Ofgem’s recent announcement approving proposals to reform Britain’s connections process, known as ‘Connections Reform’, marks a significant step in making the necessary changes required to streamline the electricity connection arrangements in Great Britain, crucial for achieving the government’s Clean Power by 2030 (CP2030) goals.
As part of Connections Reform, NESO will shortly begin the ‘Gate 2 to Whole Queue’ process: customers with existing agreements, who wish to apply for Gate 2 contracts, must submit evidence to show they meet the new ‘readiness criteria’, and will be assessed for strategic alignment.
NESO has advised that the window for transmission-connected customers to submit their evidence will open on 8 July and close on 29 July.
To support customers in submitting their evidence, NESO has published an Evidence Submission Handbook in partnership with Energy Networks Association (ENA) and network companies to serve as a single, accessible guide outlining what’s required for a successful submission. We encourage customers to familiarise themselves with the handbook and engage with the NESO early to understand requirements for this process.
- Further details are available at: Evidence Handbook | National Energy System Operator
- Join NESO's regular webinars designed to help you get ready for the upcoming Connections Reform evidence submission window: Customer Connection events | National Energy System Operator
Important note: Please bear with us while we work on updating our Connections pages to reflect the new connections process.
Research Assistant update notice
As part of our ongoing commitment to providing accurate and relevant information, we have removed the Research Assistant tool from our site.
This decision reflects recent industry changes, including Connections Reform, and the evolving roles of National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) and the National Energy System Operator (NESO). We are currently reviewing and updating our digital tools to ensure they align with the latest developments and continue to meet the needs of our customers and stakeholders. This review will confirm whether the removal of the Research Assistant is temporary or permanent.
We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to check back soon for updated content. If there’s specific content you’d like us to include in future updates, we’d love to hear from you at [email protected]

Our detailed connections process
Take a look at a step by step connections process breakdown to find out what you can expect during your project.