The SNP has demanded the UK Labour Government give a “cast iron guarantee” that Scottish households won’t face the prospect of a disrupted supply again as the RTS shutdown deadline is scrapped.
It comes after Ofgem told Scots to replace RTS meters with smart meters before the 30th June RTS switch off deadline, but with the smart meter roll-out well behind schedule, the Labour Government were forced to abolish the cut-off date.
Despite warnings from the SNP and charities, 100,000 Scottish households were left in the lurch for months with the Scottish Government also having written to Ofgem to repeat calls for action.
RTS still controls energy tariffs by sending signals via the BBC’s longwave transmitter with one third of all households awaiting a smart meter replacement being in Scotland.
Now, SNP Energy Spokesperson, Graham Leadbitter MP, has written to Energy consumers Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, to ensure Scottish households never face such a deadline again.
In his letter, the Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey MP said:
“Dear Miatta Fahnbulleh,
“The decision to delay the radio teleswitch shutdown is welcome given the deadline was never going to be met with 100,000 Scottish households under threat of disrupted supply and increased costs.
“As you will be aware, the SNP has consistently called for a delay to the shutdown with Scottish homes disproportionately impacted. One third of all the homes awaiting a smart meter upgrade in advance of the switch-off were in Scotland leaving Scottish customers once again left to bear the brunt of a broken UK energy system.
“It was completely unacceptable for the UK Government to leave families in the lurch until just two weeks from the deadline when this issue has been identified and apparent for months.
“Indeed, the Scottish Government wrote to you regarding the slow roll-out of smart meters in March with warnings from charities frequently reported to your government.
“Now, the UK Government must set out how it will increase the pace of the smart meter roll-out and most importantly, provide a cast iron guarantee to Scottish communities that never again will they be left to live in fear of their hot water supply being cut-off and their electricity supply disrupted.
“People in energy rich Scotland face the absurd situation whereby they pay some of the highest bills in Europe and this latest hare-brained scheme risked even more punishment for affected households.
“I look forward to hearing from you on this matter as soon as possible.
“Yours sincerely,
“Graham Leadbitter MP”
