“For the past few years, the BBC’s long wave transmitters (but not the MW transmitters) have been partially funded by the electricity industry in order to provide the Radio Teleswitch Service, which uses phase information in the long wave transmissions to switch ‘Economy 7’ electricity meters between day and night modes. This arrangement was originally due to end in 2020. However, due to delays in smart meter installation, the contract has been extended several times and currently expires on 31 March 2023. Further extensions are possible. However, once the Radio Teleswitch Service ends, it is likely that the Radio 4 Long Wave network (including the MW transmitters) will close.”
Future of AM Radio, Frequency Finder website, last amendment April this year.
http://www.frequencyfinder.org.uk/Opinion_AM.pdf
Mike Terry to Longwaveradiolistening iog (2021-10-24)