National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) is the Distribution Network Operator for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South West England, and Wales. It serves around 8 million customers across one of the UK’s most geographically diverse network territories — from urban manufacturing corridors in the Midlands to rural coastal areas in Cornwall and Pembrokeshire.
For solar installers working in any of these regions, NGED is the DNO responsible for approving grid connections under G98 and G99. This guide covers the full application process, the transition from Western Power Distribution, export limiting requirements in the South West, and the SSEG process for smaller commercial systems.
WPD to NGED: What Changed?
Western Power Distribution operated four regional electricity distribution businesses in England and Wales for decades. In June 2021, National Grid acquired WPD from PPL Corporation. A phased rebrand followed, and in September 2023, all four WPD businesses were formally renamed National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED).
For solar installers and their customers, the practical impact is minimal:
- Existing approvals remain valid. Any G98 notification or G99 Offer issued under the WPD name is still legally effective. No reapplication or renotification is needed.
- Application portal and contact details changed. References to WPD portal URLs and WPD email addresses should be updated to NGED equivalents.
- Technical standards unchanged. G98, G99, and Engineering Recommendation G83 (for older installations) remain in force. NGED operates under the same ENA Engineering Recommendations as all GB DNOs.
If you have in-progress applications that were submitted under the WPD brand, check whether portal login details have been migrated. NGED sent migration instructions to registered portal users during the transition period. If you cannot access your portal account, contact NGED’s connections team directly.
WPD Applications
WPD G99 Offers that were accepted before the rebrand and are currently in the installation phase remain valid. When submitting commissioning test results, use the current NGED portal rather than any WPD-branded submission route. The application reference number stays the same.
NGED Service Territory
NGED operates across four licence areas, each covering a distinct geographic region:
| Licence Area | Key Counties / Areas |
|---|---|
| East Midlands | Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire |
| West Midlands | Staffordshire, West Midlands metropolitan, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire |
| South West | Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, parts of Hampshire |
| Wales | All of Wales |
Installers working near the boundaries of these areas — particularly between the South West and South Eastern (UKPN) area, or between the East Midlands and East England — should check postcodes carefully. The UK Power Networks guide covers the adjacent UKPN territory.
G98 vs G99 Under NGED
The same national thresholds apply with NGED as with all UK DNOs:
| G98 | G99 | |
|---|---|---|
| Export capacity per phase | Up to 16A (≈3.68 kW single-phase) | Above 16A per phase |
| Prior approval needed | No — notify within 28 days of commissioning | Yes — Offer required before installation |
| Commissioning test | No | Yes |
For a detailed comparison, see the G98 vs G99 guide.
Most residential rooftop systems — typically 4 kW on a single-phase supply — fall under G98. Larger residential or any commercial system almost always requires G99.
The NGED Connections Portal
All G98 notifications and G99 applications are submitted through NGED’s online connections portal, accessible from the NGED website at nationalgrid.co.uk/electricity-distribution.
The portal supports:
- Generation connection enquiries
- G98 notification submission
- G99 application submission and document upload
- Application status tracking
- Offer review and acceptance
- Commissioning test result submission
Register as an installer or contractor to access generation connection features. NGED recommends using one account per organisation to maintain a consolidated project history.
G98 Notification Process for NGED
For systems up to 16A per phase:
- Install and commission the system in compliance with G98 and MCS standards.
- Within 28 days of commissioning, submit a G98 notification through the NGED portal.
- Provide: site address, inverter make and model, G98 type-test certificate reference, installed capacity in kW, and MCS certificate number.
- NGED acknowledges the notification — no approval is required or issued.
The MCS-registered installer carries the legal obligation to notify, not the property owner.
G99 Application Process for NGED
Stage 1: Generation Connection Enquiry
Before preparing a full G99 application, submit a generation connection enquiry via the NGED portal. This identifies:
- Available network capacity at the proposed connection point
- Whether export limitation is likely to be required
- The appropriate voltage level for connection (LV or HV)
- Any likely reinforcement requirements for larger systems
NGED typically responds to connection enquiries within five working days. The enquiry result shapes the application and prevents surprises at the Offer stage.
