DNOs and EV charging explained

Did you know that with every electric vehicle charger order at We Power Your Car, we have to contact your DNO before we can book your installation date?

In this blog, we will explain why the DNO plays a vital role in all electric vehicle charger installations, as well as what the DNO is and when your area-specific DNO would intervene in your installation.

What is a DNO?

DNO stands for Distribution Network Operator and, in simple terms, are the people in charge of your electricity supply. A DNO is licensed to distribute and manage the electricity from the national grid to our homes, businesses and elsewhere across the UK. In addition to being responsible for the poles, cables and towers that carry the electricity. Your DNO is essentially the middleman between the National Grid and your specific energy company, and there are different DNOs for different regions.

If you have any trouble with your power, for example, a power cut – the DNO are your first point of call. DNOs are also often associated with required upgrades to electrical infrastructure, especially for larger projects, such as electric vehicle chargers or hot tubs.

Why do I need to know about my DNO?

With every EV charger installation order, we need to contact the DNO before your installation can go ahead. We let your regional DNO know the maximum electricity demand at your property. Once your DNO has been notified, they will check that your electricity supply is adequate for installation. After the DNO has approved this, we can go ahead and book your installation date.

Please note that it is regulation to contact the DNO before installing your electric vehicle charger.

When would my DNO need to undertake work on my property?

There are some cases where the DNO will need to undertake work on your property before your installation can go ahead.

Some of the main issues include:

• You have a looped supply (when your property’s electricity supply is connected or “looped” with your neighbours). Your supply will need to be separated before you can have your charger installed.
• You require a fuse upgrade (if your main fuse cannot handle the electrical demand of your desired electric vehicle charger, you may need a fuse upgrade so the extra load the charger will be adding doesn’t blow your fuse). This is usually required if you have a 60 Amp fuse, and it needs to be upgraded to either 80 or 100 Amps.

The DNO will rarely need to intervene, and usually, your installation will be approved without any issues. However, if the DNO concludes that additional work needs to be completed before your EV charger can be installed, a delay will likely incur. Every DNO has different procedures, so timescales may vary. Please note we do not have any influence over your DNO’s speed of response, and there is nothing we can do about the delay in your installation. The DNO’s word is final, and we have no control over this, nor can we offer you a time scale as to when the work will be carried out and how long the additional work will take.

If this is the case, and your DNO does need to perform additional work on your property, your area-specific DNO will directly arrange any required work with you. For any questions concerning the DNO’s work, please contact them directly.

Any work your DNO carries out on your property will usually be free of charge. However, in some cases, your DNO may charge you for the work they complete. As it is your electricity supply, you would be responsible for this cost.

Who is my local DNO?

In total, there are six DNOs in the UK – Electricity North West, Northern Powergrid, Western Power Distribution, SSE Power Distribution,  Northern Ireland Electricity and SP Energy Networks.

To find your area-specific DNO, please see the table below.

You can find your DNO using your postcode via the Energy Networks website.

Interested in a home electric vehicle charger installation?

We handle the entire process on your behalf, including completing and submitting your application to your local DNO.

If you are looking to get an EV charger installed at your home, click below to get your free quote, or contact us for more information or any queries you may have.

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