How it works
How we manage your utility applications, step by step
From your first enquiry to the day the supplies go live. Here is what happens at each stage, how long it typically takes, what we need from you and what you pay to whom.
We run the applications. The operators build the connections.
Every utility connection in Great Britain goes through the company that owns the network: the electricity network operator, the gas network, the water and sewerage company, and a broadband network such as Openreach. Much of the physical work can also be done by accredited independent contractors.
Our job is everything around that work. We find out who covers your site, work out what you need, prepare and submit the applications, get competing offers where the rules allow, check each one and coordinate the dates with your build. The process is the same whether you are building one house or two hundred. The detail and the number of operators change.
Who we work with
- Self-builders building one home
- Developers and housebuilders on multi-plot sites
- Commercial and industrial owners and tenants
- Architects, planning consultants and contractors acting for a client
We cover England, Wales and Scotland.
Eight stages from enquiry to live supplies
The badges show typical timings that operators publish. They are a guide, not a promise, and they vary by operator and by site.
What makes it take longer
New substations, network reinforcement, long mains, wayleaves over third-party land and road permits all add time. Thames Water, for example, says planning a service connection date can take up to three months because of permits. We give you a realistic programme once we know the site.
Want a quick view for your project? Try our connection planner, or read how long a new connection takes.
- 1
You tell us about the site
Send the address, plans and what you are building through our quote form. Rough details are fine at this stage.
- 2
We confirm the route and quote our fee
We identify the operators that cover your site, the applications you need and any early risks to cost or timing. Then we send a fixed quote for managing it.
- 3
Early checks, where they help
On larger or uncertain sites we ask for budget estimates, which are indicative and not binding, and pre-development enquiries to the water company about capacity.
- 4
Applications prepared and submitted
We prepare each application with the drawings, loads, meter positions and dates in the format each operator asks for, and send them in together.
- 5
Offers come in
Electricity quote times are set by national standards. Gas quotes take 4 to 21 working days depending on the load. Bristol Water, for example, aims to quote a service connection within 28 days. Independent offers are requested at the same time.
- 6
We check, compare and you accept
We check each offer for scope, exclusions and timing, compare alternatives like for like and explain our recommendation. You accept and pay the operator you choose.
- 7
Works planned and built
We agree dates and tell your builder what groundwork to do. Under the gas networks' standards, start and finish dates are offered within 17 days of acceptance, and Cadent says its works typically take 6 to 8 weeks from payment.
- 8
Connections, meters and handover
The operators make the final connections. We remind you to book an energy supplier for the meters and broadband for occupation, and confirm every supply is live.
Information to have ready
Send what you have. We'll tell you what's missing and help you put the rest together.
- Site address, postcode and a location plan with the site edged in red
- Planning permission and the approved drawings
- Site layout, with plot numbers on developments
- Number and type of homes or units
- Heating type, plus any EV chargers, solar panels or batteries
- Preferred meter positions
- Drainage layout, if you are connecting to a public sewer
- Details of any existing supplies or utility records
- When you need each supply, and any phasing
- A signed letter of authority, so we can apply for you
You stay the customer, we act for you
In most cases the connection offers are made out to you, or your company, as the owner or developer. A letter of authority lets us deal with the operators on your behalf: submitting applications, answering their questions and agreeing dates.
That means you keep a direct contract with each operator, and you can see exactly what each one charges. If you have already started an application, send us what you have and we'll pick it up from there.
Already have a quote?
We can check an offer you already hold before you accept it, and tell you whether it's worth asking for an alternative.
What we do, and what we don't
We manage applications. We don't install anything, so our advice isn't tied to selling you our own work.
We do
- Confirm which operators cover your site and what each one needs
- Work out loads and supply sizes with you
- Prepare and submit complete applications
- Ask for independent offers where the work is contestable
- Check every offer for scope, exclusions, timing and cost
- Handle queries, acceptance paperwork and dates
- Tell your builder what groundwork to do, and when
- Chase each operator until the supplies are live
We don't
- Dig trenches, lay cables or pipes, or make connections
- Supply energy or fit meters (your supplier does that)
- Design off-mains drainage such as treatment plants
- Set operator prices, capacity or connection dates
- Guarantee what an operator will offer or when
- Work in Northern Ireland
Network capacity, prices and dates are set by the operators. What we can do is make sure your applications are complete, on time and followed through.
How our fee works, and what you pay the operators
There are two kinds of cost: our fee for managing the applications, and the operators' own charges for the connections.
Our fee
- Quotes are free and no-obligation. Tell us about the site and we'll send a quote for managing it.
- Agreed and fixed before we start. You know exactly what our fee is before any work begins.
- Clear scope. Our quote lists the utilities and applications it covers, so you know what's included.
What you pay the operators directly
The connection charges are set by each operator and paid to them. Some are payable even before you accept an offer, so we tell you about them up front.
| Charge | Paid to | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity connection | DNO, IDNO or ICP | NGED's published guide shows about £2,500 + VAT for one home (indicative, NGED areas only). |
| Assessment and design fee | Electricity network operator | Charged for preparing an offer, whether or not you accept it. When it is charged varies by operator. |
| Gas connection | Gas network or UIP | Quoted case by case. Cadent asks for offers to be accepted and paid within 90 days. |
| Water connection and infrastructure charges | Water company or self-lay provider | Published each year by each company. Affinity Water's 2026/27 infrastructure charge, for example, is £615. |
| Pre-development enquiry | Water company | Optional, but encouraged on larger sites. Anglian Water's 2025/26 fee is £741 for water and wastewater. |
| Sewer connection and adoption | Sewerage company | Fees for Section 106 connections and Section 104 adoption are in each company's charging arrangements. |
| Broadband | Openreach or another network | Openreach full fibre is free on sites of 20 or more premises. Smaller sites pay a contribution. |
| Meters and energy | Your energy supplier | The supplier fits the meter and bills you for the energy you use. |
Your builder's groundworks, such as trenches and ducts on your own land, are usually a separate cost. Read our connection costs guide.
Questions about how we work
How much do you charge?
Our fee depends on the site and the number of utilities, and it is agreed and fixed before we start. Our quote is free and there is no obligation to go ahead.
Do you do the connection work?
No. The network operators, water companies and accredited independent providers do the physical work. We manage the applications and the process, so we can compare their offers rather than sell you our own.
Who pays the network operators?
You do, directly. The offers are usually made out to you as the owner or developer, so you see exactly what each operator charges.
How long does the whole process take?
For a simple supply, often a few months from a complete application. Larger sites, new substations or road works take longer. We give you a realistic programme once we know the site.
Can you take over an application I have already started?
Yes. Send us what you have so far and a letter of authority, and we will pick it up from where it is.
What is a letter of authority?
A short signed letter that lets us deal with the network operators and water company on your behalf. Operators ask for one when an agent applies for the owner.
Do you cover the whole of the UK?
We cover England, Wales and Scotland. We don't handle applications in Northern Ireland.
Ready to start?
Tell us about the site and the utilities you need. We'll come back with the right route and a fixed quote for managing it.