Your choices

• Other companies who provide connections services are known as Independent Connection Providers (ICPs) or Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNOs).
• The diagram below shows the competitive elements of new connections work:

What work can other companies do?

ICPs and IDNOs can carry out most aspects of the work needed to build and operate a new network. This includes:

• Designing your connection and the new network that needs to connect to our existing network.
• Laying and connecting underground electricity cables.
• Building substations and transformer buildings.
• Installing electrical switches and transformers.
• Moving existing cables on your land for a new connections project.
• Operate the new network once it is built.
• Identify their own Point of Connection (POC) onto our existing network (where applicable).
• Approve their own designs for the new connections (where applicable).
• Make their own final connection onto our existing network (where applicable).

We provide ICPs and IDNOs with all the information they need about our network. If the ICP or IDNO is unable or unwilling to carry out the works, we can do so for your project. Once the work for your new connection is complete, it will be linked to our existing network. This means we will need to assess how your project will affect our network to ensure your point of connection (POC) and design will work for all, and to carry out any work required on our network. This is known as non-contestable work. Many companies will work with us on your behalf, so you still deal with one company. Some companies will carry out the whole job for you - planning, designing, and building the network themselves. Others will project manage the work and use suitable subcontractors to build the network.

YouTube

We also have a YouTube channel where we post useful videos on processes as well as our recorded webinars.