Business Electricity New Connection planning starts with confirming whether your premises genuinely needs a brand-new connection to the electricity network, rather than a change of tenancy, reconnection or meter upgrade.
For a new shop, restaurant, takeaway, office, warehouse, care business or commercial development, the process can involve the local electricity network operator, an electrical contractor, a chosen energy supplier and metering arrangements. Getting the sequence right can reduce avoidable delays before you open or occupy the site.
This guide explains seven practical steps for arranging a new commercial electricity supply in Great Britain, what information you may need, who does what and which mistakes commonly slow projects down.
Quick distinction: if the premises already has a live electricity supply and meter, you may not need a new network connection. You may instead need to register a change of occupancy, identify the existing supplier or arrange a new business electricity contract.
When Is a Business Electricity New Connection Needed?
A business electricity new connection is normally relevant when a commercial site has no existing connection to the local distribution network, a new unit is being created, or a development requires a separate electricity supply point.
Ofgem explains that a mains connection may be needed when building a new property or business premises, where a property has no electricity, when generation is being installed, or when certain connection alterations are required. You can read the regulator’s electricity connection guidance for the wider process.
Before starting a business electricity new connection, check whether a meter and supply already exist and establish whether you actually need a new contract, a meter change, an increased supply capacity or a reconnection. Paying for unnecessary connection work can add cost and complexity to a project.
Business Electricity New Connection: 7 Smart Steps
1. Confirm Your Electricity Load Requirement
For a business electricity new connection, work out how much electrical capacity the premises is likely to require before applying. A small office and a commercial kitchen can have very different demand because refrigeration, extraction, ovens, air conditioning, machinery, EV chargers and other equipment can significantly change the required load.
Ask a qualified electrical professional to help establish the expected maximum demand, whether single-phase or three-phase power is appropriate and whether future expansion should be included. Government connection guidance also recommends giving the network company clear information about building size, connection type and planned equipment so the application can be assessed efficiently. Read the GOV.UK connections action plan.
2. Identify the Local Network Operator
The Distribution Network Operator, usually shortened to DNO, runs the regional electricity distribution network that carries power to homes and businesses. Depending on the development, an Independent Distribution Network Operator, or IDNO, or an accredited Independent Connection Provider, known as an ICP, may also be involved.
For most SME projects, the key point is that a business electricity new connection is a network project first: your electricity supplier does not usually build the local network connection. Start by identifying the network company responsible for the location and ask what application route applies to your project.
3. Prepare the Connection Application
A business electricity new connection application may require more than the business address. The network company needs enough technical and site information to understand where and how the premises should connect.
- Full site and correspondence addresses
- Site plan showing the proposed meter or intake position
- Required electrical capacity or maximum demand
- Single-phase or three-phase requirement, where known
- Expected equipment and major electrical loads
- Target date for the premises to be ready
- Details of any EV charging, heat pumps or on-site generation
Incomplete information can lead to questions, redesign work or revised quotations, so it is worth checking the application carefully before submission.
4. Review the Connection Offer Carefully
The network company will assess the application and, where it can offer the connection, provide terms covering the proposed works, charges and expected delivery arrangements. The quote can depend on the site’s capacity requirement, available network capacity, cable route, excavation, traffic management, wayleaves or permissions and the complexity of the work.
5. Obtain and Check the MPAN
A new electricity supply point needs a Meter Point Administration Number, usually called an MPAN. It is the unique reference used to identify the electricity supply point in Great Britain and is separate from the physical meter serial number.
Once an MPAN has been created for the site, keep it with your project records because your supplier will need the correct supply details when setting up the account. Utility7’s MPAN number guide explains how this reference is used on business electricity accounts.
6. Arrange the Business Electricity Supplier and Meter
For a business electricity new connection, the physical connection and the electricity supply contract are related but separate parts of the project. After the supply point details are available, you can arrange an appropriate commercial electricity contract and the required metering process with the chosen supplier.
