SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan has written to the UK Government, in his capacity as Scotland’s Minister for Climate Action, seeking to protect households in Scotland who face uncertainty about their energy supplies after June this year.
Over 2,700 of these households are in the Western Isles, and will be affected by the planned switch-off of the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) on which their existing electricity meters depend.
Current figures indicate that more than 165,000 homes in Scotland are still using RTS meters which, by this summer, may not function correctly. This could potentially cause disruption to heating bills and hot water supplies or households and businesses facing higher bills.
Although energy suppliers are working to switch existing RTS meter users over to smart meters, with less than six months to go until the switch-off, many fear that converting every RTS meter will now not be logistically possible before June.
In his letter, Alasdair Allan has urged the UK Government, who are responsible for energy policy, to introduce penalties for companies who fail to replace RTS meters before the switch-off.
Allan commented:
“I often receive correspondence from my own constituents over their concerns about the upcoming RTS switch-off, but this is a problem that affects all parts of Scotland.
“Whilst Scotland only makes up 10% of UK households, more than 25% of RTS meter users are in Scotland. Many of them are located in rural and island communities such as the Western Isles.
“I believe that there must, as a matter of urgency, be RTS-related obligations included in Ofgem licence conditions that compel suppliers to use every tool available to ensure households and businesses across the country are not left behind.
“If constituents have any concerns or questions about the switch-off, I strongly encourage them to get in touch with me. Advice and support is also available from Citizens Advice Scotland and Advice Direct Scotland.
“Although I remain hopeful of a constructive dialogue with the UK Government, on this, the progress made to date by them around this problem is frustratingly slow.”