Meeting of the Parliament 20 May 2025
I, too, thank Beatrice Wishart for bringing this important and urgent debate to the chamber. I speak on behalf of my constituents in the Highlands and Islands, many of whom are deeply concerned about the looming switch-off of the radio teleswitch service and the risks that it poses to their wellbeing. It is not just a technical transition but the result of a decision that was made in Westminster with little regard for the unique challenges that rural and island communities in Scotland face. Our most vulnerable residents—older people, those in low-income households and social housing tenants—are being left to bear the brunt.
As of April this year, more than 390,000 RTS meters were still in use across Great Britain. Given the low uptake of smart meters in Scotland—particularly in the northern isles and the Western Isles, where fewer than 10 per cent of households have one—it is fair to assume that a disproportionate number of RTS meters are in my region.
One constituent of mine waited nine months for a resolution that came only after his energy supplier was forced to prove to the data communications company that all other options had failed before it was allowed to install a cellular system. Other constituents have seen action from their energy companies only after I—and my colleagues across the chamber, I am sure—contacted the companies on their behalf. That is not a system that is working for people—it is a system that is failing them.
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations has raised urgent concerns. Many of its members report that energy suppliers simply do not have the capacity to replace all RTS meters by the 2025 deadline. Worse still, suppliers are not engaging proactively with tenants for whom a smart meter is not a viable option.
What happens after the switch? As other members have said, some tenants are being moved on to more expensive or unsuitable tariffs, often without clear information or consent. Citizens Advice Scotland has already seen cases of people falling into energy debt because their new smart meters do not work properly. That is not just inconvenient; it is pushing people into poverty. We need urgent assurances from Ofgem and the UK Government that no tenant will be penalised for the inaction or delays of energy companies, that there is a robust and fully funded plan to support those who are affected, especially those who lose heating or hot water, and that no one will be left in the cold because of a failure to consult or prepare.
This is a matter of energy justice. It is about ensuring that the transition to smart technology does not leave behind the people who need the most support. I urge colleagues from across the chamber to stand up—as they have said they will—for our rural and island communities and demand a fair, inclusive and properly resourced transition.
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