The Government is introducing legislation to allow distribution network operators to require payment of reasonable costs incurred in developing a connection offer, as a precondition for issuing the offer. The Regulations are being laid in Parliament on 28 February 2018, and are expected to come into effect on 6 April 2018.
We support the Government’s view that this is fairer than the current arrangements where only those customers who accept connection offers are charged these costs. It should also help ensure a more efficient connection process.
As part of the implementation of the new legislation, we are proposing changes to the electricity distribution licences. The effect of these changes is to exempt the licensee from the obligation to offer terms for the making of a connection under section 16(1) of the Electricity Act 1989, where the requester has not paid the relevant connection offer expenses required by the licensee within the reasonable timescales requested by the licensee.
We welcome your responses to this consultation by 28 March 2018.