Yes. Every home EV charger has to be reported to the Distribution Network Operator, which in Leicestershire is National Grid Electricity Distribution. Your installer normally does this for you. For most homes it's a simple notification after installation. Approval is usually needed first where the charger could push the total load past what the supply can carry, for example alongside a heat pump, with a small main fuse or on a shared (looped) supply.
What is the DNO, and how is it different from my energy supplier?
The DNO owns and runs the cables, substations and main fuse that bring electricity to your home. Your energy supplier sells you the electricity and sends the bills.
In Leicestershire the Distribution Network Operator is National Grid Electricity Distribution (formerly Western Power Distribution). You don't choose your DNO, it depends on where you live, and it stays the same whichever energy supplier you use.
The split matters for EV chargers. The DNO cares about whether the local network and your supply cable can handle the extra load, so they're the ones who need to know about your charger. Your energy supplier handles your tariff and your meter, which can matter for cheaper overnight charging but has nothing to do with the notification.
Why does the DNO need to know about my charger?
Because a home charger is one of the biggest loads a house can have, and it often runs for hours at a time. The DNO plans the local network around what's connected to it.
A 7kW charger draws around 32A for as long as the car is charging. One on its own is rarely a problem. But if several homes on the same street add chargers and heat pumps, the local cables and substation can get close to their limits. Notification lets the DNO see where load is growing and plan upgrades before problems appear.
It also protects you. If your own supply is too small or shared with a neighbour, the notification process is how that gets spotted and sorted.
Is it 'connect and notify' or 'apply to connect'?
For most homes it's connect and notify: the charger is fitted, then the installer tells the DNO. Where the total load could exceed what your supply can carry, it's usually apply to connect, and the installer waits for the DNO's answer first.
The process uses standard forms from the Energy Networks Association (ENA), the body that represents network operators. The installer looks at your main fuse size, your existing loads and the new charger, and works out which route applies. The details and thresholds are set by the ENA and the DNOs and can change, so a good installer checks the current guidance rather than relying on memory.
The homes most likely to need approval first are those where:
- There's already a heat pump
- A heat pump and EV charger together can be a heavy load.
- The main fuse is small
- For example 60A or lower, or the rating can't be confirmed.
- The supply is looped
- One supply cable is shared with a neighbour's home.
- Several large loads are being added
- Charger, heat pump, battery or electric heating at the same time.
What is a looped supply, and what happens if I have one?
A looped supply is where your home and a neighbour's share one supply cable from the street. It was common in older housing, including many terraces and semis around Leicester.
You can sometimes spot it at the meter: a second cable may leave the cut-out and go through the wall towards next door. Don't touch anything to check. An installer can usually tell from photos.
A shared cable may not have the capacity for both homes to add an EV charger. If yours is looped, the installer usually has to apply to the DNO before fitting the charger. The DNO may decide to unloop the supply, which means giving each home its own cable. In many cases they do this at no charge to the customer, but that's their decision, and they'll tell you what's involved and how long it takes. It can mean some digging outside and a short power cut.
Will I need a main fuse upgrade?
Sometimes. If your main fuse is small, or the charger plus your other loads could overload it, the DNO may need to fit a larger one.
Many homes have a 60A, 80A or 100A main fuse. The rating is usually marked on the fuse carrier in the cut-out, though it can be hard to read. The main fuse belongs to the DNO, so only they can change it. Your electrician shouldn't touch it.
A load-balancing feature in the charger can sometimes avoid an upgrade. A sensor watches the house's total demand and slows charging when other things are on. Whether this is enough depends on your loads, and the installer should explain the options before applying. Your meter tails and main switch also need to be suitable for any higher rating.
Who fills in the DNO forms?
The installer does. It's part of a proper installation, and you shouldn't be asked to do it yourself.
The installer has the information the forms ask for: the charger model and rating, your main fuse size, your existing loads, earthing details and the installer's own details. Ask at the quote stage whether DNO notification is included and whether your home is likely to need approval first. A clear answer is a good sign the installer has looked at your supply properly.
If the DNO needs to visit or do work, they usually contact you directly to arrange it.
How long does the DNO process take?
For most homes it doesn't hold anything up, because the notification goes in after the charger is fitted. Where approval is needed first, it can take longer.
An application is often answered within a few weeks, but it depends on the DNO's workload and what they need to check. If they have to upgrade the main fuse or unloop the supply, that adds time, and the DNO sets the date. Sending clear photos of your cut-out, meter and fuse board at the quote stage lets an installer spot most of these issues early, so you're not caught out on installation day.
What paperwork should I keep?
Keep everything in one place. You may need it if you sell the house, make an insurance claim or add a heat pump or solar later.
- Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)
- Shows the new charger circuit was tested and installed to the Wiring Regulations.
- Building control notification
- A charger circuit is notifiable under Part P, so you should receive a compliance certificate.
- DNO reference
- If the DNO gives one, keep it. It helps with any later applications.
- Charger documents
- Manual, warranty and app account details.
What about heat pumps, batteries and solar panels?
They have their own DNO rules. Heat pumps go through a similar connect-and-notify or apply-to-connect process, and the DNO looks at them together with any EV charger.
Solar panels and home batteries can send power back into the network, so they're treated as generation. Smaller systems are usually covered by the ENA's G98 process, which is generally a notification after installation. Larger systems, or several systems that add up to more, usually fall under G99, which needs approval first. The exact limits are set by the ENA and can change, so ask your installer which applies.
If you're planning a charger and solar or a battery, mention all of them at the start. It's often simpler to look at the whole supply once. At NT Electric we include the EV charger notification in one fixed price, agreed before work starts.
Questions
What happens if my charger wasn't notified?
Ask the installer to submit it. If they can't, contact National Grid Electricity Distribution for advice. An unnotified charger can cause problems if the supply is overloaded, and paperwork gaps can come up when selling the house.
Do I pay anything for the DNO notification?
Notification itself is normally part of the installer's job. If the DNO needs to upgrade your supply, they decide whether there's a charge. Ask the installer whether notification is included in their price.
Does the DNO rule apply in Wales and Scotland too?
Yes, the notification process applies across Great Britain, though each area has its own DNO. Building regulations differ between England, Wales and Scotland, so the building control side of the paperwork can work differently.
Can I install the charger before the DNO replies?
Only where it's a connect-and-notify case. Where approval is needed first, the installer should wait for the DNO's answer. Fitting it early risks overloading the supply and may mean changes later.
Will the DNO limit how fast I can charge?
Sometimes the DNO may approve a charger with conditions, such as using load management to keep total demand within the supply's limit. In most homes a 7kW charger is accepted as normal.
Does the DNO need to know if I change my charger?
If the replacement has the same or similar rating, check with your installer. A higher-rated charger, or adding a second one, usually means a new notification or application. It's best to ask before buying.