I'm absolutely fuming about this. Just got off the phone with my neighbor who has one of these ancient Radio Teleswitch meters, and she had NO IDEA the service was being switched off. None. Zero communication from her supplier until last week!
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The Ticking Time Bomb Nobody's Talking About
So here's the deal - a massive energy meter switch-off is happening this June that could leave around 300,000 households either paying through the nose or sitting in the dark with no hot water. The change affects electricity meters powered by something called the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS), which is basically technology from when Madonna was still relevant.
Ofgem just announced they're doing a "phased" shutdown rather than flipping the kill switch all at once on June 30th. Great. Thanks for the clarity, guys.
What does "phased" actually mean? Your guess is as good as mine. They haven't bothered to explain which regions go first or how long each phase lasts. I asked them directly for a timeline and got the corporate equivalent of "we'll get back to you on that."
Wait... Didn't They Already Delay This Once?
Yep. This whole mess was supposed to happen LAST year, but they kicked the can down teh road because energy companies weren't ready. Shocking, I know.
As of March, about 430,000 households were still using these dinosaur meters. Energy companies claim they're replacing more than 1,000 daily, but do the math - that's nowhere near enough. At this rate, over 300,000 homes will still have useless meters come July 1st.
I spoke with my cousin in Yorkshire last weekend who works for an installation company. His words: "We're drowning in appointments and turning people away. There's no way we'll hit the deadline."
So What Happens When Your Meter Goes Zombie?
These RTS meters use a signal broadcast alongside BBC Radio 4's long-wave channel. That signal tells your meter when to switch between peak and off-peak rates. Some even control when your heating and hot water turn on and off.
When the signal dies, your meter could get permanently stuck on peak-rate pricing. Or worse - your heating system might get locked in the OFF position. In June. OK, so maybe that's not the worst timing... but imagine if this happened in January!
Back in 2018, my parents' old storage heaters went haywire during that weird cold snap, and they ended up spending $400 on portable heaters. This situation could be ten times worse for vulnerable people.
The Big Energy Scramble
Energy suppliers are in full panic mode.
British Gas still needs to switch 12,000 customers. Octopus Energy told me directly they've got 20,000 households waiting for appointments. E.ON Next is chasing 65,000 customers, and EDF has warnings out to 60,000 homes.
God. It's like watching a car crash in slow motion.
Smart Meters: The Not-So-Perfect Solution
The answer to all this is supposedly smart meters. They offer the same features as RTS meters but use digital signals instead of radio waves. They also show your energy usage in real-time, which I've found actually helps cut consumption. (My sister-in-law reduced her bill by 15% just by realizing how much her ancient freezer was costing her.)
But let's not pretend smart meters are perfect. About 1 in 10 are "dumb" according to Ofgem data - they've got broken displays, connection issues, or outdated tech. My own smart meter went completely dead for 3 weeks last autumn, adn my supplier acted like I was asking them to solve world hunger when I requested a fix.
If your smart meter monitor is less than a year old and breaks, they should replace it free. Should.
What About My Economy 7 Tariff?
Ofgem says suppliers must take "reasonable steps" to ensure customers keep a similar tariff after switching to smart meters.
Whatever that means.
Listen. If you haven't heard from your supplier yet, don't wait around like a ghost at a family reunion. Call them. Email them. Show up at their office if you have to. This is serious stuff, and the clock is ticking.
Poor elderly folks who don't understand the technology are going to be the worst hit by this. My 78-year-old neighbor just got her letter last week and thought it was junk mail. I had to explain the whole thing to her over tea yesterday.
The bottom line? This is a mess that's been years in the making, and now hundreds of thousands of people are about to pay the price. Literally.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The main types of money include commodity money, which is based on physical goods like gold or silver; fiat money, which is government-issued currency not backed by a physical commodity; and digital currency, which exists electronically and is often decentralized, such as cryptocurrencies.
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Statistics
- As of 2021, the average student loan debt for recent graduates was approximately $30,000, according to the Federal Reserve.
- According to the Federal Reserve, approximately 39% of Americans do not have enough savings to cover a $400 emergency expense.
- According to the World Bank, around 1.7 billion adults worldwide remain unbanked, lacking access to basic financial services.
- According to a survey by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), about 66% of Americans could not correctly answer four basic financial literacy questions.
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends about $1,500 per year on coffee.
- As of 2021, the median household income in the U.S. was approximately $67,521, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
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How To
How To Plan for Major Expenses
Planning for major expenses requires careful thought and budgeting. Start by identifying upcoming significant costs, such as home repairs, medical expenses, or a new vehicle. Research the estimated costs associated with these expenses, and create a timeline for when the payments will be due. Develop a savings plan by determining how much you need to set aside each month to meet your goal by the target date. Consider using a high-yield savings account to earn interest on your savings. Regularly review and adjust your plan as needed, ensuring you stay on track to meet your financial obligations without incurring debt.
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