New electricity connection
What is a new electricity connection?
Getting power to a new building, or more power to an existing one, is a job in its own right, separate from choosing who supplies the electricity. A new electricity connection is the physical work of linking your premises to the local network, arranged through the company that owns the wires in your area rather than through your energy supplier. It is one of those things businesses often discover late, when a fit-out or expansion stalls waiting for capacity. Here is how new connections work and what to plan for.
On this page
A new connection is arranged with the network operator, not your supplier. It is about the wires and capacity reaching your site, a separate step from the contract that prices the energy flowing through them.
What a new connection is
A new electricity connection is the physical work of linking a site to the local distribution network so it can draw power, or of upgrading an existing link so it can draw more. It covers everything from a brand-new supply at a site that has never had one, to increasing the capacity at premises whose demand has outgrown the existing connection.
Crucially, a connection is separate from your electricity supply contract. The connection is the infrastructure; the supply contract is the deal that prices the energy running through it. You arrange them with different companies.
When you need one
You typically need a new or upgraded connection when:
- You are building or fitting out new premises with no existing supply.
- You are increasing demand, for example adding machinery, EV chargers, heat pumps or refrigeration, beyond what your current capacity allows.
- You are redeveloping a site and need the supply moved, split or altered.
- You need a temporary construction supply during a build.
The tell is usually that a project stalls because there is not enough power available at the meter, or none at all.
Types of connection work
“New connection” is a catch-all for several different jobs, and knowing which you need helps you ask for the right quote:
| Job | What it means |
|---|---|
| New connection | A first-time supply to a site with no existing connection |
| Capacity upgrade | Increasing the kVA available at an existing supply |
| Alteration or diversion | Moving or rerouting cables, often for redevelopment |
| Disconnection | Permanently removing a supply, for example on demolition |
Most business projects are either a first-time connection or a capacity upgrade, but a redevelopment can involve a diversion as well.
The role of the network operator
New connections are arranged with the Distribution Network Operator, the company that owns and runs the local wires and cables in your region. There is one DNO per area. Alternatively, an Independent Connection Provider or Independent DNO can carry out the work in a competitive market, which can be faster or cheaper for larger jobs.
Your energy supplier does not do this work and cannot speed it up. The network operator designs the connection, quotes for it, and carries out the physical installation.
The connection process
A connection broadly runs through these stages:
- Application: you tell the network operator your location and how much capacity you need.
- Design and quote: they assess the local network, design the connection and issue a quote, which may include network reinforcement if the local network needs strengthening.
- Acceptance: you accept the quote and pay.
- Installation: they carry out the physical work, cabling, and any substation.
- Energisation and metering: the connection is made live and a meter is fitted, at which point your supply contract takes over.
Capacity and kVA
A connection is sized by capacity, measured in kVA. This is the maximum amount of power the connection can deliver at once, and it determines whether your site can run everything it needs simultaneously. Getting the capacity right matters: too little and equipment trips or a future expansion is blocked, too much and you pay standing availability charges on capacity you never use. It is worth sizing for realistic near-term growth rather than just today’s load.
A worked example
Say your site has an agreed capacity of 69 kVA and its current peak demand is about 50 kVA, leaving roughly 19 kVA of headroom. You want to add three 22 kW EV chargers:
3 × 22 kW = 66 kW ≈ 66 kVA of new demand, against only ~19 kVA of headroom.
Example only. Real demand depends on diversity, how often the chargers run together, and your load profile, so treat this as illustrative.
Even allowing for the fact that the chargers rarely all run flat out at once, this site would likely need a capacity upgrade before installing them. Spotting that early, rather than after the chargers are bought, is exactly why capacity planning matters.
LV vs HV connections
Smaller demands are met with a low voltage (LV) connection, the standard supply most premises use. Larger demands, above roughly a few hundred kVA, often need a high voltage (HV) connection, which may involve installing a dedicated substation on or near your site. HV connections cost more and take longer, and the site usually needs a half-hourly meter and sometimes a CT meter to measure the larger load accurately.
