News / Octopus engineers heading north for RTS meter switchover
ENERGY company Octopus are to send engineers to Shetland later this month to supercharge a switchover from radio teleswitch (RTS) to smart meters.
Thousands of meters in Shetland and Orkney rely on RTS for electricity and hot water, but the service is to be shut down on 30 June 2025.
With just three months to go, Octopus has said it is launching a tour of the Highlands and Islands to make sure customers can switch to smart meters before the switch-off.
The meters need to be replaced before 30 June, though Ofgem has said no household will lose electricity supply as a result.
Octopus engineers will come to Shetland between Monday 28 April and Sunday 4 May, delivering same-day switches to as many homes as possible.
Some Octopus engineers are however already in Shetland switching metres.
Meanwhile engineers from OVO have been on the islands for the last few weeks and are said to be flat out switching customers across the isles.
Octopus chief executive John Szymik said that, whether its customers lived in a big city or tiny island, they would ensure “they’re not left in the cold”.
The company said customers who upgrade from an RTS meter will receive a free Octopus Home mini, which connects to the smart meter and offers insight into energy usage.
UK energy minister Miatta Fahnbulleh promised a “spring surge” from energy companies to replace electricity meters across Shetland and Orkney last week.
She said the Northern Isles would be the first target for the work in the coming weeks.
As well as committing to immediate action, Fahnbulleh said she would reconvene an MP roundtable for the end of April to give an update on the progress.
Customers can register their interest for an RTS meter upgrade in their Octopus online account here.
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