DNO Application Timelines in 2026: What to Actually Expect
How long G98, G99 and G100 applications take with each UK DNO in 2026, and what predicts a fast versus slow application.
Technical
DNO turnaround in 2026 (typical, by region)
| DNO | G98 (28-day) | G99 sub-50kVA | G99 50-250kVA | G99 250kVA-1MVA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NGED (formerly Western Power Distribution) | 28 days fast-track | 6-8 weeks | 8-12 weeks | 12-16 weeks |
| NGED (United Kingdom / SW) | 28 days fast-track | 8-12 weeks | 10-16 weeks | 14-22 weeks |
| Northern Powergrid | 28 days fast-track | 6-10 weeks | 8-14 weeks | 14-20 weeks |
| UK Power Networks (E&SE) | 28 days fast-track | 10-16 weeks | 16-26 weeks | 26-52 weeks |
| Electricity North West | 28 days fast-track | 6-10 weeks | 10-14 weeks | 14-22 weeks |
| Scottish Power Energy Networks | 28 days fast-track | 10-14 weeks | 14-22 weeks | 22-32 weeks |
What predicts a fast application
- Modern industrial estates with dedicated infrastructure (iPort, Pride Park, i54, Cambridge Science Park) — designed with G99 headroom
- Rural sites with under-used 11kV feeders — most of rural Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire still has capacity
- Sub-50kVA applications on any network — almost always fast-track
- G100 export-limited designs — DNO has no objection because nothing exports beyond import capacity
What predicts a slow application
- UK Power Networks territory — South East England congestion is the worst in the UK in 2026
- M4 data centre corridor — practically full
- Above 1MVA with no reinforcement contribution offered
- Voltage-constrained rural feeders at end of long lines
How KMM speeds it up
We submit DNO applications week 1 of every project, in parallel with planning and design work — not at the end. We also know which contacts at each DNO accelerate review (most have informal "fast-lane" engineers who handle clean applications). For complex projects we engage the DNO at pre-application stage to flag the project before paperwork arrives.
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