What it costs and how long
Cost and timescale depend heavily on how far you are from suitable network capacity and whether the local network needs reinforcing. A straightforward LV connection close to existing infrastructure is relatively quick; an HV connection needing a new substation or network upgrades can take many months and cost a great deal more. Because of this variability, the only reliable figure is a quote from the network operator or an independent provider for your specific site.
The practical lesson is to start early. Connection lead times are one of the most common causes of delay on business fit-outs and developments.
Getting a connection for your business
If your project needs a new or upgraded supply, get the connection application moving as early as possible and size the capacity for realistic growth, not just current load. Comparing an independent connection provider against your regional DNO can save time and money on larger jobs. Once the connection is energised and metered, it is worth lining up a competitive supply contract to sit on top of it. If you are planning a new connection, see our dedicated page on new business electricity connections for how we can help.
Frequently asked questions
What is a new electricity connection?
It is the physical work of linking a site to the local electricity network so it can draw power, or upgrading an existing link so it can draw more. It is arranged with the network operator, separate from your energy supply contract.
Who arranges a new electricity connection?
The Distribution Network Operator for your region, or an Independent Connection Provider in the competitive market. Your energy supplier does not carry out connection work and cannot speed it up.
Is a connection the same as my energy supply?
No. The connection is the physical infrastructure and capacity reaching your site. The supply contract is the separate deal that prices the energy flowing through it. You arrange them with different companies.
When do I need a new connection?
When you are building new premises with no supply, increasing demand beyond your current capacity, adding load such as EV chargers or machinery, redeveloping a site, or needing a temporary construction supply.
What are the different types of connection work?
A first-time new connection, a capacity upgrade to increase your kVA, an alteration or diversion to move cables, or a disconnection to remove a supply. Most business projects are a first-time connection or a capacity upgrade.
What is a DNO?
A Distribution Network Operator is the company that owns and runs the local electricity wires and cables in your region. There is one DNO per area, and they design, quote for and install new connections.
How is connection capacity measured?
In kVA, which is the maximum power the connection can deliver at once. Getting it right matters: too little blocks equipment or expansion, too much means paying standing availability charges on capacity you never use.
How do I know if I need a capacity upgrade?
Compare your new demand to your headroom. As an illustration, a site with 69 kVA capacity peaking at 50 kVA has about 19 kVA spare; adding three 22 kW EV chargers is around 66 kVA of demand, so an upgrade is likely needed. Real figures depend on how equipment runs together.
What is the difference between an LV and HV connection?
A low voltage connection is the standard supply most premises use, for smaller demands. A high voltage connection serves larger demands, often above a few hundred kVA, and may need a dedicated substation. HV connections cost more and take longer.
How long does a new connection take?
It varies widely. A straightforward low voltage connection near existing infrastructure can be quick, while a high voltage connection needing a new substation or network reinforcement can take many months. Starting early is the key to avoiding delays.
How much does a new electricity connection cost?
It depends on your distance from suitable network capacity and whether the local network needs reinforcing. The only reliable figure is a quote from the network operator or an independent provider for your specific site.
What is network reinforcement?
Work to strengthen the local network so it can support your new demand, such as upgrading cables or transformers. If your connection triggers reinforcement, the cost usually appears in the network operator’s quote.
Do I need a special meter for a large new connection?
Often yes. Larger connections, particularly high voltage ones, usually require a half-hourly meter, and sometimes a CT meter, to measure the larger load accurately. The meter is fitted when the connection is energised.
Can I use someone other than my regional DNO?
Yes. Independent Connection Providers and Independent DNOs operate in a competitive market and can carry out connection work, which is often faster or cheaper for larger jobs. Comparing them against your regional DNO is worthwhile.
When should I start the connection process?
As early as possible in your project. Connection lead times are one of the most common causes of delay on fit-outs and developments, so getting the application in before equipment is ordered avoids stalling the whole project waiting for power.