Pre-application meeting
What is a pre-application meeting?
For large or complex connections, we offer pre-application meetings. This is an opportunity to discuss your needs with us. It can be on the phone or in person.
We aim to help you with high-level, non-binding information for your proposed point of connection(s), which may include:
- indications of capacity
- our connection process, key documentation, and timeframes
- how we charge for study, design, capital or ongoing costs
We aren’t able to provide cost estimates and network analysis, or specific information on customer capital contributions until you complete an application. Information is subject to change as we analyse your needs, network data, and other information.
We encourage you to engage with us early if your application is related to:
- Charge point operators
- Large commercial EV charge connections
- Utility-scale solar or battery
- New industrial connections greater than 1MW
- Other large connections where you have flexibility on capacity
If you’d like to enquire about a pre-application meeting, email [email protected], call 0800 667 847 or use our Enquiry Form. Alternatively, complete a Ball Park Estimate application to provide us with more detailed information.
Our team will be in contact with you within 10 working days.
What you need to provide before we meet?
Please provide this information before the meeting so we can prepare the appropriate information and attendee(s):
- your project type e.g., type and size of new connection, load, generation and/or storage
- your location (e.g., address, ICP number, map screenshot)
- your capacity needs (maximum import or export) and preferred connection voltage
- if you have flexibility on capacity needs or location
- what you need from us from the meeting
For specific types of application, at the meeting we may explore further:
- your flexibility e.g., if you could change the sizing, time of energy use or location if this helped you get better outcomes
- your commercial structure and/or funding plans where these may interact with our deliverables or contractual requirements
What happens in the meeting?
This is an opportunity for us to share more about our network and our processes, and for our team to understand your project drivers, commercial structure, and requirements. This can help identify better options to meet your needs.
In addition to your specific questions, process, contacts and network information, we may discuss:
- the nature, size and timing of your new needs
- your locational needs and network capacity
- timelines
Discussions may identify flexibility or network capacity options, alternative connection points or locations, significant timing dependencies (e.g. with upstream network investments), or different investment considerations for you.
These may reduce your project costs, change the work we need to do, impact timing, or otherwise change the viability of your project.
Early engagement in your design process is recommended.
Outcomes from the meeting
Outcomes will differ depending on the nature of your application and the needs identified in the meeting. Most customers will be better informed on the connection process (including who you will work with), timelines, cost indications, what drives costs and an outline of the expected connection options.
This will support discussions with your service provider (which may alter your plans) and initial application. The role of service providers in new connections is outlined here.
For some applications, we will have identified opportunities for, and expected benefits of, further studies or work by us (costs may apply) or your service providers.
What next?
Following the meeting, most customers will be able to work with their service providers and proceed to submit an initial application.
Where we agree to perform work or studies prior to an application, the timing, scope and costs (where applicable) will be provided to and agreed with you.
If your requirements subsequently change, this may have a material impact on information shared or your application.
Information provided at later stages in the application process and in your offer for a connection or works agreement may differ from the preliminary indications at the pre-application stage. This is because more detailed network analysis and/or other information (e.g., other customer applications) may identify additional works or capacity. This preliminary information should not be relied upon for material investment decisions. We accept no liability for the uses of pre-application meeting information.
Understanding load and congestion
