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Northern Powergrid — DNO

Northern Powergrid solar & G99 application help

Northern Powergrid serves ~8 million customers across the North East and Yorkshire. We submit ~95% of our G98 and G99 applications to NPG and know the portal, the engineers and the quirks. Every AMP Renewables install includes the application — handled in-house, you never deal with NPG directly.

Get a free quote Call 0191 535 2711

In 30 seconds

Northern Powergrid is the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) serving the North East. Every solar PV, battery storage, EV charger or three-phase install in their area requires a G98 (notification) or G99 (application) submission. AMP Renewables handles the application in-house — you never contact NPG yourself. Residential applications are free; commercial study fees range £400-£2,500. Typical approval time: 11-21 working days for residential, 45-90 for commercial.

Coverage area

All 18 North East towns we cover are in Northern Powergrid Northeast

NewcastleGatesheadSunderlandSouth ShieldsDurhamDarlingtonHartlepoolStockton-on-TeesMiddlesbroughBishop AucklandConsettStanleyCramlingtonMorpethHexhamWashingtonBlythChester-le-Street

G98 vs G99 — what your install needs

G98

Post-install notification

For installations up to 16A per phase. Simply notify Northern Powergrid within 28 days of commissioning — no upfront approval required.

Typical G98 installs:

  • • Solar PV under ~3.68 kW (typically 8 panels or fewer)
  • • Most 7 kW EV chargers (single phase)
  • • Most home battery storage systems
  • • Most A/C single-room installs

No application fee. Notification deadline: 28 days post-install.

G99

Pre-install application + approval

For installations above 16A per phase. Northern Powergrid must approve the application BEFORE installation. Includes a load calculation and network impact study.

Typical G99 installs:

  • • Solar PV 4 kW+ (10+ panels, most modern residential systems)
  • • Three-phase EV chargers (11 kW or 22 kW)
  • • Larger battery storage (10+ kWh capacity)
  • • V2H/V2G bidirectional chargers
  • • Commercial installs over ~16 A single-phase / 11 kVA three-phase

Free for residential under 16 kVA; £400-£2,500 study fees for commercial. Approval typically 11-21 days residential.

How we handle it

The Northern Powergrid application — what we do, what you do

  1. 1

    Survey + design (week 0)

    We survey your property, design the system, calculate kW capacity and supply load. This determines whether you need G98 or G99 and what we tell Northern Powergrid.

  2. 2

    Application submission (week 1)

    We submit the G98 or G99 application to Northern Powergrid via the npg.energy portal using your MPAN. Includes system design, inverter spec, supply diagram and protection settings.

  3. 3

    Northern Powergrid review (weeks 2-4)

    NPG technical team reviews the application — typically 11-21 working days for residential G99, 45-90 for commercial. We monitor portal status weekly and contact you with updates.

  4. 4

    Approval letter received (typically week 3-4)

    NPG sends formal approval. This typically includes any conditions (export limit if network capacity is tight) and the activation reference number we need for the install.

  5. 5

    Install + commissioning (week 4-6)

    We install the system and commission it to the approved spec. We submit the activation notification to NPG within 28 days of commissioning, completing the regulatory loop.

  6. 6

    You receive your install pack

    Your install pack includes the NPG approval letter, the install certificate, the install certificateificate, and the SEG application form pre-filled with your MPAN. You're ready to apply for SEG export tariff immediately.

Common pitfalls

5 things that delay Northern Powergrid applications

  1. 1. Missing or wrong MPAN

    Your MPAN is on the top of your electricity bill — 13 digits, sometimes split into shorter sequences. Using your bill account number instead (which is supplier-specific, not network) is the #1 reason applications get rejected on submission. We always confirm the MPAN against the M Number lookup before submitting.

