Helping new customers connect to the electricity network is one of the most critical services provided by distribution network operators (DNOs). It enables new homes to be built and occupied, new businesses to start trading and new forms of generation to produce energy.
We expect DNOs to provide good service to customers that are seeking to connect. To encourage this we have introduced a new incentive – the Incentive on Connections Engagement (ICE). Under the ICE, DNOs must provide evidence that they have engaged with their larger connection stakeholders and responded to their needs. If they fail to do this, they could incur a penalty.
DNOs submit evidence of their stakeholder engagement in two parts: a Looking Back report on their activities during the previous year demonstrating how they have met the needs of large connection customers; and a Looking Forward plan for the coming year describing the activities the DNO plans to undertake.
We are seeking your views separately on both the ‘Looking Back’ and the ‘Looking Forward’ sections of the submissions from each DNO. Your responses to this open letter will inform our assessment of each DNO’s submissions.
The closing date for responses is 17 August 2016. Responses should be sent to connections@ofgem.gov.uk.