at the end of this month, reports Express.co.uk. RTS meters were first brought in back in the 1980s and rely on longwave radio signals

from the BBC ’s RTS meters to switch meters between peak and off-peak tariff rates. READ MORE: £300 COST OF LIVING PAYMENTS ARRIVING BEFORE JULY GET BREAKING NEWS ON BIRMINGHAMLIVE

WHATSAPP, CLICK THE LINK TO JOIN However the equipment which broadcasts the signal is now almost obsolete and is due to be switched off on June 30, affecting more than 600,000 customers.

Article continues below Households that don’t upgrade their electricity meter face being left without heating or hot water - and could be hit with more expensive energy bills - as the system

is deactivated. Octopus Energy says customers who use electricity for heating and hot water – via electric storage, panel heaters and/or immersion heaters – and have a tariff that provides

cheaper rates during off-peak periods, may have an RTS meter. Typically, there will be a large black box next to the meter. The energy supplier is fast-tracking upgrades for its customers –

covering nearly a quarter of affected households – and deploying additional engineers to ensure households can switch to a smart meter before the deadline. Explaining the looming switch off

in a YouTube video, Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy, said: “The radio signal they [RTS Meters] rely upon is getting switched off later this year so it’s vital that these meters get

switched for modern smart meters as soon as possible, otherwise may get an overcharge of electricity, or even see their heating and hot water not working.” Aside from keeping the heating and

hot water on, Octopus Energy says switching to a smart meter can bring a myriad of benefits including better overviews of energy usage, access to smart tariffs and the opportunity to take

part in free-energy periods when the grid has lots of green energy. John Szymik, CEO of Octopus Energy Services, added: “Octopus has boosted its service capability to offer fast-tracked

assistance and ensure that no one is left without heating. We urge all affected customers, of any supplier, to book their meter exchange now to ensure a smooth transition.” Smart meters are

important for the energy transition and unlock the power of smart tariffs, while also giving customers more control and oversight over their energy consumption and costs. Octopus Energy is

also offering all RTS customers who opt for the switch a free Octopus Home Mini, a device which securely connects to a customer’s smart meter, giving them real-time visibility of how much

energy they are using and what costs. Article continues below Affected customers can check if they have an RTS meter by looking for a large black box next to their current electricity meter,

or by logging into their online Octopus account to book a smart upgrade.