Empower your power supply

Contractors may often moan about utility suppliers being bureaucratic and unreliable, but their work is crucial. Connecting gas and electricity to homes and businesses demands a tight schedule. So it is important that the often tense relationship of contractor and energy company runs smoothly.

Here are a few tips from EDF Energy that can help a project go to plan, hopefully on time and to budget, when it comes to a new power connection.

Timing

Make your application for a new or altered network connection in good time. This is crucial because depending on the amount of power required, an analysis of the local power network needs to be undertaken. This determines where the most appropriate point of connection will be. When this analysis is completed for larger projects, we may need to go out to tender in order to obtain prices to install any network infrastructure needed to meet the new power demand.

Temporary builder’s supplies are usually the first thing required for the site. A clear understanding of the location, the housing for the supply and the loading is essential. Normally, these can be delivered within four weeks of us receiving an enquiry. As with all projects, it is critical when making an application to tell us when the supply is needed.

Information

Give us as much as possible, designing a cost efficient power system is difficult if the requirements are not clear. We have questionnaires to help with this which will soon be available on our website. Our Gateway team will always make contact if we’re short of information but in my experience, this is a cause for many delays. We have also introduced a special email address (connections.projectsgateway@edfenergy.com) which can be used to make applications for supply and advice.

Working Relationship

This needs to be open and is critical to any business relationship. Any information supplied will always be treated as strictly confidential.

Demands

Please be realistic in your demands as this helps us - and other companies like us - to meet your exact requirements at the correct time. You might be surprised how flexible we can be. For example, we can often phase in the electrical supply capacity you require to help get your site up and running more quickly.

At EDF, If your requests are delivered clearly, then your supply will be in place on time. And if your supply is running smoothly, then your project will be delivered to time and budget. I am totally committed to meeting our customers’ needs, so if you feel you have not received the service you expect from us, then you can call me direct on 08701 964181.