Mass Disruption: Approximately 300,000 households face potential loss of heating and hot water services within the next two months due to the shutdown of their energy meters.

Mass Disruption: Approximately 300,000 households face potential loss of heating and hot water services within the next two months due to the shutdown of their energy meters.

Here's the revamped, informal, and engaging version of the article:

Get ready for the hot water shock!

A shocking number of homes could be left in the cold (or without hot water) starting July 1, warn experts. The issue? Outdated Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters that control these essential services.

You wanna know why? Because these old-school meters rely on a longwave radio frequency to switch between peak and off-peak rates, and they're turning into fossils just like dinosaur bones. Energy companies have till June 30 to replace them all, but it seems they've got their work cut out for 'em.

Currently, around 430,000 homes are still rocking these RTS meters, and suppliers are only managing to swap out around 1,000 per day. With the numbers crunched, it's clear that more than 300,000 homes might be left in the lurch, according to campaigners.

But Ned Hammond from Energy UK, the folks that rep energy companies, feels that the replacement rate is on the rise and an "exponential" increase is needed. If all this talk of hundreds of thousands of households being left with meters that won't work come July 1 is making you feel uneasy, you're not alone. The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to the watchdog Ofgem and even the Government, alarmed by the delay in meter swaps.

Co-ordinator Simon Francis from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition put it bluntly, saying "There's a very real risk that over 300,000 households will find their RTS meter stops working properly come July 1. Government, regulators, and energy firms need to face up to the looming crisis and ramp up efforts to help people switch."

Now, here's where things get a bit complex. As of May 2025, the UK is phasing out RTS meters with a deadline of June 30, 2025. If the replacement isn't done, households risk losing control over storage heaters, hot water systems, and time-of-use tariff functionality. Whilst replacement progress is being made, it's not coming fast enough to reap success before the deadline.

So, what can you do? Keep an eye on the news and your mailbox for updates. And if you're still using an RTS meter, stay in touch with your energy provider to ensure they're actively working to replace it.

1. Experts are warning that a shocking number of households could lose access to essential services like hot water starting July 1 due to outdated Teleswitching Systems (RTS) that rely on a longwave radio frequency.
2. The Finance industry has been closely watching the ongoing issue, as around 430,000 homes in the UK are still using RTS meters, and suppliers are only managing to swap out about 1,000 per day.
3. If the replacement isn't done by May 2025, households will risk losing control over storage heaters, hot water systems, and time-of-use tariff functionality.
4. The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to the watchdog Ofgem and even the Government, urging them to ramp up efforts to help people switch to new meters before the deadline.
5. To avoid any surprises, it's important for homeowners to stay in touch with their energy providers and listen for updates about Teleswitching System replacements in their area, particularly those living in the home-and-garden sector.

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