Notifying Your DNO After Installing Plug-in Solar: G98 Step-by-Step

At some point after you've installed your plug-in solar system and it's generating electricity, someone will mention "you need to notify your DNO." And you'll think: what's a DNO, where do I find it, and do I need to worry?

The answer is simple: a DNO is the company that owns the cables in your area, notifying them takes 10 minutes, and you do need to do it (though if you forget, the consequences are low).

What's a DNO?

DNO stands for Distribution Network Operator. It's the company that owns the electricity distribution network—the cables that bring power to your home.

This is different from your energy supplier. Your energy supplier is the company you pay your electricity bill to (British Gas, EDF, Octopus, etc.). Your DNO is the company that physically maintains the cables.

For example, if you live in London, your energy supplier might be Octopus, but your DNO is UK Power Networks. If you live in the Midlands, your energy supplier might be British Gas, but your DNO is Western Power Distribution. They're separate organisations.

The DNO needs to know that you've connected a power source (your plug-in solar panel) because they manage the grid, and having accurate information about what's connected helps them operate it safely and efficiently.

Finding Your DNO

Method 1: Postcode lookup. Go to the Energy Networks Association website (energynetworks.org). They have a postcode lookup tool. Enter your postcode and it'll tell you your DNO instantly.

Method 2: Ask your energy supplier. Ring them or email them and say, "What's my Distribution Network Operator?" They'll tell you. Takes two minutes.

Method 3: Common sense. The main DNOs in the UK are:

• UK Power Networks (London, Eastern England, South East)
• Western Power Distribution (Midlands, Wales, South West)
• Northern Powergrid (North East, Yorkshire, Northern)
• Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (Scotland, Southern England)
• Electricity North West (North West)

If you're in one of those regions, you can go directly to that DNO's website and find their G98 portal.

Once you know your DNO, go to their website and find the section for "embedded generation" or "G98 notification." Each DNO has a different name for it and a different online portal, but it's usually easy to find.

What You'll Need for the G98 Form

The G98 is a standard form used across all DNOs. You'll need to provide:

1. Your property details.

• Full address and postcode.
• This identifies which part of the network you're connected to.

2. Your system output.

• The rated power of your panel, in kilowatts (kW).
• A 400W panel = 0.4 kW. An 800W panel = 0.8 kW.
• This is usually printed on the panel itself or in the manual.

3. The date you connected.

• The date your system started generating (the date you plugged it in).
• You have 28 days from this date to submit the form, so if you're reading this weeks later, don't worry—you still have time.

4. Your inverter make and model.

• Usually something like "Enphase IQ7" or "Hoymiles MI-80."
• Look at the micro-inverter itself or the manual. It's clearly labelled.

5. Connection type.

• It will ask if you're single-phase or three-phase.
• For residential plug-in solar, you're definitely single-phase. That's the standard UK domestic setup.

6. Your contact details.

• Name, email, and phone number.
• The DNO might need to contact you if there are questions, though for a straightforward plug-in solar notification, they usually won't.

That's it. This information takes about 10 minutes to gather (mostly the time it takes to find the inverter model number).

Submitting the G98 Form

Go to your DNO's online portal (or their website if they still use paper forms, though most are online now).

Find the G98 form or "embedded generation notification" section. Fill in the fields. The form is straightforward—there's nothing tricky. Just honest information.

Submit. Done.

You'll usually get an email confirmation within a day or two. Keep this email for your records.

What Happens After You Submit

The DNO records your system. That's really it. There's no approval process for plug-in solar under 800W—no engineer visit, no inspection, no paperwork beyond the form.

Within a few days or a week, you'll receive a formal acknowledgement from the DNO. They might ask for clarification if they've misunderstood something (rare), but for a straightforward G98, you've heard from them and you're done.

Your system is now officially recorded with the network. This matters for:

• Safety and network management. The DNO knows what's connected and can account for it when managing the grid.
• Legal compliance. You've done what the regulations require. If you ever sell the house or move, you can prove you notified them.
• Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). If you're on a scheme that pays you for exporting excess electricity to the grid, the DNO's record helps process those payments.

Timescales

You have 28 days from the date you connected your system to submit the G98 form.

"Connected" means the date you plugged the inverter cable into the socket and it started generating.

You're not in a race. Most people submit within the first week. Some submit in the third week. As long as it's within 28 days, you're compliant.

If you miss the 28 days, it's not the end of the world—you can still submit, and there's no penalty for being late. But there's no good reason to wait, so just do it.

Common Questions

Do I need an electrician to submit the G98?

No. You fill out the form yourself and submit it online. It's not an electrical matter—it's just administrative.

Will my DNO come and inspect?

Not for plug-in solar under 800W. They don't need to. The G98 is a notification, not a request for approval.

Does this affect my electricity bill?

No. Your domestic meter and billing arrangements remain unchanged. If you're exporting electricity to the grid, that's handled separately through a Smart Export Guarantee scheme (if you're on one), which is a separate contract between you and an export payment company or your energy supplier.

What if I don't notify?

Technically, you've failed to comply with the regulation. Practically, the DNO won't hunt you down. But if you ever sell the house or move, the new owner or the buyer's conveyancer might spot that a system was installed but not notified. It can complicate sales. Just notify—it's five minutes.

What if I get details slightly wrong?

You can resubmit. If you put down the wrong inverter model or a slightly incorrect date, just contact the DNO and ask to amend it. They're not difficult about this.

The Big Picture

The G98 notification is a regulation that exists for good reasons: the DNO needs to know what's connected to the grid, and you need to have proof that you've notified them. It's a tiny administrative step that takes 10 minutes and matters more than people realise.

Don't overthink it. Find your DNO, fill in the form, submit. Within a few days, you'll have an official acknowledgement and you're done.

For a full walkthrough of the entire installation process, including what to do after you've submitted the G98, see our installation guide.