Carmichael raises radio teleswitch shutdown issues ahead of meeting with minister

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today in Parliament raised local concerns about the slow rate of smart meter installation ahead of the shutdown of the radio teleswitch service in June 2025. Speaking during questions to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Mr Carmichael noted that the Northern Isles are significantly behind the rest of the country in replacing RTS meters, which will no longer be serviced after the shutdown, and asked for targeted action to be set out in a roundtable meeting on RTS with the minister responsible, which will be held tomorrow.

Speaking in the House, Mr Carmichael said:

“Can I thank the Minister for Energy Consumers for agreeing to convene a roundtable tomorrow to speak about the subject of the radio teleswitching switch-off at the end of June. The problem is particularly acute for communities like ours where we are well behind the rest of the country when it comes to smart meter rollout.

“When she comes to the meeting, will she have a target for getting us the number of smart meters that we need?”

Responding for the government, the Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh MP said;

“The Rt Hon Member is right to raise this as an issue. We have got to deliver on the teleswitching transition. We are behind where we need to be, but we are working with industry and with Ofgem to make sure that households are not left in the dark, that everyone who can have the upgrade to smart meters, and I am very keen to work with him and with members across the House to make sure that we get this right for his community and other communities that are affected.”

Reacting after the exchange, Mr Carmichael said:

“It is encouraging that ministers appear to be aware of the problems people are facing with the upcoming RTS shutdown but we really need to see a bit more urgency in terms of actions. 

“The isles have specific issues in transitioning away from RTS meters which will require a specific solution from the government. This is not something that can be left to the eleventh hour. When I meet with the minister again tomorrow I want to see some concrete answers on how we get to where we need to be by June.”