Frequently asked questions

We’re the trade association for the energy networks. Our members own and operate the wires and pipes which carry electricity and gas into your community, supporting our economy. We support our members to deliver some of the safest, most reliable, most efficient and sustainable energy networks in the world.

Our members are listed on our membership page.

No, energy suppliers are represented by Energy UK.

National Grid ESO publish monthly insights which provide information on electricity generated in the previous month. Real-time grid information is also available from National Grid ESO.

DNO stands for distribution network operator. It’s the company that owns and operates the power lines and infrastructure that connects homes and commercial properties in your area to the electricity transmission network. You can find out who your distribution network operator is using our postcode search tool.

GDN stands for gas distribution network. There are eight in Great Britain. It’s the company that owns and operates the gas pipes and infrastructure that connects homes and commercial properties in your area to the gas network. You can find out who your gas distribution network operator is using our postcode search tool.

The national grid is a term often used to describe the electricity transmission network. This is the network which carries electricity over large distances across the country, from large generators and into the local electricity distribution network.

The wires and pipes are the arteries of our economy, delivering energy to over 30 million homes and businesses across the UK and Ireland. To do this safely and reliably, the businesses which run the networks employ 45,000 people and have spent and invested over £60 billion in the last eight years.

Your energy supplier is the company that bills you for your energy. You can find out who your gas or electricity supplier is and details of your energy tariff on a recent energy bill or by using the Find My Supplier website.

You should contact your energy supplier. You can find out more about energy bills from the trade association which represents energy suppliers, Energy UK. Network operators are different from your energy supplier and can’t help with billing enquiries.

That’s Energy UK.

Your network operator is the company that owns and operates the power lines, gas pipes and infrastructure that connects homes and commercial properties in your area to the electricity and gas network.

They can help you with queries like moving your meter, connecting your property or with a power cut or gas leak. They are different from your energy supplier and can’t help you with billing enquiries. You can find out who your network operator is using our postcode search tool.

The networks became privately-owned in 1986 for gas and 1990 for electricity.

If you have a wayleaves query, then you will need to contact the wayleave officer at your local network operator. There’s further information available on our wayleaves page.

The average cost of delivering your energy is just 67p each day – less than the amount the average Briton spends each day on coffee.

Private investment helps bring down bills – network costs have fallen by almost a fifth since privatisation whilst £100bn has been invested.

The energy system in Great Britain is regulated by Ofgem. You’ll find detailed information on how the system is regulated, as well as statistics and publications on the Ofgem website.

The electricity industry in Northern Ireland is regulated by the Utility Regulator and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in Ireland.

The energy networks are the wires, pipes and other infrastructure which carries electricity into your home, our businesses and hospitals. We explain how they work on our energy networks explained page.

Smell gas? Immediately call the national gas emergency number on 0800 111 999.

• DO open doors and windows to ventilate the property.
• DO turn off the gas at the mains tap. This can usually be located near the gas meter and has a handle that can be turned 90 degrees. If the gas leak is in a cellar or basement, do not enter and instead evacuate the building.

If you suspect you have a gas leak or you smell gas, it is important that you don’t do any of the following as these could place you in further danger:

• DON’T turn any power or light switches on or off.
• DON’T light any sort of flame within the property.
• DON’T use any appliances that could cause a spark.

Sometimes a gas leak can lead to you feeling physical symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, nausea and headaches. These symptoms should ease when you leave the property, however you should visit your GP as a precaution if you’ve been exposed to a gas leak.

In Great Britain, call 105 from your phone. If you live in Northern Ireland you should contact Northern Ireland Electricity Networks and if you live in the Republic of Ireland you should contact ESB Networks. Your electricity network operator is different from your energy supplier. In the UK, you can also find your local electricity network operator’s contact details by entering your postcode on our postcode finder.

Treat electricity cables as live, stay away and call your local network operator immediately. If you see electricity lines that are down or causing significant risk to the public, call 999.

To reach your local electricity network operator in Great Britain, call 105 from your phone. If you live in Northern Ireland you should contact Northern Ireland Electricity Networks and if you live in the Republic of Ireland you should contact ESB Networks. Your electricity network operator is different from your energy supplier. In the UK, you can also find your local electricity network operator’s contact details by entering your postcode on our postcode finder.

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no smell or taste. Breathing it in can make you unwell, and it can kill if you’re exposed to high levels. Further information is available on Energy UK’s Carbon Monoxide Be Alarmed campaign page.

Open Networks is a project run by the Energy Networks Association. We are creating the UK and Ireland’s smart grid to ensure we have the energy capacity we need in the future, without the need to build expensive new infrastructure.

We’re creating new opportunities for consumers to benefit from the smart grid by selling power back to the grid and being rewarded for reducing their demand during peak hours.

We’re overhauling systems, processes and policies to make it easier to connect low-carbon energy to the grid and take advantage of new smart technology that is becoming common place in our communities. Technology like solar panels, electric vehicles and battery storage.

Gas Goes Green is a project run by the Energy Networks Association. We’re creating the world’s first zero-carbon gas grid by speeding up the switch from natural gas to hydrogen for the 85% of UK households connected to the gas grid.

The UK Government has set a legally-binding target to reach net-zero emissions by the year 2050 (2045 in Scotland). The same commitment has also been made by the government of Ireland.

This means that any greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity must be balanced out by methods of removing emissions from the atmosphere, such as planting trees, or carbon capture technologies.

The energy network companies have a leading role to play in helping reach our net-zero emissions target, by connecting greater levels of renewable energy whilst providing the new infrastructure we need to cut our carbon emissions in new areas, such as heat and transport.

Our Careers in energy page showcases some of the roles in the energy networks. You’ll also find links to job vacancies within our members’ organisations. If you’re interested in working for Energy Networks Association, our latest vacancies will be advertised on our Careers and culture page.