Housing sector warns energy companies must urgently ramp-up meter replacements ahead of 30th June deadline.
Social housing groups have warned that thousands of tenants across Scotland may be left without heating and hot water when their electricity meters are switched off next month.
Radio Tele-Switch (RTS) meters — which use radio signals to switch the meter from peak to off-peak prices — will stop working properly from 30th June.
Organisations across Scotland’s social housing sector have warned that thousands of tenants will be impacted unless energy suppliers urgently replace meters ahead of the switch-off deadline.
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), Blackwood Homes and Care and Wheatley Group were among those to call for greater action from energy companies to replace affected meters.
It comes as figures obtained by BBC Scotland this month revealed there are around 135,000 RTS meters in properties situated throughout Scotland. SFHA has said a significant amount of these properties will be social homes.
Energy suppliers have been writing to customers who may be impacted by the RTS switch-off encouraging them to book in meter replacements. However, it is feared that the sheer amount of required meter replacements across Scotland and the UK may leave many households without heating or hot water after the deadline passes.
SFHA said it is working with the energy regulator to raise awareness of the issue and is set to welcome a delegation from Ofgem to a social housing development in Aberdeen later this month.
SFHA Chief Executive Sally Thomas said: “Time is urgently running out to replace RTS meters across Scotland and prevent thousands of Scotland’s social tenants being left without heating or hot water.
“Energy suppliers need to ramp up the replacement of RTS meters across Scotland, particularly in the most-affected rural areas, otherwise there is a serious risk of plunging thousands more tenants into fuel poverty.
“SFHA has been working constructively with our member housing associations and the energy regulator, Ofgem, to raise awareness of the issue.
“It’s vital that energy companies set out how they plan to clear the backlog of meter replacements and support those who will not have new meters in place by the deadline to ensure no tenant is left behind.”
Wheatley Group Chief Executive Steven Henderson said: “With just over a month until the switch-off, we are urging energy companies to double their efforts and move even faster to ensure that no social housing tenants are left without heating and hot water.
“This situation is not the fault of the tenants, and they should not have to worry or suffer due to any delays in the installation of new meters.
“It is time for energy providers to step up and take immediate action to identify and install replacement meters in every home before the RTS meters are turned off.”
David Ogilvie, Head of Housing at Blackwood commented: “Blackwood supports calls from partners across the sector to address the concerns about the potential impact the RTS meter switch-off could have on many vulnerable households who still have just an RTS meter.
“The looming 30th June deadline risks pushing some of the most vulnerable in our communities into fuel poverty. We therefore join SFHA in calling on energy suppliers to act with urgency and transparency in replacing affected meters to avoid disruption and distress.
“As we prepare to host a meeting with Ofgem and sector partners, we hope to help drive forward practical solutions that safeguard tenant wellbeing and energy access.”
