Connecting electric vehicles and heat pumps to the networks

When to contact your network operator

There are numerous reasons why network operators may need to be contacted before the installation of a low carbon technology can take place.

These include supply overload, damage to supply equipment, power quality issues or adequacy of earthing. If these issues are identified but not reported prior to installation, consumers can be at risk.

Even when the cut-out rating is known by the installer, the ratings and utilisation of all local distribution network assets require consideration, and cannot be ascertained without contacting the network operator in that area.

When we do not receive notification of low carbon technology installations, we are unable to map the increased network load associated with the rollout of these technologies. This leads to incomplete modelling, which can in turn cause inadvertent stress on assets and ineffective and uneconomic asset replacement programmes – the cost of these programmes is passed onto UK consumers.

GB DNOs will give you what you need to decarbonise your home for free, up to a 23kVA cable.

Responsibility to keep everyone safe

Everyone involved in the deployment of low carbon technologies has an obligation to ensure they do their utmost to keep our customers safe.

Installers have the responsibility to inform network operators when making modifications to a service under the following:

• Wiring Regulations BS7671 132.16 Additions and alterations
• Distribution Code DPC5.2.1
• IET Electric Vehicle Code of Practice

Note that the requirements under the Wiring Regulations and the Distribution Code are technology/appliance agnostic and apply to supply alterations from the installation of any appliance.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), formerly the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), has a responsibility to ensure that low-carbon technology installers are informing us of installations made under its subsidies – the Renewable Heat Incentives and the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, etc.

Installations in excess of 20MW

For installations in excess of 20MW, you may also want to consider a connection to the Transmission System. In this case please contact National Grid Transmission Owner in England & Wales, SSEN Transmission in the north of Scotland and SPEN Transmission in the south of Scotland.

LCT Application Process: Connect Direct

For all Low Carbon Technology (LCT) applications, we now have a fully digitalised platform called ENA Connect Direct. This new, faster, and more accurate online platform is designed to significantly reduce application times, offering an almost instant approval mechanism for heat pump and electric vehicle charge point installations. All onboarding information, including helpful YouTube tutorials, is available on the Connect Direct website. You can find step-by-step guides to get started here:

• Connect Direct
• Learn More

If additional guidance is needed, use the support ticket function on the website, and our support team will respond promptly.

Key Benefits of ENA Connect Direct:

Better:
With a single, streamlined online form, ENA Connect Direct simplifies the process and standardises data flow for installers, ensuring faster and more consistent communication with Distribution Network Operators (DNOs).

Faster:
The platform drastically reduces application time and delivers near-instant approvals, expediting installations.

More Accurate:
ENA Connect Direct enhances data accuracy and efficiency, allowing DNOs to better manage network design and operation in real time.

The process is maintained and governed by our Low Carbon Technologies Steering Group. This group contains representatives of all UK transmission and distribution electricity networks, and meets regularly with industry, DESNZ, the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and Ofgem (the UK energy regulator) to discuss issues and agree strategies and processes for Low Carbon Technologies that connect to the electricity networks.

Additional Info

• Electricity network operators will never refuse a connection but work may be required to ensure the connection is fit for purpose
• For residential properties with new Maximum Demand (MD) between 60A and 100A inclusive – the installer must apply for a connection prior to installation by filling in the form mentioned below and the network operator will confirm whether the new equipment can be connected within 10 working days
• For commercial properties, you should follow the Combined Installation Process Flow Chart

Contacting your DNO

Although you have everything you need for domestic connections through ENA Connect Direct, if you need to contact your DNO for larger connections or have additional queries, please refer to the contact table below for further assistance. Find their email address by expanding the 'where to submit your application form' box below.

If remedial work is required by the network operator, the time taken to carry out this work will vary depending on the nature of the intervention required to deliver an adequate supply to the premises being assessed. Each connection is different, so the premises and network must be assessed before providing an estimated time of delivery.

Under all circumstances there is a requirement to inform the network operator of the installation. For help identifying the correct electricity network operator for your premises use our Who's my network operator? tool. You can also find your network operator using the Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN). Digits 9 and 10 of the 21-digit Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN) are the Distributor ID. Find which network operator corresponds to which ID by expanding the 'where to submit your application form' box below.

• Where to submit your application form

  ID	Licence area	Network operator	Email address for EV notifications	Phone number for supply assessment	Phone number for safety concerns
  10	Eastern England	UK Power Networks	Email	020 3324 1460	0800 316 3105
  11	East Midlands	National Grid Electricity Distribution	Email	0800 096 3080	0800 678 3105
  12	London	UK Power Networks	Email	020 3324 1460	0800 316 3105
  13	Merseyside and Northern Wales	SP Energy Networks	Email	0845 270 0783	0800 001 5400
  14	West Midlands	National Grid Electricity Distribution	Email	0800 096 3080	0800 678 3105
  15	North Eastern England	Northern Powergrid	Email	0845 070 7172	0800 66 88 77
  16	North Western England	Electricity North West	Email	0800 048 1820	0800 195 4141
  17	Northern Scotland	Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks	Email	0800 048 3516	0800 300 999
  18	Southern Scotland	SP Energy Networks	Email	0845 270 0785	0800 092 9290
  19	South Eastern England	UK Power Networks	Email	020 3324 1460	0800 316 3105
  20	Southern England	Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks	Email	0800 048 3516	0800 072 7282
  21	Southern Wales	National Grid Electricity Distribution	Email	0800 096 3080	0800 678 3105
  22	South Western England	National Grid Electricity Distribution	Email	0800 096 3080	0800 678 3105
  23	Yorkshire	Northern Powergrid	Email	0845 070 7172	0800 375 675
  24	N/A	GTC	Email	01359 302518	01359 302518
  25	N/A	ESP Electricity	Email and Alternative email	01372 227 560	0800 731 6945
  26	N/A	Last Mile Asset Management	Email	01698 404 645	0800 804 8688
  27	N/A	GTC	Email	01359 245418	01359 245418
  28	N/A	N/A
  29	N/A	Harlaxton	Email	0844 800 1813	0844 800 1813
  30	N/A	Peel Electricity	Email	0161 247 7177	0161 247 7177
  31	N/A	UK Power Distribution Limited	Email
  32	N/A	Energy Assets Networks	Email
  33	N/A	G2 Energy IDNO Limited	Email
  34	N/A	Murphy Power Distribution Limited	Email
  	Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland Electricity	Email	03457 643 643	03457 643 643

Connect Direct's LCT Register: Information for installers and manufacturers

• Our LCT Register

  Connect Direct now hosts the LCT Register. By migrating all information previously held on the excel database, this platform has digitalised the device submission process and has been created to support the application process.

  Electricity networks requires access to technical information, capacity, and power quality data, in order to assess individual applications for suitability to connect to the network. In addition to the other requirements detailed in the flowchart, an installer should use the LCT register to cross-reference their equipment to assist in determining whether the application is likely to be instantly approved or escalated to the DNO (this is mostly determined by the total installed demand and size of the cutout).

  The only HP and EVCP information that will be made publicly available is shown on the LCT register. We welcome installers and manufacturers who have devices that are not in the database to populate their device information in Connect Direct, which will not be made publicly available until its verification.

  If you wish to create an account and upload your device to the register, you can register for Connect Direct.

  Need help?

  • Please see our Connect Direct FAQs
  • Read our guidance notes
  • Still stuck? Get in touch using our online form