The UK’s privatised energy system isn’t delivering for Orkney and Shetland according to the SNP candidate for the islands, who has accused regulator Ofgem of abdicating responsibility for poor metering service in the islands.

Robert Leslie has written back to Ofgem seeking further clarification on plans by energy companies to replace electricity meters that are due to become redundant next June.

Mr Leslie said that he wasn’t convinced that Ofgem was on top of the planned Radio Teleswitch meter phase-out, with the technology that supports the meters, of which there are hundreds across Orkney and Shetland, due to close down on 30 June 2025.

He also criticised Ofgem’s response to the massive delays that Orkney and Shetland electricity customers are facing to have broken electricity meters replaced, with the regulator saying energy suppliers are responsible for ensuring appropriate metering arrangements are in place.

“This is clearly not the case, and someone needs to take control of a situation that is leaving households in the islands without functioning meters for months while appointments are broken,” said Mr Leslie.

Mr Leslie wrote to Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley in March urging him to insist that energy suppliers take a pro-active and strategic approach in the urgent need to replace an estimated 900,000 Radio Teleswitch meters across the UK.

This followed a statement from trade body Energy UK, which urged RTS customers to ‘act now – either by responding to contact from their supplier or getting in contact themselves’ to ensure ‘a smooth upgrade to a smart meter and mean that customers continue to enjoy the benefits they currently get from RTS’.

If the RTS equipment isn’t replaced by the switch-off date, not only could customers be limited to a more expensive single-rate tariff, they could also no longer rely on their heating and hot water switching on and off as expected – with the risk of them even staying permanently on or off.

Ofgem said in their response that they expect all RTS meters to be replaced at least 3-4 months in advance of the end of June 2025. They have written to all suppliers stating when replacement work should be concluded to ensure that no consumers endure loss of supply or any loss of functionality as a result, as well as requesting further detailed information on their plans to replace these meters.

“We are monitoring closely the progress of suppliers in replacing RTS meters. If any consumers are unsure if they have an RTS meter they should contact their energy supplier,” say Ofgem.

Mr Leslie had also highlighted the massive waiting times to have broken electricity meters replaced due to a complete absence of meter engineers in the islands and very few meter engineers willing to travel from mainland Scotland to the islands. He told Ofgem that customers had waited for years for new meters, often not knowing how much they will be billed by the time the meter is replaced.

In response, Ofgem said:

“Energy suppliers are responsible for ensuring appropriate metering arrangements are in place for their consumers. Recruiting and deciding where and how to deploy engineers are commercial and technical decisions suppliers must make themselves. Suppliers, and the parties they contract with to deliver installations and maintenance work, utilise their own processes for allocating installer resource to ensure they meet their licence obligations. We cannot comment on the rollout status of smart meters in any particular area, or the timeframes associated with resolving particular issues.”

Mr Leslie said:

“I look forward to hearing more about the ‘further detailed information’ on the plans by energy companies to replace the RTS meters. However, I am still hearing of electricity customers waiting months for faulty meters to be replaced, and of folk waiting home only for engineers not to appear. The whole system seems to be on its knees, with no-one appearing to be accountable.

“It appears that neither the UK Government nor their regulator has a handle on the issue, abdicating responsibility to the suppliers that are causing the problems in the first place. If there are no consequences for this unforgivably poor level of customer service, then folk with faulty meters will remain stressed about what they might owe suppliers while waiting months for replacements. It doesn’t fill me with confidence that the RTS replacement programme will run smoothly,

“The UK’s privatised energy system isn’t delivering for Orkney and Shetland. An independent Scotland would ensure that Scotland’s energy system works for Scotland’s people, not shareholders.”