Meter switch slammed by MSP

A SOUTH Scotland MSP has used a Parliamentary debate to hit out at the ‘shambolic’ energy meter switch.

Emma Harper wants the energy industry, “to answer for the complete disaster they have overseen”, after new figures showed over 7000 households in Dumfries and Galloway have still to have their electricity meter prepared for a major change just weeks away.

The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) has been in operation for over 40 years, using the BBC’s Radio 4 Longwave frequencies to transmit the signals to electricity meters that switch between peak and off-peak, allowing storage heaters using tariffs such as Economy 7 or White Meter to take advantage of cheaper rates.

But the transmissions are set to be switched off at the end of June, 14 years after the BBC announced the winding down of the broadcasts.

Figures from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre show 7617 households in the region had still to have their meter upgraded as of March this year.

Groups like Citizens Advice Scotland and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations have expressed concerns that rural areas in particular are being left behind in the switchover process.

This week Ms Harper said: “I’m grateful I had the opportunity to raise in Parliament the appalling record of the energy industry in fixing this issue and the thousands of my constituents who are still to be transferred across to new meters that don’t rely on the Radio Teleswitch Service.

“This has been an utterly shambolic process, and it beggars belief that after a full 14 years warning, the energy industry has left hundreds of thousands of people in limbo, not knowing what will happen to their electricity bills and heating on 1st July.

“I have constituents who are terrified their bills will skyrocket after the switch-off as off-peak heating will no longer exist and all usage will be charged at the full rate.

“The energy industry has to answer for the complete disaster they have overseen over years and years of inaction and excuses, leading us to the point where we are now – with thousands of households still waiting for their meters to be rectified.”

She also called on regulator OFGEM to ‘hang it head in shame’, adding: “They are supposed to be looking out for the interests of consumers and keeping the industry in line, yet they appear to have been asleep at the wheel.

“We have seen years of customers being gouged by the UK-regulated energy industry to enrich shareholders and private equity billionaires while the UK Government has sat idly by – and if Westminster isn’t prepared to use its powers to act, it should transfer responsibility to the Scottish Parliament so it can create an energy sector that works for people rather than profit.”