Applying to connect and receiving your offer

To take the next step to connect, we ask you to complete the connections application form.

We appreciate that the application form is technical and complicated - there are many stages to the connections process which require a lot of information. Our Application Form User Guide takes you through the application process, step-by-step. Please let us know If you’d like help completing the form.

Once completed, your application form and fee will need to be submitted directly to the Electricity System Operator (ESO) as they are the party whom you will have a contract. 

We’ll check through the application form to ensure we have all the information we need. The ESO will then work with us to develop your connection offer. This is when your application will ‘clock start’. Your ESO Contract Manager will notify you at this point and they will send you your offer within 90 calendar days. When your application ‘clock starts’ we’ll begin designing your connection using the standard planning data and programme details you provide. If you have any queries at this stage, please contact your ESO Contract Manager.

Who is involved at this stage? 

A specialised team including your dedicated Account Manager, Power System Engineers and Feasibility Engineers, will work with you to design your connection to the network. Our Power Systems Engineers undertake computer-based study work to assess the electrical impact of your connection on the network. They run thermal, fault level and other studies to specify equipment ratings and also understand the wider impact of your connection. To do this, they will use industry standards, such as the Security and Quality of Supply Standard (SQSS), to ensure your connection offer is the most economic and efficient solution.

Our Feasibility Engineers work with the Power System Engineers to design the practical solution for your connection, taking into account site specific factors and feasibility information. Once your connection design has been agreed, your Account Manager will collate all the relevant information into a contract which is then sent to the ESO and a connection agreement contract will be sent to you.

Obtaining a lease for your connection

When applying to connect, you may also need to secure an easement for your connection or you may intend to utilise National Grid’s portfolio of non-operational land for your connection. Note that any easements or lease will not be directly secured through your connection agreement; however, completion of your connection will be dependent on securing these. To discuss easements or leases you will need to contact our Land & Property team.

National Grid’s Land and Property Team is responsible for agreeing easements, leases and licences across this portfolio. This includes areas needed for transmission connected generation as well as for temporary works compounds and cable rights.