Direction to modify the Incentive on Connections Engagement (ICE) Guidance Document

Decision
Publication date
Industry sector
Distribution Network
Licence type
Electricity Distribution Licence

In 2015 we introduced the Incentive on Connections Engagement (ICE) to encourage DNOs to provide good service to all larger customers that are seeking a connection. 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.

DNOs submit evidence of their stakeholder engagement in two parts: a Looking Back report on their activities during the previous year demonstrating how they have met the needs of large connection customers; and a Looking Forward plan for the coming year describing the activities the DNO plans to undertake.

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.

We published a Notice on 4 April 2023 to all DNOs of our proposal to modify the ICE Guidance Document to relieve DNOs of any obligations to submit a Looking Forward plan for year 2023-24, following the removal of ICE from 1 April 2023. This has now closed on 3 May 2023.

Following the Notice, we have decided to proceed with the modification to the ICE Guidance Document as per the Notice.

This is a Direction to the DNOs to relieve them of any obligations to submit a Looking Forward plan for year 2023-24, following the removal of ICE from 1 April 2023.