Stage 2: G99 Application Submission
Submit the complete application through the NGED portal. Required documents for a standard LV application:
- Completed G99 application form
- Single-line diagram showing generation equipment, protection, metering, and isolation
- Site layout drawing
- Inverter datasheet and G99 type-test certificate (or G99 compliance statement from the manufacturer)
- Earthing arrangement details
- Protection relay settings and commissioning test certificates (where dedicated protection is required)
- Planning permission reference or confirmation of permitted development
For commercial systems over 50 kW, a Protection and Automation (P&A) report prepared by a competent engineer is also required. This report must demonstrate that the proposed protection scheme meets the requirements of G99 and any NGED supplementary conditions.
Pro Tip
Use solar design software that generates G99-compliant single-line diagrams and equipment schedules directly from your system design. This removes a common source of application errors and reduces the back-and-forth with NGED’s technical team when documents are returned for correction.
Stage 3: Technical Assessment
NGED assesses the application against network capacity, technical standards, and any specific network conditions at the connection point. For standard LV applications in areas with available capacity, the assessment runs within the 45-working-day target.
Extensions beyond 45 working days are possible for:
- Sites in constrained network areas (common in parts of the South West)
- Systems requiring HV connection
- Applications triggering reinforcement assessments
NGED is required to keep applicants informed during any extension.
Stage 4: Connection Offer
NGED issues a formal Connection Offer setting out:
- Approved connected capacity
- Export limitation conditions (if any)
- Protection and metering specifications
- Connection cost breakdown
- Offer validity period (typically 30 days for acceptance)
Review the Offer in full before accepting. Accept through the NGED portal — written acceptance creates the contractual agreement for the connection.
Stage 5: Installation and Commissioning
Install the system per the accepted Offer conditions, G99, and BS 7671. Carry out the G99 commissioning tests on completion. For test procedure details, see the G99 commissioning test guide.
Submit commissioning test results and the completed Commissioning Declaration to NGED via the portal. NGED registers the generation unit on their network database, completing the formal connection process.
SSEG Process for Small Commercial Systems
NGED uses the term Small Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) to describe systems that connect under G99 but do not trigger a full network study — typically LV connections below 50 kW on three-phase supply.
The SSEG process:
- Follows the standard G99 application route via the connections portal
- Is assessed on a simplified technical basis compared to larger commercial or HV applications
- Still requires all standard G99 documentation, but the protection requirements are less complex
- Does not typically require a formal P&A report for systems below 50 kW
For systems between 50 kW and 1 MW on LV or HV, a full G99 application with a P&A report is required.
Export Limiting in the South West
The South West of England has one of the highest rates of solar PV deployment per household in the UK, driven by high irradiance levels in Devon and Cornwall. This has put significant pressure on parts of the South West NGED network.
Consequences for new G99 applications in the South West:
- Export limitation conditions are applied more frequently than in other NGED regions
- Some network areas have reached saturation — 0 kW export conditions apply in the most constrained locations
- Network capacity at the LV transformer level varies significantly even within a single postcode
- NGED has invested in active network management (ANM) technology in parts of Cornwall and Devon to allow dynamic export limiting rather than fixed zero-export conditions
Warning
In South West England, do not project export tariff income to customers until NGED has confirmed the export limit in a Connection Offer. A 0 kW export condition fundamentally changes the system economics. This is particularly relevant for large ground-mount or commercial rooftop systems in Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset.
