Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution launched its LCT Connections tool on 18 May 2022, saying it provides automatic quotes for households and businesses and can support bulk applications1. The company describes it as the first time a distribution network operator (DNO) has offered a spreadsheet upload option to customers, to help streamline the application process1.
The tool is accessed through SSEN's Connections portal and was tested with stakeholders during development1. Applications submitted through it are assessed automatically, with details given of any additional steps required; where an application needs more support, the tool refers it to SSEN's Connections Team to help facilitate installation1. SSEN says every application added through the tool will help build a more accurate picture of where new demand is being added to the network, informing planning and investment for network reinforcement or flexibility measures1.
"Ensuring installers and customers have an easy-to-use and efficient process for the connection of EVs and heat pumps is a key role for us as the network operator and part of our commitment to power change with every connection."
SSEN is the electricity DNO for over 3.8 million homes and businesses across central southern England and the north of Scotland1. The company states that the UK and Scottish Governments have committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and 2045 respectively, and that its role is crucial in ensuring the network is ready for the projected trebling of electricity demand by the middle of this century1.
Why it matters for households
Connecting an electric vehicle charge point or a heat pump to the grid normally means applying to the local DNO for a connection, and the speed and cost of that process shape how quickly a home can move its heating and transport onto electricity. A tool that returns an automatic quote removes one stage of waiting for an answer, and a bulk upload route matters to installers handling several jobs at once, since their time feeds into what a household pays for an installation1.
SSEN's stated aim of using the applications to map where new demand is appearing also touches on national supply planning: reinforcement or flexibility measures are decided from that picture, and the company links accurate demand profiles to maintaining a safe, secure and reliable supply as EV and heat pump numbers rise1. For a household, the practical effect is that the connection step becomes a quoted, tracked application rather than an open-ended enquiry, though the tool does not change the underlying network capacity in any given area.
What happens next
SSEN says the tool can now be accessed via its Connections portal, with separate portals for EV connections and heat pump connections1. No further dates or targets for the tool have been reported.