Ofgem’s plans to transform the connections experience

On 25 September 2026, Ofgem published its consultation on Transforming the Connections Experience, setting out its next steps following the Connections End-to-End Review. The consultation builds on the proposals and decisions set out in Ofgem’s November 2024 and December 2025 consultations, and reflects extensive stakeholder engagement during 2026 which highlighted concerns regarding inconsistent service standards, poor visibility of project progress, unclear connection offers, and insufficient accountability for delays.

The consultation takes forward the findings and recommendations arising from the following themes of the End-to-End Review, proposing measures to strengthen the regulatory framework governing the electricity grid connections process:

Theme 2: Improved standards of service across the customer journey;
Theme 3: Requirements on networks to meet connection dates in connection agreements;
Theme 4: Quality of connection offers and associated documentation;
Theme 5: Ambition of connection offers: and
Theme 7: Provisions and guidance for determination.

This article examines Ofgem’s decisions across four key areas.

Minimum requirements across the connections journey

There was concern across stakeholders that the existing standards of service applicable to Distribution Network Owners (DNOs), Transmission Owners (TOs), and NESO, (the “Network Companies”) only focus on connection application/offer creation and that there was a lack of clear requirements on quality of offers and information provided. In response, Ofgem have decided that they will implement ‘minimum requirements’ at key stages of the connections process, many through licence conditions. Some of those minimum requirements are:

Network Companies must acknowledge and respond to pre-application queries and engage with prospective customers within fixed time frames.
Upon accepting an application, Network Companies should provide customers with a direct point of contact which is consistent for the duration of their connections journey.
Prescription of the information to be included in connection offers including a minimum ‘core’ set of information that will apply to all connection offers, with an ‘enhanced minimum content’ applying to certain larger or more complex projects, to improve the customer’s understanding of the technical, commercial, and programme assumptions underpinning their connection offer.
Following the issue of a connection offer, Network Companies will be required to respond to clarification requests and correct errors within specified timeframes, clearly communicate the procedures and timelines for accepting offers, and keep customers informed during the acceptance process.
Post-acceptance, customers must be notified of any material changes affecting their project within a fixed timeframe, and Network Companies must provide proactive progress updates.
During the delivery stage, Network Companies will also be required to improve visibility of project programmes, design and commissioning activities and outage planning.

Timely and reliable connections

Stakeholders felt that there was limited scope for Network Companies to be held to account against timeframes for delivery of connections. Ofgem has therefore decided that it will strengthen the Guaranteed Standards of Performance (GSoP) framework for distribution network operators, including revised payment values and tiered payments linked to delivery milestones. Ofgem has also sought to introduce stronger financial recourse for transmission connections, deciding to continue to develop payment values and financial caps for Liquidated Damages (LDs) where delays are attributable to the transmission operator, rather than the existing approach whereby LDs are often set to £0.00 per day. These measures are intended to deter against poor performance and avoidable delays, thereby incentivising Network Companies to meet their delivery obligations on time.

Ambitious options for customers

There was concern that introducing stricter financial penalties on Network Companies would incentivise those Network Companies to self-preserve and offer conservative connection dates. In response, Ofgem has decided to introduce a new principles-based obligation on Network Companies to provide customers with ‘ambitious’ yet achievable connection offers, to ensure that the proposed connection date reflects the earliest realistically deliverable outcome, while having regard to reasonable customer expectations, rather than a date chosen primarily to minimise the risk of subsequent delays. Ofgem will publish supporting guidance to explain how this obligation will be applied across different market segments and connection types, and how Network Companies can demonstrate compliance.

Ofgem has however decided against introducing a separately regulated ‘energisation window’, (comprising an ambitious target start-date and a backstop end-date). Instead, it has noted that the principal connection date should always remain clear to the customer, with Network Companies instead encouraged to provide alternative dates or date ranges if these would prove useful to the customer.

Ofgem will also develop a standardised ‘Opt-in’ mechanism through which customers can accept earlier or alternative connection opportunities if these become available. The design and operation of this mechanism, including customer eligibility, queue management, and customer protections, remain to be determined.

Standardisation of network dispute processes and guidance for determinations

Responses to the consultation raised concerns that dispute processes were not being applied consistently. Responding to this, Ofgem has decided to conduct a full review of its Determination Guidance in 2027, considering whether it should be updated to reflect developments over the past decade, including Connections Reform. The review will consider clarifying the circumstances in which a determination can be sought, the information required from respondents, and the requirements at each stage of the process.

Ofgem will also take forward the enhancement and standardisation of dispute processes across network companies. To assist, the Energy Networks Association will coordinate a programme of industry workshops, bringing together Network Companies, developers and customers to collaborate with Ofgem on developing a common dispute resolution framework.

Timeline and next steps

Ofgem’s decisions, as set out in the outputs/next steps document, will be welcomed by customers, and represent a further step towards a more transparent, accountable, and customer focussed connections regime. The response deadline is 6 November 2026, following which Ofgem intends to publish draft licence changes and associated guidance before consulting further on the proposed licence modifications. Ofgem expects its guidance to be finalised in early 2027, with new license obligations introduced from summer 2027, or alongside the start of the RIIO-ED3 (“ED3”) price control period in April 2028.

The modifications to the GSoP framework and transmission LDs will follow a separate implementation timetable, currently expected to align with ED3. In the meantime, Ofgem expects Network Companies and NESO to adopt the proposed principles on a voluntary basis in advance of formal implementation.

If you have any questions about these changes, and how they could impact you, please contact a member of our Clean Energy team.

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