If a customer’s project depends on export revenue and a 0 kW condition is imposed, the options are:
- Request a revised Offer with a modest export allowance (NGED may agree depending on network conditions)
- Specify a battery storage system to shift generation to self-consumption
- Reduce the installed capacity to bring total generation closer to the site’s self-consumption profile
Commercial G99 Process for Systems Over 50 kW
For commercial systems above 50 kW, the G99 process involves additional technical requirements:
| System Size | Key Additional Requirements |
|---|---|
| 50–100 kW LV | Protection and Automation report, dedicated protection relay |
| 100 kW–1 MW LV | Full engineering study, possible network reinforcement |
| Above 1 MW | HV connection required, full G99 application plus grid code compliance |
Commercial applicants should engage NGED’s connections team early — ideally at feasibility stage — to understand the likely technical and commercial requirements before committing to a site or system specification.
Wales and Bilingual Requirements
For installations in Wales, NGED operates under the same technical standards as in England. There are no additional Welsh-specific G99 requirements. Planning applications in Wales are subject to Welsh planning policy, but the DNO connection process itself is identical. See the Wales solar compliance overview for planning and policy context.
Connection Costs with NGED
NGED’s connection costs follow the same cost-reflective structure as other GB DNOs:
| System Size | Indicative Cost Range |
|---|---|
| G98 LV (residential) | No connection charge; notification only |
| G99 LV up to 50 kW | £500–£3,000 (metering, assessment, admin) |
| G99 LV 50–100 kW | £2,000–£8,000 |
| G99 LV/HV 100 kW–1 MW | £8,000–£50,000+ depending on reinforcement |
These are indicative ranges. Actual costs depend on network conditions at the specific site and will be stated in the Connection Offer.
Using Solar Design Software for NGED Applications
Preparing a complete NGED G99 application requires accurate technical documentation — single-line diagrams, equipment schedules, and protection settings that match the installed system exactly. Using solar software that produces these documents as a by-product of the system design process removes the risk of discrepancies between the design and the submitted application.
With solar design software, you can generate the technical documentation NGED requires alongside the customer-facing proposal and financial model — reducing application preparation time and minimising document rejection rates.
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NGED Contact Information
| Contact Purpose | Details |
|---|---|
| NGED connections portal | nationalgrid.co.uk/electricity-distribution |
| Connections enquiries | Via portal contact form |
| NGED main website | nationalgrid.co.uk |
| ENA Engineering Recommendations | energynetworks.org |
Related Compliance Resources
- G98 vs G99: Which Applies to Your System?
- G99 Application Guide — Full Process
- G99 Commissioning Test Requirements
- UK Power Networks: G99 Application Guide — London, South East, East England
- Northern Powergrid: G99 Application Guide — North East England, Yorkshire
- UK Solar Compliance Overview
- Wales Solar Compliance
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NGED the same as Western Power Distribution (WPD)?
Yes. Western Power Distribution was acquired by National Grid in 2021 and rebranded as National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) in September 2023. The operational territory, technical standards, and application processes remain the same. Existing G98 and G99 approvals issued under the WPD name remain valid — no reapplication is required.
How does NGED handle export limiting in the South West?
The South West of England has one of the highest rates of solar PV penetration in the UK, and parts of the NGED South West network are approaching generation saturation. NGED frequently applies export limitation conditions in these areas, ranging from reduced export caps to 0 kW export in the most constrained locations. Running a generation connection enquiry before the full G99 application will flag any export limiting likely to be required at the proposed site.
What is the SSEG process for small systems under G99 with NGED?
NGED uses the term Small Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) for systems that connect under G99 but fall below the threshold triggering a full network study — typically single-phase and three-phase LV connections below 50 kW. The SSEG process follows the standard G99 application route via the NGED connections portal but is assessed on a simplified technical basis. Larger systems require a full Protection and Automation study.
What documents does NGED require for a G99 application?
A standard NGED G99 application requires: completed G99 application form, single-line diagram, site layout, inverter datasheet with G99 type-test certificate or compliance statement, earthing arrangements, protection relay settings (for systems requiring dedicated protection), and planning permission reference or permitted development confirmation. Commercial systems over 50 kW additionally require a Protection and Automation report.
