Developed in conjunction with the industry and Ofgem, the purpose of these standards is to ensure that the relevant authority who source connections from DNOs are guaranteed a good level of service.
The guaranteed standards that have been developed are backed up by a licence condition which sets a performance target of 90% which will apply across the standards.
DNOs are required to report their performance to Ofgem under these standards on a quarterly basis.
DNOs have agreed with Ofgem to make voluntary payments to the relevant authority if they fail to meet the requirements covered by these standards.
The commencement date for these standards was 1 October 2010.
Supporting the connection standards is a guidance document (Standard Licence Condition 15A Guidance Document) which sets out the various rules around the application of the standards and is designed to ensure that DNOs apply the standards on a consistent basis. This document can be accessed via the following link:
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation.aspx?docid=47&refer=Networks/ElecDist/QualofServ/GuarStandds
The table below provides a summary of the performance levels (the timescale) associated with unmetered supply faults under the new connection standards:
|
Faults
|
Performance Level
|
|
|
Emergency Fault Repair Response
|
Attend site in 2 hours
|
|
|
High Priority Fault Repair - Traffic Light Controlled
|
2 calendar days
|
|
|
High Priority Fault Repair -
Non Traffic Light Controlled
|
Within 10 working days
|
|
|
Multiple Unit Fault Repair
|
Within 20 working days
|
|
|
Single Unit Fault Repair
|
Within 25 working days
|
|
Definitions
Distribution Network Operator (DNO)
Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) are companies licensed to distribute electricity in Great Britain by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem).
There are fourteen licensed areas, based on the former Area Electricity Board boundaries, where the DNO distributes electricity from the transmission grid to homes and businesses.
In 1990, the Area Boards were replaced by Regional Electricity Companies (RECs), which were then privatised. The DNOs are the successors to the distribution arms of the RECs.
Ofgem
Primarily set up to protect the interests of gas and electricity customers.
Other priorities include helping to secure Britain’s energy supplies by promoting competitive gas and electricity markets - and regulating them so that there is adequate investment in the networks and contributing to the drive to curb climate change and other work aimed at sustainable development.
Relevant Authority
Relevant authority means the authority which has the responsibility for street lighting and/or street furniture.
Unmetered Supply
An Unmetered Supply is any electronic equipment that draws a current and is connected to the Distribution Network without a meter recording its energy consumption. In Buckinghamshire the vast majority of street lights have unmetered supplies.
Emergency Response
An emergency is a scenario where there is immediate danger to the public from the electricity network. This standard requires the DNO to attend the site to remove immediate danger to the public.
High Priority Fault Repair - Traffic Light Controlled
Work that is urgent but would require attendance by the DNO outside normal working hours to restore electricity supplies to traffic lights.
High Priority Fault Repair - Non Traffic Light Controlled
Work that is urgent but would not require attendance by the DNO outside normal working hours to restore electricity supplies to street lighting or street furniture other than traffic lights.
Single Unit and Multiple Unit Fault Repairs
A fault on the electricity supply which is affecting one or more units respectively.