Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) launched a Self-Serve platform in late spring 2025 to give customers faster estimates for connecting to its electricity network, the company said on 17 June 20251. The tool has already helped more than one thousand people considering a new electricity connection, according to SSEN1.
SSEN said some initial estimates can now be generated in as little as two minutes, and that 86 per cent of customers who responded to its survey praised the tool's ease of use1. In its first phase, the platform supports customers looking to connect up to four domestic properties1. Users are asked how many properties they are looking to connect and whether these are houses or flats, then use a postcode search to draw the site boundary, the point where the cable would enter the site, the meter position and the cable route on a map1. They are also asked whether they plan to install an EV charger and whether central heating will be gas or electric1.
"We've successfully launched a new platform that's making it quicker and easier for you to get an accurate estimate of how much it'll cost to connect to our networks"
SSEN said the platform is the first in a series of solutions it is developing to improve the customer experience, and that use has exceeded initial expectations1. The company said the tool also frees up its connections team to spend more time with customers who have confirmed they want to proceed1.
Why it matters for households
For a household considering a new electricity connection, the practical change is the wait for a price. SSEN says an initial estimate can now be produced in as little as two minutes in some cases, rather than requiring a customer to wait for a manual quote1. The tool covers connections of up to four domestic properties, so it applies to small developments as well as individual homes1.
The platform sits within a network area where demand for connections is rising. SSEN said greater electrification means more requests for connections and more need for capacity as people pursue their own options for decarbonising1. The grid connection queue and the wider process of getting a connection are set out in the site's national supply pages.
What happens next
SSEN said that in the coming months customers will also be able to use the platform to estimate the cost of moving a meter, or to apply for an increase in capacity to allow them to install an EV charger or heat pump at an existing property1. It said it plans to roll out the platform to further types of connection in the near future, without giving dates1.