Distribution network operator

Distribution network operators (DNOs) are companies licensed to distribute electricity in Great Britain by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets.

Map of DNO licence areas

There are fourteen licensed geographically defined areas, based on the former Area Electricity Board boundaries, where the distribution network operator distributes electricity from the transmission grid to homes and businesses. Under the Utilities Act 2000 they are prevented from supplying electricity; this is done by a separate electricity supply company, chosen by the consumer, who makes use of the distribution network.

Distribution network operators are also responsible for allocating the core Meter Point Administration Number used to identify individual supply points in their respective areas, as well as operating and administering a Meter Point Administration System that manages the details relating to each supply point. These systems then populate ECOES, the central online database of electricity supply points.

History

In 1990, the Area Boards were replaced by regional electricity companies, which were then privatised. The distribution network operators are the successors to the distribution arms of the regional electricity companies. The distribution network operators have a Trade Association called the Energy Networks Association

As of November 2008, seven company groups hold the fourteen distribution licences:

DNOs Area ID Area Company 10 East England UK Power Networks 11 East Midlands Western Power Distribution 12 London UK Power Networks 13 North Wales, Merseyside and Cheshire Scottish Power Energy Networks 14 West Midlands Western Power Distribution 15 North East England CE Electric 16 North West England Electricity North West 17 North Scotland Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution 18 South Scotland Scottish Power Energy Networks 19 South East England UK Power Networks 20 Southern England Southern Electric Power Distribution 21 South Wales Western Power Distribution 22 South West England Western Power Distribution 23 Yorkshire CE Electric

In addition to the distribution network operators noted above who are licenced for a specific geographic area there are also independent distribution network operators (IDNO). IDNOs own and operate electricity distribution networks which will predominately be network extensions connected to the existing distribution network, e.g. to serve new housing developments. Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution also provide distribution services in South Scotland as an IDNO and Southern Electric Power Distribution provide IDNO services in all other England and Wales areas. The IDNOs have no geographically defined "base" area:^[1]

IDNOs ID Name Licensee MPAS Operator ID 24 Envoy Independent Power Networks IPNL 25 ESP Electricity ESP Electricity LENG 26 Energetics Global Utilities Connections (Electric) Ltd GUCL 27 GTC The Electricity Network Company Ltd ETCL 28 EDF IDNO UK Power Networks (IDNO) Ltd EDFI

References

1. ^ Ofgem. "Notice under section 11 of the Electricity Act 1989". http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/temp/ofgem/cache/cmsattach/12925_24605.pdf. Retrieved 2007-02-22. ^{[dead link]}

See also

• Meter Point Administration Number