Supplier requirements can differ, particularly for larger or more complex sites. Be ready to provide the MPAN, business details, estimated annual consumption, expected energisation date and payment information. You can review Utility7’s business electricity service when you are ready to discuss commercial supply options.
7. Coordinate Energisation Before Your Opening Date
A business electricity new connection is not complete simply because cables have been installed. The site also needs the required internal electrical work, metering arrangements, supplier registration and authorisation needed for the supply to be energised.
Keep the DNO or connection provider, electrician, landlord or developer, supplier and meter parties aligned on the intended date. Avoid planning an opening day around an assumed connection date until the relevant organisations have confirmed their parts of the process.
Who Does What During a New Electricity Connection?
| Party | Typical Role | What the Business Should Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| DNO / network operator | Assesses and manages connection to the local distribution network. | Capacity, connection point, works, quote and programme. |
| ICP / IDNO | May undertake eligible connection work or own an independent network. | Scope, accreditation, adoption and interfaces with the DNO. |
| Electricity supplier | Provides the commercial electricity supply contract and coordinates required industry processes. | Contract, MPAN, estimated consumption and start arrangements. |
| Electrical contractor | Designs or completes the customer’s internal electrical installation. | Maximum demand, phases, readiness and required certification. |
What Affects Business Electricity New Connection Cost and Timing?
There is no single standard price or completion time for every business electricity new connection. A simple connection close to an existing network can be very different from a high-capacity commercial project that needs substantial civil or network work.
- Required electrical capacity
- Distance from a suitable network connection point
- Excavation and reinstatement requirements
- Road closures, permits or traffic management
- Land rights, wayleaves or third-party permissions
- Substation, cable or other infrastructure requirements
- Project design changes or incomplete information
Planning tip: apply as early as practical. Connection dates depend on the individual project, network capacity and required works. A lease completion date or planned opening date does not automatically determine when an electricity connection can be delivered.
Common New Connection Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying for a new connection when a supply already exists. First check the meter, MPAN and status of the existing supply.
- Underestimating maximum demand. Future equipment, refrigeration, EV charging or expansion can change the capacity requirement.
- Assuming the supplier and DNO perform the same role. Network connection, electricity supply and metering are separate workstreams.
- Submitting poor site information. Missing plans or unclear load details can create avoidable queries.
- Leaving the supplier contract until the last moment. Metering and registration need to align with the physical connection.
- Booking contractors or opening dates too tightly. Allow for dependencies, permissions and changes outside your direct control.
Business Electricity New Connection Checklist
- Confirm whether the site genuinely needs a new connection
- Calculate expected maximum demand with a competent professional
- Identify the network operator or appropriate connection provider
- Prepare the site plan and technical information
- Review the connection offer and responsibilities
- Record the new MPAN accurately
- Arrange the business electricity contract and metering
- Coordinate site readiness and energisation
Need Help With the Supply Side of Your New Connection?
If your MPAN is available and you are preparing to arrange the commercial electricity supply, Utility7 can help you review the information needed and discuss available business electricity options. There is no obligation to proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I know if my business needs a new electricity connection?
You may need one if the premises has no existing electricity network connection or a new commercial unit needs its own supply point. If a meter or MPAN already exists, first check whether the real requirement is a change of tenancy, reconnection, capacity upgrade or new supplier contract.
2. What is an MPAN on a new business electricity connection?
An MPAN is the Meter Point Administration Number that uniquely identifies an electricity supply point in Great Britain. It is not the same as the meter serial number. The MPAN is important when the supplier registers and manages the new electricity supply.
3. How long does a business electricity new connection take?
Timescales vary according to the required capacity, network availability, site works, permissions, excavation and project complexity. Ask the relevant network company for a project-specific programme and avoid relying on a generic timescale for your opening plan.
Connection requirements vary by site and network operator, so always confirm technical requirements, charges and timescales directly with the organisations responsible for your project.