Letter of Authority

A Letter of Authority is a signed document confirming that the customer, landowner or occupier has authorised another person or organisation to act on their behalf in relation to a connection application.

It explains who has given authority, who is authorised to act and what actions they are allowed to carry out.

A Letter of Authority helps us confirm that we are taking instructions from an applicant who has permission to act for the customer, landowner or occupier.

This requirement forms part of the minimum information set out in Ofgem's Regulatory Instructions and Guidance (RIGs).

A Letter of Authority forms part of the minimum information required for certain connection quotations.

First check whether your application is covered by one of the exemptions below. If it is not exempt, use the table to identify whose authority you need.

Subject to the exemptions below, a Letter of Authority is required for metered demand quotations, also known as full works quotations.

For quotations covering only non-contestable work, meaning the parts of the work that only National Grid Electricity Distribution can carry out, a Letter of Authority is required where the requested demand is 5 MVA or above. These are sometimes called SLC15 quotations.

The table below sets out the scenarios where a Letter of Authority may or may not be required.

Person or organisation giving authority

Include:

• the legal name of the customer and/or landowner giving authority
• the company number, if applicable
• the registered or correspondence address
• the name and role of the authorised signatory

Applicant or agent

Include:

• the legal name of the applicant or agent
• the company number, if applicable
• the registered address
• the name, email address and phone number of the main contact

Site details

Include:

• the full address of the site covered by the Letter of Authority
• a schedule of sites, with each site clearly identified, if the Letter of Authority covers more than one site

Scope of authority

The Letter of Authority should clearly set out:

• the connection application or applications the applicant is authorised to submit and manage
• whether the applicant is authorised to receive and discuss technical and commercial information with National Grid Electricity Distribution
• who quotations and other formal correspondence should be addressed to
• whether the applicant is authorised to accept quotations and/or enter contracts on behalf of the customer
• whether the applicant should be named as the payee of invoices on behalf of the customer, where applicable

How long is it valid

Include:

• the date the authority starts
• the date it expires

A Letter of Authority will usually be valid for no more than 12 months from the date it is signed.

Signing the Letter of Authority

• If the customer is a company, issue the Letter of Authority on its letterhead.
• It must be signed and dated by someone authorised to sign for the customer, landowner or occupier.
• For SLC15 quotations, a company director's signature is preferred.
• If an Independent Connection Provider cannot provide a director's signature, we may accept another authorised signatory where the company provides evidence that the person is authorised to sign.

For metered demand quotations, you do not normally need a Letter of Authority for:

• one low-voltage, single-phase connection
• small low-voltage projects involving:
  • two to four single-phase domestic services
  • one two- or three-phase whole-current metered connection
• a Point of Connection-only, or SLC15, quotation below 5 MVA
• a stand-alone diversion
• a service alteration
• a Budget Estimate
• a Feasibility Study

Even where an exemption applies, we reserve the right to request a Letter of Authority if we need to confirm that the applicant has permission to act.

You do not normally need a Letter of Authority for a stanadrd electric vehicle charger, heat pump or similar low carbon technology application where the work falls within one of the exemptions above, for example an exempt low-voltage application or service alteration.

You may need one if you are also applying on the customer’s behalf for a separate connection quotation, larger scheme or other application that is not covered by an exemption.