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<p>From Alistair Carmichael MP:</p>
<p style="margin:0;font-size:14px;mso-line-height-alt:16.8px"><strong><span
style="word-break: break-word; font-size: 14px;">Raising
concerns about the radio teleswitch shutdown</span></strong></p>
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<span style="word-break: break-word; font-size: 14px;">There have
been growing concerns from islanders in recent months about the
upcoming shutdown of radio teleswitch services (which are the
basis for many older energy meters). The shutdown is due to
happen in June of this year \u2013 and has already been delayed as
much as it can be \u2013 but rural and island communities are
significantly behind the rest of the country in getting the
smart meter upgrades that we need ahead of the deadline.</span></p>
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<span style="word-break: break-word; font-size: 14px;">During
questions to ministers from the Department for Energy Security
and Net Zero in Parliament on Tuesday, I set out the issues with
the shutdown for our communities, ahead of a further roundtable
with other MPs the following day. In that meeting the Minister
responsible undertook to develop a plan with energy companies to
accelerate the delivery of new meters for those who need them.</span></p>
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style="margin:0;font-size:14px;mso-line-height-alt:14.399999999999999px"> </p>
<p style="margin:0;font-size:14px;mso-line-height-alt:16.8px"><span
style="word-break: break-word; font-size: 14px;">It is
encouraging that ministers appear to be aware of the problems
people are facing with the RTS shutdown but we really need to
see a bit more urgency in terms of actions.</span></p>
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<p style="margin:0;font-size:14px;mso-line-height-alt:16.8px"><span
style="word-break: break-word; font-size: 14px;">The isles have
specific issues in transitioning away from RTS meters which will
require a specific solution from the Government. This is not
something that can be left to the eleventh hour.</span></p>
<p></p>
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