New business electricity connection
A new connection joins your site to the local electricity network for the first time, or gives an existing site more capacity. The work splits into two layers: the regional Distribution Network Operator (DNO) sets the point of connection and does the non-contestable part, while the buildable contestable works can be tendered to an accredited Independent Connection Provider (ICP). Get the capacity right, tender the contestable works, and place the supply contract from the moment the meter energises.
What a new electricity connection is, and when you need one
You need a new electricity connection when you build or fit out a site that has never had power, when you take on a unit with no live supply, or when your demand outgrows the capacity already reserved at the meter. New machinery, a commercial kitchen, lifts, HVAC or EV charging can all push a site beyond its agreed maximum, which means new cables, switchgear or, above roughly 500 kVA, a dedicated substation.
The first thing to establish is who owns the network at your postcode, because that DNO sets the point of connection and the non-contestable charge. Use our free network operator lookup tool to confirm it, then read the wider picture across the cluster: the new energy connections hub covers both fuels, and if your project also needs gas, see our guide to a new commercial gas connection.
The new electricity connection process, step by step
Five stages take a site from a blank plot or an undersized supply to a metered, contracted connection. The order matters: scoping the capacity early prevents both an undersized supply and paying for headroom you never use.
- 01
Scope the load and capacity
Work out the realistic maximum demand, decide single-phase (broadly up to around 18 kW, roughly 23 kVA) or three-phase, and flag whether a dedicated substation is likely (commonly above 500 kVA). Getting this right prevents both an undersized supply and paying for headroom you never use.
- 02
Apply to the DNO for a point of connection
Submit the connection enquiry to your regional DNO with the site address and anticipated demand. The DNO confirms the point of connection and issues a quotation, usually as a dual offer: it does all the works, or it does only the non-contestable works and you appoint an ICP for the rest.
- 03
Tender the contestable works
The contestable works (cable laying, jointing, ducting, civils and substation build) can be competed for by an accredited ICP. Put the DNO price against one or more ICP quotes, and where it pays, structure an IDNO adoption so the asset value offsets the cost.
- 04
Build, energise and register
The appointed party builds the contestable works; the DNO or IDNO carries out the non-contestable final connection and energises the supply. A new MPAN is issued (IDNO networks use distinctive prefixes), and the meter is installed to suit the load.
- 05
Place the supply contract
A live meter with no contract sits on an expensive deemed rate from day one. Tender the new MPAN across the supplier market and place a contract from the moment it energises, so the supply starts on a competitive rate, not a default tariff.
Who does what on an electricity connection
Three parties shape an electricity connection. The DNO is fixed by your location; the ICP and, where it pays, an IDNO are chosen, which is exactly where a tender creates room to move on price and programme.
Distribution Network Operator
The regulated regional monopoly that owns the local electricity network. It sets the point of connection, designs any upstream reinforcement and carries out the final energisation. You cannot choose your DNO; it is fixed by location.
Examples: UK Power Networks, National Grid Electricity Distribution, Northern Powergrid, SP Energy Networks, SSEN, Electricity North West (14 licence areas, 6 groups).
Independent Distribution Network Operator
An Ofgem-licensed network owner that adopts, owns and operates the new network built on a development, as an alternative to the regional DNO. An IDNO often pays a capitalised asset value to adopt the network, which can reduce your upfront cost.
Examples: Eclipse Power, GTC, ESP, Energy Assets, Last Mile, mua, Indigo, Fulcrum.
Independent Connection Provider
A company accredited under the National Electricity Registration Scheme (NERS) to design and build the contestable parts of an electricity connection in competition with the DNO. It then transfers the finished assets to a DNO or IDNO to own.
Examples: UK Power Networks Services, Freedom (NG Bailey), Vital Energi, The ICP, plus the multi-utility firms above.
For a wider list of accredited firms, including which hold the IDNO and ICP roles together, see our directory of UK connection providers. Always confirm a firm's live accreditation scope on the public register before you appoint it.
Contestable versus non-contestable works
A connection quote separates into two kinds of work, and only one of them is open to competition. Knowing the split is the whole reason a tender saves money.
Contestable: open to a tender
Cable laying, jointing, ducting, civils and substation build. These can be competed for by an accredited ICP in competition with the DNO, so the DNO price is rarely the only option. This is where putting one or more ICP quotes against the DNO moves the number.
Non-contestable: set by the network
Application processing, determining the point of connection, inspecting the contestable build and the final energisation onto the live network. This charge is the same whoever you appoint, so it cannot be competed away. Compare quotes line for line so you are only ever weighing the contestable element.
For how each line is priced, where an IDNO asset value can offset the build, and the honest caveats on every range, see our breakdown of new connection costs. It also explains why, since Ofgem's Access SCR, a demand connection should no longer be charged for wider network reinforcement.
Capacity: single-phase, three-phase and kVA bands
Getting capacity right is the single most important early decision. Single-phase suits lighter loads in small premises; three-phase carries far more power for motors, HVAC, kitchens, lifts and EV charging. Every reserved kVA also carries a daily availability charge, so size to a realistic maximum demand with modest headroom, not the biggest number on the table.
Single-phase (up to ~23 kVA)
Standard supply for small premises with no heavy three-phase machinery.
Typical for: Small shop, office or cafe.
Three-phase, ~41 to 69 kVA
Delivers far more power for motors, HVAC, commercial kitchens, lifts and EV charging. 100A three-phase (~69 kVA) is a common standard commercial band.
Typical for: Larger retail, light commercial, small industrial.
High-capacity LV (~70 to 800 kVA)
Above roughly 500 kVA a site usually needs its own dedicated substation, which steps the cost up sharply.
Typical for: Hotels, multi-unit sites, EV hubs, light manufacturing.
