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  • Question on DNO Applications?

    Posted by Tom Bryan on April 26, 2026 at 9:10 am

    DNO Applications

    I wanted to share one of our current projects and the response from the National Grid, this application is for a 6kW inverter, no other inverters at the property so generalising this should always come under the fast track route.

    However as you can see in the response, due to the infrastructure around the area we are looking to install, fast track is not an option.

    These things do happen and we will be liaising with the customer and DNO for an outcome that will work for both parties.

    Just wanted to highlight to everyone that assumptions really shouldn’t be made before installation and for those considering solar to ensure your chosen installer is getting the permission (if applicable) to fit before they install.

    Jim Simpson replied 9 hours, 8 minutes ago 10 Members · 12 Replies
  • 12 Replies
  • Kevin Hann

    Member
    April 26, 2026 at 9:12 am

    We make it very clear in our proposal on the first page that installation won’t start until DNO approval has been received

    • Tom Bryan

      Member
      April 26, 2026 at 9:12 am

      Exactly how we operate and it should be, unfortunately from this forum i see a lot that don’t.

    • Kevin Hann

      Member
      April 26, 2026 at 9:13 am

      customers suffer and then the good ones get tarred with the same brush.

    • Tom Bryan

      Member
      April 26, 2026 at 9:14 am

      You’re not wrong, another local installer and i have recently noticed a company near us proposing different roof aspects on the same strings with no mention of optimisers. Inverters proposed aren’t suitable for the homeowner or the amount of panels, to top it off their prices are so low its as good as the price of our materials for the jobs. Scary low and makes you wonder where they are cutting corners to make it pay

  • Lee Parker

    Member
    April 26, 2026 at 9:14 am

    I really appreciate you posting this. The uncertainty of this was bothering me. I remember the first time I got clobbered with a £300 IDNO fee. No mention of it anywhere before, just at the end to get the approval

  • Martin Barker

    Member
    April 26, 2026 at 9:15 am

    This is awful practice by NGED.

    They specifically state that the issue is that the existing grid is operating outside of their self-determined limits… but instead of fixing that issue at their cost, they want to undertake an assessment to see if they can ignore the issue for now and charge you for the pleasure.

  • Michael Davis

    Member
    April 26, 2026 at 9:16 am

    The fee will be between £189.60 inc vat and what ??

    • Neil Deyes

      Member
      April 26, 2026 at 9:16 am

      potentially a very big number. It depends on your project size and location. I used to apply for connections for renewable energy projects in the range 1MW to 100MW and the (G99) application fees could be tens of thousands of pounds.

  • Robert Oneill

    Member
    April 26, 2026 at 9:17 am

    Interestingly since the 1st April NGED now charge £190 fee for any full G99 application and and G99 SGI 1, 2 or 3 that fails the fast track assessment on earth loop impedance and has to be progressed to full G99 with network studies.

    I contacted and chatted with 3 long term NGED planners I have been dealing with over the last 2-3 years to get the full picture.

    As such I have now altered our quote policy that any G99 system quote for any DNO has a £200 fee added to the quote, just in case.

  • Ron Glegg

    Member
    April 26, 2026 at 9:18 am

    I just had one with fee 153 plus vat

  • Sam Johnson

    Member
    April 26, 2026 at 9:19 am

    I’ve had to pay for my 11kw inverter, 153 plus VAT

  • Jim Simpson

    Member
    April 26, 2026 at 9:19 am

    Still a carve out for fast track which covers most domestic installations?

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