ICE 2023 stakeholder consultation open letter
Consultation
- Upcoming
- Open
- Closed (awaiting decision)
- Closed (with decision)
- Publication date
- Closed date
- Industry sector
- Distribution Network
- Decision
We are seeking your views on how well the distribution network operators (DNOs) engage with their large connections stakeholders to ensure they are delivering a service that meets these customers’ needs.
Helping new customers connect to the electricity network is one of the most critical services provided by DNOs. It enables new homes to be built and new businesses to start trading, as well as allowing new low carbon technologies and flexibility services to come on to the system. This will be crucial in helping the UK to decarbonise its economy and move to a smarter, more flexible energy system.
We expect DNOs to provide good service to all customers that are seeking a connection. The purpose of the Incentive on Connections Engagement (ICE) was to encourage this. Under the ICE, DNOs must provide evidence that they have engaged with their large connection stakeholders and responded to their needs. If they fail to do this, they could incur a penalty.
In our RIIO-ED2 final determinations, published on 30 November 2022, we confirmed that we would remove the ICE and replace it with a Major Connections Incentive (MCI), effective from 1 April 2023.
DNOs are required to submit evidence of their stakeholder engagement in a Looking Back report on their activities during the previous year demonstrating how they have met the needs of large connection customers.
We are seeking your views separately on the ‘Looking Back’ report of the submissions from each DNO. Your responses to this open letter will inform our assessment of each DNO’s submissions.
The closing date for responses is 22 December 2023. Responses should be sent to connections@ofgem.gov.uk.
Respond name
Kingsley Emeana