IDNO/ICP

an explanation of what is an IDNO or ICP might be a good place to start Amanda . most of us probably know what a DNO is

ebee: 
 

an explanation of what is an IDNO or ICP might be a good place to start Amanda . most of us probably know what a DNO is

An independent distribution network operator or Independent connection provider. This site is in SP Energy networks area but 80% of the work is contestable and can be done by another company on their approved IDNO list. I'm looking to see if anyone else has gone down this route before and if its worth it. New connections are usually stressful enough without getting more parties involved :)  

Amanda

I did some years ago a warehouse conversion to flats in North London UKPN wanted silly money for the supply. In the end an DNO approved contractor did the civils and laying the cables under the road with the final connection by UKPN it was a lot cheaper.

I have inspected new build flats where the BNO and the LV supply were by SSE although this was in UKPN land. They have an IDNO division.

I also dis some inspection works on new blocks of flats in a new town being built to the East of London. Again supply and BNO by SSE. We arrived on site one morning to find the site facilities managers' phone red hot with owners and tenants of flats calling to say they had no electricity or water. I had my team run around the site to check the blocks of flats to see if they had a supply which hey dis not. I told the FM to call UKPN to say the HV had been lost to the site. He called only to find out that SSE were the IDNO for the whole site not UKPN. Turned out a digger on the extended site being built had gone through an HV cable. 

So you might want to contact SSE to see what they have to offer.

JP

An independent distribution network operator or Independent connection provider. This site is in SP Energy networks area but 80% of the work is contestable and can be done by another company on their approved IDNO list. I'm looking to see if anyone else has gone down this route before and if its worth it. New connections are usually stressful enough without getting more parties involved :)  

Too true Amanda, especially when the client sees a “saving” of £5k and quibbles at your bill for more than that spent trying and failing to co-ordinate the parties and then blames you for overrun and all the other issues.

If the client wishes to take it on board themselves, let them, but I wouldn't get involved with contestable work coordination, hey, it's bad enough trying the arrange metering on LV…. A client is now into week 11 for two LV 3-phase dumb whole current meters and I'm sure he isn't far off asking me to connect directly into the cut-out!!!!!!

Apparently it is a superior meter “engineer” required for 3-phase.

Not helped by me telling him I'm fairly sure they have a statutory 30 day limit to install metering. Unsure if this is chronological or working days.

Best of luck

Regards

BOD

perspicacious: 
 

An independent distribution network operator or Independent connection provider. This site is in SP Energy networks area but 80% of the work is contestable and can be done by another company on their approved IDNO list. I'm looking to see if anyone else has gone down this route before and if its worth it. New connections are usually stressful enough without getting more parties involved :)  

Too true Amanda, especially when the client sees a “saving” of £5k and quibbles at your bill for more than that spent trying and failing to co-ordinate the parties and then blames you for overrun and all the other issues.

If the client wishes to take it on board themselves, let them, but I wouldn't get involved with contestable work coordination, hey, it's bad enough trying the arrange metering on LV…. A client is now into week 11 for two LV 3-phase dumb whole current meters and I'm sure he isn't far off asking me to connect directly into the cut-out!!!!!!

Apparently it is a superior meter “engineer” required for 3-phase.

Not helped by me telling him I'm fairly sure they have a statutory 30 day limit to install metering. Unsure if this is chronological or working days.

Best of luck

Regards

BOD

Have very similar situations on a couple of projects unfortunately.  

I'm not sure about the meter installers but I was looking to see if there was any statutory limit for a supply upgrade/new transformer, but the terms and conditions just seemed to say ‘in a good time’. Saying that I'm not really sure what good it would do, if they don't have the availability then they aren't going to magic it up!

John Peckham: 
 

Amanda

I did some years ago a warehouse conversion to flats in North London UKPN wanted silly money for the supply. In the end an DNO approved contractor did the civils and laying the cables under the road with the final connection by UKPN it was a lot cheaper.

I have inspected new build flats where the BNO and the LV supply were by SSE although this was in UKPN land. They have an IDNO division.

I also dis some inspection works on new blocks of flats in a new town being built to the East of London. Again supply and BNO by SSE. We arrived on site one morning to find the site facilities managers' phone red hot with owners and tenants of flats calling to say they had no electricity or water. I had my team run around the site to check the blocks of flats to see if they had a supply which hey dis not. I told the FM to call UKPN to say the HV had been lost to the site. He called only to find out that SSE were the IDNO for the whole site not UKPN. Turned out a digger on the extended site being built had gone through an HV cable. 

So you might want to contact SSE to see what they have to offer.

 

JP

 

Thank you JP I'll take a look and see if SSE are on the list. 

Just out of interest when you say the BNO was by SSE, do you mean that they did everything from the point of entry at the building to the meters (were these central or in each apartment?) but UKPN made the connection from the road into the building? 

This is from WPD so it looks like your scenario is in the 14 week timescale Amanda.

Dare I ask when the site got planning permission and when the client realised he might actually need an electric supply?!!!!

Regards

BOD

Struggling to get a link so apologies for untidy post but it is hidden in new connections/price guide/on demand.

Got it to cut & paste!!!!
 

• Demand new connections

Notes

- Average time to quote is counted from the date the application form has been received from the customer.

- Average time to connect is counted from the date the payment for connection is received from the customer.

- These timescales are an indication only and may not reflect final timescales included in any regulatory returns following a data assurance process.

- ‘Prices from’ are provided on the basis of an existing network being available within 10m of each connection location. These indicative charges exclude any excavation/reinstatement, reinforcement, extension assets, diversion works or legal consents and land rights.

- These costs are for general illustration purposes only and are not to be relied upon should you require a more accurate price in respect of specific premises.

Yes 14 weeks was the typical time frames discussed when the quote was being arranged, the client made payment in a timely manner so can't blame them this time! It's not a new site, they are having an upgrade to accommodate quite a lot of new equipment being installed. The chap from the DNO is very helpful, but there is a backlog. 

Amanda

Yes the do all the BNO installation up to the meters in the riser cupboards on the floors. Also at as the BNO for maintenance and call outs post installation.

JP

the client made payment in a timely manner so can't blame them this time! 

I didn't realise that once the client has accepted the quote, there is the opportunity to get the contestable works refunded to pay the ICP.

Regards

BOD