HV (11kV) and above
From around 500 kVA into several MVA, almost always with a customer substation. EHV is for very large users.
Typical for: Industrial, logistics, data centres.
How long a new electricity connection takes
Timescales depend on capacity, distance to the network and whether a substation or reinforcement is involved. The ranges below are indicative planning windows, not commitments: apply early, because quote validity windows, permits, transformer lead times and wayleaves all add time.
Simple LV electricity connection near the network
Around 2 to 6 weeks for the DNO quote; works often targeted within ~90 days of acceptance
High-capacity LV electricity (70 to 800 kVA)
Around 6 to 12 weeks for approval, plus construction where a substation is involved
HV (11kV) electricity / customer substation
About 12 to 20+ weeks for the DNO process; full substation projects often 6 to 18 months
Connection needing wider reinforcement / large development
6+ months on top of the base connection; the largest schemes can run 1 to 3 years
How we manage your connection
A connection involves the network, the ICP or IDNO, your siteworks contractor and the supplier, and they do not coordinate themselves. We run it as one managed project, with the margin we add shown as a separate line on the quote rather than buried in a network or construction charge, so every margin is disclosed.
- 01
Scope the capacity and the connection
We start with the load, decide single or three phase, flag where a substation is likely, and submit the enquiry to your DNO or gas transporter to confirm the point of connection. Getting capacity right here prevents an undersized supply or paying for headroom you never use.
- 02
Tender the contestable works
We take the network quote and run a competitive ICP or UIP tender against it, comparing on price and programme. Where it benefits you, we structure an IDNO or IGT adoption so the asset value offsets the build cost. You see every underlying quote, and the margin we add for managing the connection is shown as a separate line, never buried inside a construction price.
- 03
Coordinate the network, the ICP and siteworks
This is the project-management phase, and the one most likely to slip. We sequence the trenching, ducting and substation works against your build programme, arrange a temporary builders supply where needed, and hold the parties to one timeline with a single point of contact.
- 04
Energise the meter and confirm the MPAN or MPRN
Once the works are complete, the network energises the connection and the supply is registered. We arrange the meter (smart or half-hourly as the load requires) and confirm the technical detail the supplier needs.
- 05
Put the supply contract in place
We tender the new MPAN and MPRN across our 30+ supplier panel and place a contract from the moment it energises, so you start on the right rate. The team that connected you is the team that contracts you, with our commission or fee disclosed.
The team that connects you is the team that contracts you: once the meter energises, we tender the new MPAN across our supplier panel so you start on a competitive rate, not a deemed tariff. See the wider business electricity service for how we run procurement once you are live, and our explainer on non-commodity costs for what makes up the bill beyond the unit rate.
New electricity connection: FAQs
- What is an ICP?
- ICP stands for Independent Connection Provider: a company accredited under the National Electricity Registration Scheme (NERS) to design and build new electricity connections in competition with the Distribution Network Operator. ICPs carry out the contestable works (cabling, jointing, ducting, civils, substations), then transfer the finished assets to a DNO or IDNO to own and maintain. Because there are hundreds of accredited ICPs, you can tender the work rather than just accepting the DNO's price.
- What is the difference between a DNO and an IDNO?
- A DNO owns and operates the regional electricity network and is fixed by your location. An IDNO is an Ofgem-licensed operator that owns and runs smaller, newer networks, typically on new developments. IDNOs often pay a capitalised asset value to adopt a new connection, which can reduce your upfront cost because they recover their investment through ongoing distribution charges.
- How long does a new electricity connection take?
- Typically 8 to 20 weeks from assessment to live supply. A small, straightforward premises is often around 8 to 12 weeks, a higher-capacity or specialist-metered connection 12 to 16 weeks, and one that needs network reinforcement 16 to 20 weeks or more. Quotation review alone can take 2 to 4 weeks, which is why scoping early matters.
- What are contestable and non-contestable works?
- Non-contestable works can only be done by the network operator: determining the point of connection, designing and building any upstream reinforcement, and the final energisation. That charge is the same whoever you appoint. Contestable works are the parts an accredited ICP or UIP can do in competition, such as cable laying, jointing, ducting, civils and substation installation. Tendering the contestable element is where you save money and time.
- What is the difference between single-phase and three-phase supply?
- Single-phase suits lighter loads, broadly up to around 18 kW, which covers most small commercial units. Three-phase carries roughly three times the power and is needed for heavier machinery, larger premises and most sites with a maximum demand over 100 kVA, which generally also require half-hourly metering. We size this against your actual load so you are neither under-supplied nor paying for unused capacity.
- What is a temporary builders supply?
- A short-term electricity connection installed on a construction site to power tools, welfare units and equipment before the permanent connection is energised. Smaller sites can run single-phase; larger sites with significant plant usually need three-phase. We arrange it and sequence it so it does not clash with the permanent works.
- Do I need a substation?
- Often, if your demand is large. Sites that need more than around 500 kVA typically require a dedicated substation, which adds significantly to cost and programme. Below that you usually connect directly to the existing low-voltage network. We assess this during capacity scoping so there are no surprises in the quote.
- What is Maximum Import Capacity and can I increase it?
- Maximum Import Capacity (MIC) is the agreed maximum power your site can draw. If demand has grown (new machinery, EV charging, expansion) you can apply to increase it, which may need new cables, switchgear or a substation upgrade. We scope the uplift and, where the contestable element allows, tender it rather than defaulting to the network price.
More questions across both fuels, including who pays and what a quote excludes, are answered in our full new connections FAQs.
One managed connection, every margin disclosed
Tell us the site, the load and the programme. We scope the capacity, apply to the DNO, tender the contestable works against accredited ICPs, coordinate the build, and place the supply contract the moment the meter energises.
Need the full cost picture first? Read our breakdown of new connection costs.