Gate 1 information

In December 2025, customers who applied under the connections reform process received notification about their applications.

These notifications indicated whether projects were assessed as Gate 1 or Gate 2.

Gate 2

Gate 2 projects will receive full connection offers and have secured a place in the new connections pipeline. For more information on what happens after you receive an offer following a Gate 2 notification, please see this webpage: Understanding your offer and the support available to you

Gate 1

We are providing this additional clarification as some customers have contacted both NESO and DNOs because they are unsure what a Gate 1 outcome means.

We recognise that this outcome may be disappointing, and we appreciate your patience and engagement as the electricity connections process undergoes significant reform. Our aim is to be clear and transparent about what this means for your project and what will happen next.

Receiving a Gate 1 notification means your project can remain in the connections process, but it does not reserve capacity, a place in the queue, provide protected status, or guarantee a connection. To progress, customers must submit a Gate 2 application during an application window and meet the prescribed evidence requirements to be eligible for a place in the connections queue.

If you receive a Gate 1 notification, the relevant Transmission Owner for your project will stop progressing any applicable transmission works where those works are no longer required (i.e. substation and capacity reallocation may continue where needed for current Gate 2 projects or they are economically advantageous for future need; but the works will not be completed for the sole benefit of the Gate 1 project specifically). This applies to all Gate 1 projects and reflects the requirements of the reformed connections process.

Your Gate 1 outcome will remain in place until you either reapply in a future connections application window and meeting the criteria for Gate 2 or choose to terminate your project. In either case, your project will not progress into delivery under the reformed connections pipeline at this time.

For projects who choose to terminate, cancellation charges will be waived, and any securities will be refunded. For embedded customers there will be a return of any unspent project funds held by the DNO.

Any further work you choose to undertake to progress your project carries significant risk, as there is no guarantee of a connection.

For customers with hybrid projects determined to be part Gate 1 and part Gate 2, only the works and studies associated with the Gate 2 competent of the project will continue.

For customers who do not sign their Gate 1 Agreement to Vary (ATV)s, it will be signed on their behalf when the deadline elapses.

If you have submitted an appeal, all works associated with your project will remain on hold while the appeal is being considered.

For Embedded Customers who have a Gate 1 ATV, there is further information about the options available when reapplying for Gate 2. We strongly encourage these customers to read the Energy Networks Association Gate 1 guidance document to understand the decision in more detail: ENA Gate 1 Guidance Document – Energy Networks Association (ENA)