We will require a completed application form to provide details of the type and size of the connection you require. In addition, you will need to enclose:

• A Site Location Plan – this should identify adjacent roads and buildings
• A Site Layout Plan – this should include your proposed meter location(s)
• An Energy Networks Association (ENA) EV/HP application form if you are installing electric vehicle charging and/or heat pump installations
• A Manufacturer’s specification sheet for any electric boilers, generation units or similar electrical equipment
• Details of any potentially disturbing equipment such as motors and welders

When we receive your application form we will make an assessment of the works required and associated costs. Once we have completed our assessment we will send you a connection offer. These are valid for 90 days and the works should normally be completed within 12 months from the date of acceptance. This is subject to change; for example, we may need to obtain permissions from third party landowners or the highways agency prior to commencing any works.

Each application is individually assessed and costs are determined in line with our Connection Charging Methodology Statements.

To help give you an idea of the potential costs of connection, we have produced a table of average costs and timescales and a self-serve budget estimate tool which you can use to calculate indicative prices for your site.

Your connection offer will reflect the cost of providing the connections you have requested and will take account of;

• the type of surface to be excavated and reinstated by our teams in the highway or third party land, e.g. road, tarmac footpath, block paving, turf;
• the distance from the existing network mains cable;
• the number of connections to be provided;
• whether or not we need to obtain legal permissions and consents;
• known traffic management costs such as temporary traffic lights and road closures.

In some instances, there may not be enough capacity available on the existing network and we may need to upgrade equipment or install a new transformer. We will discuss this with you once we have completed our initial studies.

We are required to comply with a set of standard timescales under the Connection Guaranteed Standards of Performance although we often issue connections offers in advance of the target deadline.

To ensure your safety when digging on your own land, please visit our How to dig safely page.

Some methods of building do not allow PME, in particular multi-occupancy steel framed buildings, in which case an alternative earthing solution can be provided by your electrical contractor. If we identify that PME cannot be provided for your premises, we will discuss this with youSome methods of building do not allow PME, in particular multi-occupancy steel framed buildings, in which case an alternative earthing solution can be provided by your electrical contractor. If we identify that PME cannot be provided for your premises, we will discuss this with you.

We will include within the Connection Offer a series of milestones that you must meet or risk losing your Offer. The milestones set prescribed periods that take effect from the acceptance date of the Connection Offer and indicate certain key stages in the scheme’s development that you must meet. The milestones provide a mechanism under which we can monitor the progress of a scheme and, if any milestone is missed (or likely to be missed) we can liaise with you to discuss progress.

For more information on the background to the introduction of milestones, the typical milestones and timescales included within a Connection Offer and how these are managed by WPD, please see our guidance on extension of validity acceptance. 

The steps associated with requesting a single commercial connection greater than 69kVA are set out below:

Major projects, usually greater than 5MVA:

The following guidance documents contain further information relating to the:

• information which is available prior to making an application for connection
• application and Connection Offer process
• post-acceptance process

EHV/132kV guidance document 

HV/LV guidance document