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  • Competition in connections - for ICPs and IDNOs

  • When customers have a choice, competing providers are naturally driven to deliver a better service. We continue to work with Ofgem and ICPs to identify and implement further scope of works that can be opened up to competition.

    If you have the appropriate NERS accreditation and have been engaged by a client to deliver their new connections, we can provide you with the necessary non-contestable services.
    If you would like to find out more about gaining the necessary accreditation to compete for new connections work, please visit the Lloyds Register Website. Our simple diagram illustrates the high level process for opening up the connections market.

  • ICP application

    Make an application for an electricity network connection you wish us to adopt. Please ensure you download the application form before continuing with your online application.
    Notify us that you are determining the point of connection.  Please refer to our POC Self Identification and Self Design Approval Guidance Note before continuing with your application.  It explains when you can determine your POC and also when you can approve your own on site design, if applicable. This guidance note can be found on our secure website once you have logged in.

    Please be aware that if you are sending us an email we have an incoming email limit of 22MB. Should you require to send us an email above this limit please contact nc.connections@sse.com and request document transfer options.

  • IDNO application

    Make an application for an electricity network you wish to connect to our network. Please ensure you download the application form before continuing with your online application.
    Notify us that you are determining the point of connection. Please refer to our POC Self Identification and Self Design Approval Guidance Note before continuing with your application. It explains when you can determine your POC and also when you can approve your own on site design, if applicable. This guidance note can be found on our secure website once you have logged in.

     

    Please be aware that if you are sending us an email we have an incoming email limit of 22MB. Should you require to send us an email above this limit please contact nc.connections@sse.com and request document transfer options.

     

  • Model Distribution Safety Rules

    The Model Distribution Safety Rules (MDSRs) are available from the Energy Networks Association (ENA) website. Click here.

    ICPs/IDNOs own Distribution Safety Rules (DSRs)/Operational Safety Rules (OSRs) are to be sent to the following email address for review: DistributionSafetyRules@sse.com. 

  • G39 Authorisation – SSEN Statement

    This statement describes our application of ENA Engineering Recommendation (EREC) G39 'Model code of practice covering electrical safety in the planning, installation, commissioning and maintenance of public lighting and other street furniture'.

    To download our statement click on the link below: 

  • Competition in Connections Governance – The Code of Practice (COP)

  • In June 2014 Ofgem launched a review of the market for new electricity connections. Following their findings, Ofgem tasked all Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) with developing a Code of Practice (COP) in consultation with stakeholders; this was done through the Energy Networks Association (ENA).

    The Competition in Connections (CiC) Code of Practice was approved by Ofgem in June 2015, following extensive consultation. The revised document was approved and issued in July 2015, with an implementation date of October 2015. It includes arrangements to make changes, so that it can evolve over time. This included the establishment of an industry panel to oversee those changes.

    The CiC Code of Practice governs the way in which DNOs provide input services to facilitate competition in the electricity connections distribution market. It will help customers have more choice over their connection provider.

    The Competition in Connections Governance can be found here.

    The Competition in Connections Code of Practice can be found here.

  • CiCCoP Reporting Requirements

    A requirement of the Competition in Connections Code of Practice is that DNOs report annually to demonstrate its compliance with the Code of Practice as required by Standard Licence Condition 52.

     

    Our annual CinC COP Report for 2021 is available here. 

    Our annual CinC COP Report for 2020 is available here.

    Our annual CinC COP Report for 2019 is available here. 

    Our annual CinC COP Report for 2018 is available here.  

    Our annual CinC COP Report for 2017 is available here. 

    Our annual CinC COP Report for 2016 is available here.

     

  • Part Funded Reinforcement (PFR) Trial

    Following feedback from ICPs that would like to undertake part funded reinforcement works, we have now engaged with Ofgem and ready to commence our Part Funded Reinforcement trial, starting from 30 March 2018.

    Trial requirements

    • The trial will run for three years
    • LV and HV large demand projects only (no EHV or 132kV works)
    • Reinforcement must be physically and electrically separate from our existing Distribution System in line with our Connection Charging Methodology Statement (CCMS)
    • ICP must be suitably NERs accredited to undertake reinforcement works
    • Any reinforcement work carried out by the ICP must be to the design of SHEPD/SEPD
    • Reinforcement asset will be adopted in line with network adoption process for sole use asset

     

    See process flowcharts below

    The participants of the trial will be appointed on a first come first served basis, restricted to newly quoted connection projects on or after 30th March 2018.

     

    For each participating project, a single ICP must carry out the sole use contestable works in their entirety as well as any associated reinforcement works.

     

    We will apply a cap over the entire three year period based on the number of projects per Distribution area or DUoS funded reinforcement costs by Distribution area, whichever occurs first. If the relevant cap is met within the three year period, no new projects will be considered under the trial.

    How an ICP can participate in the PFR trial?

    For a  project to be considered for the trial, the customer or ICP must already have a standard Connection Offer which includes DUoS funded reinforcement.

     

    The customer can decide for an ICP to deliver the reinforcement works as well as the sole use works and must appoint an ICP to deliver this. The customer can then request a new SLC 15 quote with additional choice for Part Funded Reinforcement, or ask their appointed ICP to request this new SLC 15 quote on their behalf.

     

    When requested by a customer/ICP, we will issue a new SLC 15 offer giving the choice between SHEPD/SEPD  or the ICP delivering the PFR. The customer/ICP will need to confirm their selection on the connection offer acceptance document. For the option of the ICP delivering the PFR, the quotation will outline:

     

    • Additional obligations;
    • Timescales/milestones for the ICP to complete the reinforcement works; and
    • Payment terms associated with SHEPD/SEPD’s contribution for PFR works.

     

    Once the offer is accepted by the customer/ICP, the ICP will enter into an Adoption Agreement with us for the Reinforcement Works and Sole Use Works and will then progress construction in line with our current adoption processes.

     

    On completion of Reinforcement Works and Sole Use Works, a Completion Certificate will be completed by the ICP and signed by us where it passes routine inspection and testing requirements. At this point the adoption is completed and Reinforcement Assets and Sole Use Assets are adopted by us under the terms of the Adoption Agreement.

     

    Our contribution for Reinforcement Assets will be paid at Energisation to the Contracting Party who requested the Connection Offer.

  • Electric Vehicles After Diversity Maximum Demand

    When designing new developments or assessing the retrofit of existing developments, we have network design principles that should be adhered to.

    Care should be taken when considering the connection of Low Carbon Technologies (LCT) such as electric vehicles (EVs), as studies such as My Electric Avenue have shown that the use of slow chargers (3.5 kW) can more than double the peak demand of a domestic property.

     

    Charging events will often last for several hours at the sustained rate of the charge point, affecting the after diversity maximum demand (ADMD) of electric vehicle (EV) charging – as a result, the total kW rating of the EV charging point should be added to the ADMD values for domestic properties, unless there is more than 20 EV charging points on the feeder in which case we apply a 0.5 diversity factor which means half the total kW rating of the EV charging point can be used.

     

    In summary:

    •  ≤ 20 EV charging points connected to a feeder, EV demand = total kW rating of charger
    •  > 20 EV charging points connected to a feeder, EV demand = 0.5 x the total kW rating of charger

     

    Full guidance can be found in our Planning Standards for Low Voltage Distribution Network (TG-NET-NPL-001) policy document.

      We are committed to reviewing whether these figures should be revised in light of the latest datasets as they become available, and will update our stakeholders if/when we do