Setting out the timeline for Connections Reform

We’ve published our timeline for the delivery of connections reform across 2025 to provide clarity to developers as part of the once-in-a-lifetime reordering of the electricity transmission connections queue. 

Delivering connections reform will require significant effort across NESO, electricity networks and developers to ensure it is delivered successfully, and give investors, and developers certainty for their projects as soon as possible.

Key dates and processes

Between 8 - 29 July developers and Distribution Network Operators can submit evidence of their project’s maturity. This transmission evidence submission window is crucial for positioning your project in the re-ordered connection queue. It’s vital to ensure you’ve submitted evidence by 29 July, as we’ll begin the process of reorganising the over 3,000 projects in the transmission connection queue after this date.

Below, our Chief Operating Officer, Kayte O’Neil explains how you can showcase your project readiness and alignment with national strategic priorities by submitting information.

Given the thousands of applications that need to be reviewed and reordered, a critical step to the success of connections reform will be to ensure that developers are fully engaged and up to date on the actions they need to undertake.

To support developers through the connections reform evidence submission window, we’re running weekly webinars, publishing on-demand videos and regularly updating FAQs alongside the Evidence Handbook published in May. Developers will also be supported by bespoke programmes run by DNOs and the Energy Networks Association.

You can join our first weekly webinar on 12 June at 3pm. During this session, you’ll be able to ask questions about the evidence submission window. Register below to secure your place.

Register

Why early engagement matters

Developers can help the process by getting ready now and engaging early with the evidence submission window. This will help avoid delays in providing new connections agreements later in the year and give developers, and investors, the clarity they need at the earliest possible opportunity. 

Given the scale of connections reform, and to ensure a fair and transparent process for all, we’re unable to provide bespoke advice or individual consultations to guide developers through this process, so it is critical they engage now with the evidence submission handbook, with the webinars, and with other supporting material made available in the coming weeks. 

What’s next?

Once the evidence submission window closes on 29 July, we’ll begin to reorder the connections queue. From the autumn we’ll being to issue new connection agreements, prioritising first needed, first deliverable projects critical to the success of Clean Power by 2030.

Matt Vickers, Director of Connections Reform, NESO 

We want to work closely with developers through this process, so they have as much information as possible to help them through the evidence submission window opening in July. Given the scale of the task ahead of us, developers of all sizes will need to work with us, and network operators, to help make sure connections reform is a success by engaging in the process at the earliest opportunity. 

Connections Reform