  2. 2. Specifying generation above your supply capacity

    Most UK homes have an 80A or 100A supply fuse. If you specify 5+ kW of generation on an 80A supply WITHOUT separately requesting a supply upgrade, NPG flag the inconsistency and reject. Our load calculation always pre-checks supply capacity vs proposed generation.

  3. 3. Outdated inverter spec (not on G99-approved list)

    NPG only approve inverters on the ENA Type Test approved list. SolarEdge HD-Wave, Tesla Powerwall 3 inverters, Solis hybrid range, Growatt SPH series — all listed. Some older or obscure inverter brands are not, so applications fail. We only specify approved inverters.

  4. 4. Battery + solar combined kW over G98 limit but only solar G99 submitted

    For a 3.5 kW solar + 5 kW battery system, the COMBINED generation rating is 8.5 kW — that's well over G98. We submit G99 covering both. Common mistake: submitting only solar as G98, then NPG rejects when they see the battery on commissioning.

  5. 5. Substandard protection settings

    G99 requires specific over/under voltage trip settings, frequency settings, and anti-islanding tests. We commission to G99/ENA standards and provide a commissioning report. Cowboy installers often skip this — and NPG can disconnect the system if a routine network test catches it.

Our accreditations

Accredited, certified, and backed by independent standards

NICEIC Approved

D124458

Electrical contractor

Gas Safe Register

947841

Gas appliances

Heat Geek Trained

Heat pump design specialists

TrustMark

Government endorsed

Quality scheme

SafeContractor

Approved

H&S accredited

ISO 9001

2015

Quality management

ISO 14001

2015

Environmental management

ISO 45001

2018

OH&S management

PAS 2030

:2019

Retrofit standard

NAPIT

Member

Electrical inspection

F-Gas Certified

Air conditioning refrigerant

NICEIC Approved

D124458

Electrical contractor

Gas Safe Register

947841

Gas appliances

Heat Geek Trained

Heat pump design specialists

TrustMark

Government endorsed

Quality scheme

SafeContractor

Approved

H&S accredited

ISO 9001

2015

Quality management

ISO 14001

2015

Environmental management

ISO 45001

2018

OH&S management

PAS 2030

:2019

Retrofit standard

NAPIT

Member

Electrical inspection

F-Gas Certified

Air conditioning refrigerant

Every accreditation listed is independently verified. We carry the registration numbers — ask for any on request.

Northern Powergrid — your questions

Who is Northern Powergrid and what do they do?
Northern Powergrid is the licensed Distribution Network Operator (DNO) responsible for the electricity distribution network across most of north-east England and Yorkshire — roughly 8 million people in the region. They own and maintain the low-voltage cables, substations and connections that bring electricity from the National Grid into your home or business. Your electricity SUPPLIER (Octopus, EDF, British Gas, etc.) is who you pay your bill to; Northern Powergrid is the engineer who keeps the network running.

When does a Northern Powergrid solar install need G99 instead of G98?
G98 covers single-phase generation up to 16A per phase (~3.68 kW). G99 is required for any installation above this — typically including 4 kW+ solar systems, three-phase installs, battery storage systems above 16A, V2H/V2G bidirectional chargers, and commercial scale work. In practice: most 10-panel residential solar arrays (4.0-4.4 kWp) need G99; smaller arrays under 8 panels usually fit G98.

How long does Northern Powergrid G99 approval take?
Northern Powergrid quote 11-45 working days for residential G99 applications. Our actual experience: most simple residential applications come back within 14-21 days. Complex applications (high-capacity battery, V2G charging, three-phase upgrades) can take 30-45 days. Commercial G99 (over 50 kW) is 45-90 days. We submit applications immediately on customer order so the clock starts running while we coordinate scaffolding, equipment delivery and crew scheduling.

What does Northern Powergrid charge for G99 approval?
Standard residential G99 applications are free for connections below 16 kVA. Above that, study fees apply: 16-50 kVA = £400, 50-100 kVA = £750, 100-200 kVA = £1,500, 200 kVA+ = £2,500+. Commercial installs may also incur connection charges if network reinforcement is required — Northern Powergrid will quote these in their G99 reply. For most residential customers the application is free.

