Following consultation, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) and all UK network companies developed an updated Queue Management process. SSEN has implemented the Queue Management principles as set out in the ENA Queue Management User Guide.
The objective of Queue Management is to free up capacity by removing slow moving/stalled projects from the connection queue. We will establish milestones when a Connection Offer is accepted and monitor progress against these milestones.
Queue Management enables network companies to:
- Effectively manage contracted projects if they are not progressing against agreed milestones.
- Avoid stalled or slow-moving projects from affecting other projects in the queue.
- Utilise flexible resources in connection queues to better utilise the available capacity.
Queue management will be used to monitor project progression through the use of milestones and tolerances. This enables SSEN to apply queue management in a clear and consistent way to remove delayed projects from connection queues. This ensures the network capacity is made available for other customer projects that are ready to progress. This could impact projects that are already in the connection queue waiting to progress.
Milestones
Milestones are the agreed benchmarks by which we will manage your project. We will use milestones to measure and track project progress towards a contracted connection date. Failures to meet milestones may mean that you lose your position in the queue.
Tolerance
We recognise that projects may have delays. The tolerance mechanism allows some flexibility to queue management. When milestones are not able to be achieved on time, tolerance provides customers with an opportunity to get their project back on track.
Cumulative Delay
For earlier milestones, delays will be accumulated, and the cumulative delay is compared to the total allowed tolerance for the project. Please refer to the guide for details on timescales.
How does it affect me?
The process will apply to Distribution Generation projects which meet the following criteria:
- Where a transmission impact assessment is required
- Or projects at EHV
What is the process?
Connection Offer issued
Your new or modified Connection Offer will be issued with the milestones and tolerances detailed within your connection offer. Your contract will provide the timescales applicable to your project for each milestone and the allowed tolerance.
Acceptance
Following acceptance, you will receive notifications when a milestone is nearing target. To view details of the evidence that is required to meet the milestone and track your project progress please use the milestones tab within your account.
Tolerances
If information is submitted out with the milestone date, you will be notified that the milestone is overdue and tolerance is being accrued. Your Account Manager will be on hand to help support and guide you through any queries you have with the new process.