DNO Notification for EV Chargers: G98 vs G99 (UK)
G98 or G99? The UK EV charger DNO notification process, what triggers each, typical 28-60 day turnarounds, and what happens if you skip the step.
Every UK home EV charger install has to be reported to the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) under one of two regimes: G98 for straightforward 7 kW chargers (notify after install) or G99 for higher-power, three-phase, V2G, or otherwise complex installs (approval required before install). Get the right form filed and the paperwork takes 10-15 working days. Skip it, and the consequences range from voided installer warranties to invalidated insurance cover. This guide walks through which regime applies to your install, what the application actually involves, typical DNO turnaround, and the corner cases that catch first-time installers out.
What G98 and G99 actually are
G98 and G99 are Engineering Recommendations published by the Energy Networks Association (ENA), the UK trade body that represents the country's electricity Distribution Network Operators. The two standards govern how generation equipment (solar PV, batteries) and high-load equipment (EV chargers, heat pumps) connect to the public low-voltage distribution network. They exist so the DNO knows what's hanging off their network and can manage local supply quality, fault currents, and capacity.
For an EV charger install, the practical question is which of the two regimes applies. The trigger is set out in the published standards: 16 A per phase or 11.04 kVA total of new generating capacity is the G98 ceiling, and 60 A total prospective property load is the threshold above which the DNO wants explicit pre-install approval rather than after-the-fact notification.
Which regime applies to your install
| Feature | Best Overall G98 (notify after install) | G99 (approval required first) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | — |
| Rating | — | — |
| Charger rating | Up to 7.4 kW single-phase (32 A) | 22 kW three-phase, V2G bidirectional, or multi-charger |
| Property total load | Stays within existing main fuse (typically 60-100 A) | Exceeds the existing main fuse rating |
| Approval needed first | No — notify within 28 days of commissioning | Yes — DNO must approve before install |
| Typical DNO response | 10-15 working days for acknowledgement | 28-60 working days (sometimes longer) |
| Installer fee | Usually included in install quote | Often £200-£500 admin on top of install |
| Best for | Most standard 7 kW home installs | High-power, three-phase, V2G, multi-EV homes |
The two clearest triggers for G99 in 2026 are: (1) installing a 22 kW charger, which needs three-phase mains supply at 32 A per phase; (2) installing a V2G charger like the Wallbox Quasar 2 or Indra V2H, which exports back to the grid and crosses the G98 generation threshold by definition. The less obvious triggers are: adding a second 7 kW charger to a property that already has one (pushing total potential load past 60 A); adding a heat pump alongside an EV charger; or adding battery storage that, combined with PV, exceeds 11.04 kVA. Any of these can flip what would have been a G98 charger install into a G99 application.
How the G98 process works
For a typical 7 kW home charger install on a property with no other generation or unusual load, the G98 process is almost entirely the installer's responsibility. The homeowner role is small but worth understanding so you can ask the right questions:
Site survey
The installer checks the existing main fuse rating (usually labelled on the cutout — 60 A, 80 A or 100 A is typical for UK domestic), the meter type, the consumer unit capacity, and the earthing arrangement (TN-S, TN-C-S/PME, or TT). All of these affect whether G98 applies and what protective equipment is needed.
Install and commission
The charger is fitted, RCD protection installed, OZEV-compliant communication enabled, and the unit commissioned. The installer's NICEIC or NAPIT registration covers electrical compliance.
G98 notification
Within 28 days of commissioning, the installer submits the G98 notification to your local DNO (Northern Powergrid, UK Power Networks, etc.) via the ENA's common Connections portal or the DNO's own form. The form records site address, charger make/model, rating, and earthing arrangement.
DNO acknowledgement
The DNO returns an acknowledgement within 10-15 working days. No action is required from the homeowner; the acknowledgement is filed with the install paperwork.
How the G99 process works
G99 is the pre-approval regime and reverses the order of operations: paperwork before tools. The installer (or the homeowner, in DIY-friendly DNO territories) submits the application and waits for a decision before any physical work starts.
Pre-application site survey
Same checks as G98 plus additional load assessment, three-phase availability (if applying for 22 kW), proposed protection settings, and a single-line diagram of the proposed installation.
G99 application submitted
The form goes to the local DNO with the single-line diagram, manufacturer protection settings, MCS certificate (if PV/battery is part of the install), and the full equipment specification. Some DNOs charge an admin fee of £200-£500.
