What DNOs Say About Plug-in Solar UK in 2026

When the UK government announced plug-in solar was legal in March 2026, one institution had to take a collective breath: the DNOs—Distribution Network Operators.

DNOs are the companies that manage the cables, transformers, and switches that move electricity from the national grid to your home. They own the network infrastructure. They're responsible for keeping the grid stable, reliable, and safe. And now, suddenly, hundreds of thousands of households can legally feed power back into their distribution zones.

So what do they actually think about plug-in solar? The answer is surprisingly positive—with some important caveats.

The DNO Landscape in the UK

There are six main DNO groups operating across Britain:

• UK Power Networks (UKPN): Eastern, Merseyside and Northern, and London
• Western Power Distribution (WPD): South West, West Midlands, and East Midlands
• Electricity North West Limited (ENWL): North West
• Northern Powergrid (NPG): Northern Electric and Yorkshire
• Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN): South Western Scotland and Southern Scotland
• Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN): Northern Scotland, South Eastern Scotland, Hydro, and Southern Electric Power

Each operates independently but follows the same regulatory framework.

The DNO Position: Broadly Supportive

Across the board, DNOs have acknowledged that plug-in solar is legal under BS 7671 Amendment 4 and the G98 notification framework. None have come out in active opposition. Most have published guidance on their websites explaining how to notify them of a plug-in solar installation.

For example:

• UKPN has updated their G98 process to accommodate plug-in solar notifications
• WPD has issued technical guidance on small-scale generation
• ENWL has confirmed that plug-in systems require G98 notification like any other embedded generation

This is significant. These organisations could have lobbied against plug-in solar or made the notification process deliberately difficult. They haven't.

Why? Because plug-in solar isn't actually a threat to their network—at least not at the scale we're expecting in the short term.

What DNOs Care About: The Numbers Game

Here's the reality: at 800W per household, even if 5 million UK homes installed plug-in solar, that's a total capacity of 4GW. For context, the UK's peak demand is around 60GW. Wind farms regularly produce 10GW+. A single large coal plant (before most were decommissioned) produced 1GW.

So plug-in solar, in aggregate, isn't massive by national grid standards.

But DNOs think locally, not nationally. They care about what happens on their neighbourhood transformer—the box on a pole or in a vault that serves 50–200 homes.

If 80 homes on one transformer all install 800W panels simultaneously, and they're all exporting at midday on a sunny day, suddenly that transformer is handling 64kW of reverse power. The grid expects power to flow one way (from the transformer to homes). Reverse power can cause:

• Voltage rise (too much power coming back)
• Protection system confusion (relays designed for one-way power flow)
• Harmonic distortion
• In extreme cases, damage to equipment

Curtailment: The Word You Might Hear

This is why DNOs have been studying Germany's experience closely. Germany has 1M+ Balkonkraftwerk (plug-in solar) installations. A few areas have seen congestion—too much solar on one local circuit at peak generation times.

In those cases, DNOs can technically request that users "curtail" their systems—reduce or stop the power they're exporting to prevent grid instability.

Germany's BDEW (Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft, the industry association) warned in 2024 that if growth continues at the current pace, some areas will need active curtailment. This hasn't become a mass problem yet, but it's on the horizon.

UK DNOs are watching this closely. They're thinking: "If we're going to have millions of plug-in systems, we need to be able to manage it."

G98 Notification: Your Part of the Deal

This is where DNOs protect themselves. When you notify your DNO of your plug-in solar installation via G98, you're telling them:

• Exactly where you are (grid reference)
• What technology you're installing (panel type, inverter, capacity)
• How it will be earthed and protected

This lets them plot small-scale generation on their network map. They can see, in real time, where pockets of high adoption might emerge and where congestion risks are highest.

Currently, this is still manual—you send a form, they log it. But DNOs are investing in smarter systems. Within 2–3 years, expect:

• Digital G98 portals (easier to notify and track)
• Automated analysis of local capacity
• Predictive models showing where curtailment might be needed
• Possible incentive schemes (paying you to curtail at peak times)

What Happens If Your Area Gets Too Much Solar?

Practically speaking, if your neighbourhood became a hotbed of plug-in solar adoption and the local transformer was overloaded, the DNO's first move would be notification: "Please reduce export at peak times." They'd likely offer financial incentive or install smart inverters that can limit export.

Forced curtailment without notice is unlikely in the near term—it would be terrible PR and legally complicated. But it's not outside the realm of possibility if things escalate.

The G98 framework already gives DNOs the power to request curtailment if necessary. It's a last resort, but it's there.

The Learning Phase

DNOs are currently in a learning phase. They're gathering data, publishing guidance, and integrating plug-in solar into their planning models. Most are doing this reasonably transparently.

Some, like UKPN, have joined industry working groups (like the IET plug-in solar group) to shape best practice. They're not fighting the technology—they're figuring out how to live with it.

What This Means for You

1. Notification is serious: When you complete your G98 form, you're not just ticking a box. You're feeding data into the DNO's network map. They're watching.

2. You're unlikely to be asked to curtail soon: At current adoption rates, most areas won't hit congestion limits for several years. Plug-in solar is still new.

3. Curtailment might become incentivised: In future, DNOs might offer you payment for agreeing to reduce export during peak hours. This is actually happening in parts of Germany.

4. Be honest on your G98 form: Don't understate your capacity or hide installations. DNOs will eventually figure it out via import/export data, and misreporting could void your compliance.

5. Watch for new schemes: As plug-in solar grows, expect DNOs to launch smart management schemes. These could include real-time export pricing or time-of-use discounts that encourage self-consumption over export.

The Bottom Line

DNOs aren't anti-plug-in solar. They're cautious managers of critical infrastructure. They're collecting data, planning for scale, and setting up frameworks for the inevitable growth.

Germany's experience shows that 1M+ systems can coexist with the grid—with sensible management. The UK's DNOs are preparing for something similar.

For the next few years, notification and compliance are all that's required. After that, things may get more sophisticated, but not less favourable to solar installers.

For more on the notification process and safety standards, see our guide to BS 7671 Amendment 4.