Can Northern Powergrid refuse my application?
Yes, but it's rare for residential. They can require export limiting (you keep your full generation capacity but limit grid export to a set kW figure) or require local network reinforcement (you pay for transformer upgrades or substation works). Northern Powergrid quote typical refusal rate around 3% for residential. Most refusals can be resolved by adding battery storage (which lets you self-consume the excess) or export-limiting to comply with the local network capacity.

Do I need to be home for Northern Powergrid commissioning?
Not for the application itself — that's purely paperwork between AMP Renewables and Northern Powergrid. Northern Powergrid don't visit your property for standard residential G98 or G99 installs. They might attend a commissioning if the install involves substation works or three-phase upgrade, but that's commercial-scale work and we'd coordinate timing with you. Standard residential installs run entirely on our engineers and your existing smart meter.

What happens if I install without notifying Northern Powergrid?
Not notifying is a breach of the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations (ESQCR) 2002. Practical consequences: your home insurance may be invalidated, you can't claim SEG export payments (suppliers require proof of DNO notification), your installer's MCS certification is revoked if they fail to notify, and Northern Powergrid can disconnect your supply. We notify Northern Powergrid for every install — it's not optional and not skippable.

Does Northern Powergrid handle my smart meter?
No — your smart meter is owned and installed by your electricity SUPPLIER (Octopus, EDF, British Gas, etc.), not by Northern Powergrid. The supplier requests a SMETS2 meter from a Meter Operator (typically Stark, Calvin Capital, or Lowri Beck). Northern Powergrid maintains the supply CABLE and the supply FUSE up to your meter, but doesn't manage the meter itself. For SEG export payments you need a SMETS2 — request one from your supplier if you don't have one.

What's the difference between G99 and ENA 17?
ENA Engineering Recommendation G99 is the new standard for grid-connected generation, published 2019 and superseding the older G83/G59 framework. ENA 17 is the older legacy framework for very large generation — typically only used for utility-scale solar farms over 1 MW. For all residential and most commercial work, G98 or G99 is the right framework. We've never submitted an ENA 17 for any AMP Renewables work.

Does Northern Powergrid charge a connection fee for new heat pumps?
Heat pumps aren't generation, they're consumption — so they don't go through G98/G99. Instead, large heat pumps may require a SUPPLY CAPACITY check. If your existing 60-80A single-phase fuse can handle the heat pump load plus existing demand, no application needed. If you need to upgrade to a higher-rated fuse (typically 100A) or three-phase, Northern Powergrid charge connection fees — typically £500-£3,000 for residential fuse upgrades, £5,000+ for three-phase upgrades. We assess this in the survey.

What's the difference between Northern Powergrid Yorkshire and Northeast?
Northern Powergrid operates two distinct licence areas: 'Northeast' (Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham, Tees Valley) and 'Yorkshire' (most of Yorkshire). They share the same technical standards, application portal, and contact teams — but different engineering depots and slightly different turnaround times. For all AMP Renewables work the customer-facing process is identical regardless of which sub-area you're in.

Can I check my Northern Powergrid application status?
Yes. Northern Powergrid run a customer portal at northernpowergrid.com where you can register and check application status. Search by your MPAN (meter point administration number — top of your bill, 13 digits) or postcode + house number. Status moves through: Submitted → Under technical review → Awaiting customer info / quote → Approved → Installation notified → Active. For AMP Renewables customers we monitor the portal weekly during your application window and update you when status changes.

Need an installer who handles the Northern Powergrid application?

Every AMP Renewables install includes the G98 or G99 application in-house. You never contact Northern Powergrid yourself.

Free, no-obligation survey Fixed-price written quote Fully-certified installation
Get a free quote Call 0191 535 2711
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