Boiler (Image: Getty)
The BBC has been issued an eleventh hour plea to halt plans to switch off Radio 4’s Long Wave service. Campaigners raised fears about the impact on people who still use Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters, which use radio signals to swap between peak and off-peak rates.
The Long Wave service, which is owned and operated by a third party, is due to close on Saturday. The BBC has said that continuing it would require major investment to replace ageing equipment, and that the platform is now used only by a small number of people.
But Dennis Reed, director of campaigners Silver Voices, said: “Even at this late stage, we implore the BBC not to turn off its valued long wave transmissions, which it is doing because of its digital obsession rather than for funding reasons.
“Poor and older households are going to have their energy budgeting thrown into chaos, and may chalk up big power debts without realising it.
“If the Beeb refuses to do so, the Government must step in and order a halt to the plans until all RTS meters have been upgraded.”
As of March, it was estimated that over 196,000 RTS meters were still active in England, Scotland and Wales.
Dennis Reed, founder of the Silver Voices organisation (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)
Silver Voices has previously warned against the closure of the Long Wave service due to the impact on older people with poor internet coverage who are more likely to rely on it.
The corporation first announced in 2022 that it expected Long Wave to close.
A BBC spokesperson said: “The Radio Teleswitching Service (RTS) for legacy electricity meters is provided by the energy industry. The BBC does not operate or control the RTS service and therefore has no control over the timing of its’ closure.
“Radio 4 broadcasts on Long Wave (LW) will end on 27th June ahead of the platform closing on 30th June.
“The LW infrastructure is owned and operated by a third party who have advised the BBC that it’s coming to the end of its life as a technology and would require significant investment to replace.”
A DESNZ spokesperson said: “We have protected consumers by ensuring a carefully managed phase out of the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS), which has reached the end of its life.
“Suppliers contacted all affected customers to replace their meter before switch off activity in their area, with thousands replaced over the past year. We demand suppliers continue to meet their obligations to protect consumers as the service ends.”
