From Ben Nevis to Bothies: Octopus launches regional tour to switch remote RTS customers before critical deadline

• Outdated Radio Teleswitch meters to stop working in June 2025
• Octopus Energy engineers travelling to the most remote parts of Scotland to ensure no customer is left behind
• Successful switchover completed in the Isles of Scilly with 100% success rate, using planes, speedboats and even a wheelbarrow to get the job done

London/Edinburgh, 17 April 2025 – With just under three months to go until outdated Radio Teleswitch (RTS) meters stop working across the UK, Octopus Energy has launched the ‘RTS Regional Tour’ to make sure remote customers – no matter their postcode – can make the switch to a smart meter before the cutoff.

The RTS network, which receives updates via Long Wave radio signals, will permanently shut down on 30th June 2025. To make the transition as smooth as possible, Octopus is ramping up engineering support through the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, offering homes with an RTS meter same-day switches.

The ‘RTS Regional Tour’ will be visiting the following locations in Scotland over the next few weeks:

Location

Dates

Skye - 28th April - 2nd May

Shetland - 28th April - 4th May

Orkney -4th May - 11th May

The company has already begun sending teams to hard-to-reach locations. Octopus engineers recently travelled to the Isles of Scilly – accessible only by small plane or speedboat – and successfully upgraded every impacted customer on the islands.

Unable to bring service vans, the team navigated in a Nissan Leaf, used wheelbarrows to carry stock, and when a customer couldn’t be reached by mail, phone or email, they visited in person and knocked on doors to get the job done.

100% of homes in the Isles of Scilly that requested a meter exchange managed to get one through the first ‘RTS Regional Tour’, proving that even the most isolated communities can be supported.

John Szymik, CEO of Octopus Energy Services, said: "Octopus has boosted its service capability to offer fast-tracked assistance and ensure that no one is left without heating. Whether you live in a city or on a tiny island, our ‘RTS Regional Tour’ is about showing up for every customer and making sure they’re not left in the cold."

Switching to a smart meter not only ensures continued heating and hot water access – especially for those using electricity for storage or panel heaters – but also unlocks a range of benefits, from smart tariffs and cheaper energy periods to better control over energy use.

All Octopus customers who upgrade from an RTS meter will receive a free Octopus Home Mini – a pocket-sized device that connects securely to their smart meter and gives real-time insight into energy usage, helping them save on bills with just a tap on their phone. Customers can also have a regular in-home display if requested.

Affected customers can check if they have an RTS meter by looking for a large black box next to their current electricity meter, or by logging into their online Octopus account to book a smart upgrade.

Customers can register their interest for an RTS meter exchange in their online account here.

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

Press Contacts
Octopus Energy Group
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+44 (0)20 4530 8369
About Octopus Energy Group
Octopus Energy is a global clean energy tech business, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Under its own retail brand, Octopus delivers world-class customer service and cutting edge energy products to 9 million households globally. Its operations span 32 countries and the entire energy value chain. The group invests in, builds and flexibly manages renewable energy, operating a £7 billion portfolio of projects.
Octopus has licensed its advanced data and machine learning platform, Kraken, to support over 60 million customer accounts worldwide through licensing deals with companies such as EDF, E.ON and Origin Energy. Kraken enables Octopus to drive the electrification of heat and transport through smart tariffs and innovative cleantech. Backed by pension funds, investors and energy giants, Octopus Energy Group businesses deliver cheaper, greener energy and cutting-edge tech to countries and customers worldwide. For more information, check out our website.