DNO assessment
The DNO checks local network capacity at your supply point. They may approve as-applied, approve with conditions (e.g., curtailed export limit, additional protection equipment), reject and request a redesign, or approve subject to a network reinforcement that you partially fund (rare for domestic, common for commercial).
Approval letter / offer
Comes back in 28-60 working days. Domestic single-charger 22 kW applications are usually approved as-applied. Multi-charger commercial-scale applications and rural sites with constrained supply can take three months or more.
Install and commission
Only once the approval is in hand does the installer commence physical works. Commissioning paperwork (the witness test, protection settings sign-off) is returned to the DNO at the end.
What happens if you skip the notification
The short version: no enforcement officer shows up at the door, but the absence of paperwork has compounding consequences over time.
Most charger manufacturer warranties require evidence of compliant install, including G98 or G99 notification. A claim with missing paperwork is typically refused.
A high-load fitted appliance installed without DNO notification is a notifiable variation to the property's electrical supply. Some insurers will refuse a claim arising from electrical fire or fault if the notification is missing.
The buyer's solicitor will request electrical install paperwork during conveyancing. Missing G98 or G99 notification on a fitted EV charger often surfaces as a CON29-style enquiry and can hold up completion.
DNOs use the notifications to plan substation upgrades. Unreported installs mean the local network plans for less load than is actually present — which contributes to voltage drops and fault risk over time. Not a personal-cost item, but a real systemic one.
If the install was part-funded by the EV Chargepoint Grant (£500 from 1 April 2026), missing or invalid DNO notification can trigger clawback of the grant — the installer-claimed flow specifically requires compliant paperwork.
Common edge cases
A few install patterns straddle the G98/G99 line and need a careful look at the maths:
Two 7 kW chargers on one property
Each 32 A charger by itself stays within G98 limits. Together they're 64 A of potential load, which pushes most 60 A and 80 A supplies past the threshold. A load-balanced two-charger setup (where the chargers share a 32 A budget) keeps you on G98; an unbalanced two-charger install flips to G99.
EV charger plus heat pump
A 5 kW heat pump (around 25 A on a single-phase supply) plus a 7 kW EV charger on a 60 A main fuse leaves only ~3 A of headroom for the rest of the house. Most DNOs prefer a G99 application or a load-management device that prevents simultaneous full-power draw.
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) installs
V2G chargers like the Wallbox Quasar 2 and Indra V2H export to the grid, putting them into the generation category. Any V2G install is G99 by default, regardless of the export limit set in firmware.
Three-phase supply, single-phase charger
If the property has three-phase mains but the EV charger is single-phase 7 kW, the install can stay on G98 — the threshold is per phase and the new draw is well within 16 A. Treat the install as if the property were single-phase for paperwork purposes.
Granny chargers (3-pin, 2.3 kW)
10 A on a standard 13 A socket. Below the G98 notification threshold and not a permanent install — no DNO paperwork required at all. (Daily 8-hour use of a granny charger on the same plug is hard on the wiring, though — that's a different problem.)
Working with each UK DNO
The UK is split into six regional Distribution Network Operators. Your installer will already know which one applies, but it's worth knowing the name for any direct follow-up:
UK DNO regions
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) | Northern Scotland, Southern England, IOW |
| SP Energy Networks | Central and Southern Scotland, Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales |
| Northern Powergrid | Yorkshire, North East |
| Electricity North West | North West England (excluding Merseyside) |
| UK Power Networks | London, South East, East of England |
| National Grid Electricity Distribution | Midlands, South West, South Wales |
Each DNO publishes its own G98/G99 application portal. Submission timings, fee structures and standard protection settings vary slightly. For a typical 7 kW G98 install, the practical difference is invisible. For G99 applications, ask which DNO covers your area before signing the install contract — turnaround times have historically been faster in urban-dense networks (UK Power Networks) than in rural-coverage networks (SSEN).
Frequently asked questions
Do I personally have to file the G98 notification, or does the installer?
How long does G98 acknowledgement take?
How long does G99 approval take?
Can I install a 22 kW charger on a typical UK home supply?
Does adding solar PV trigger a G99 application?
What if my main fuse rating isn't on the cutout label?
Can the DNO refuse my application?
Picking the right home EV charger?
See our 2026 ranked UK home EV charger comparison — covers G98/G99 implications, smart charging features, and which units pair best with Intelligent Octopus Go.