Independent distribution network operator (IDNO): what it is and how it differs from a DNO
An independent distribution network operator (IDNO) is a company licensed by Ofgem to own and operate electricity distribution networks on new developments, operating nationally rather than within a fixed geographic region like a regional DNO.
An independent distribution network operator (IDNO) is a company licensed by Ofgem to own and operate electricity distribution networks in the UK. IDNOs build and maintain the "last-mile" networks that connect new housing estates, commercial parks, EV charging hubs, and industrial sites to the regional grid. For a solar or electrical installer, the practical question is: who owns the network at the site you are connecting to? If the site sits on an IDNO network, you apply to the IDNO - not the regional distribution network operator (DNO) - for connection agreements, G99 notifications, and export approvals.
How an IDNO differs from a DNO
Great Britain's electricity distribution network is managed by six main DNO groups covering 14 regional areas. DNOs are tied to their geographic territory: Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks covers northern Scotland and central southern England, UK Power Networks covers eastern England, London, and the south east, and so on. An IDNO operates under a different model. It is not region-locked - a single IDNO can own and operate networks anywhere in Great Britain.
The key distinction for anyone connecting to or installing generation on a site is scale and origin. DNOs maintain the established regional infrastructure that has served existing homes and businesses for decades. IDNOs own and maintain the newer, smaller embedded networks - often a single housing development, business park, or EV charging hub - that connect back into the DNO's main network at a point of common coupling. Ofgem licenses IDNOs under the same regulatory framework as DNOs and requires them to meet the same safety, reliability, and performance standards. According to Ofgem's September 2025 register, more than 20 licensed IDNOs operate in Great Britain, including operators such as Last Mile Electricity, ESP Electricity, and Energy Assets Networks.
Developers of new sites often work with IDNOs rather than DNOs because an IDNO pays an Asset Value Payment to adopt the newly constructed network. This payment offsets some of the connection cost. A DNO, by contrast, traditionally receives the gifted asset at no charge to the developer. Because IDNOs compete against each other for new network adoptions, many operate faster design and approval processes than regional DNOs - and Ofgem's Relative Price Controls require that IDNO distribution charges are no higher than what an equivalent DNO-connected customer would pay.
How to tell whether a site is on an IDNO or DNO network
The most reliable method is to check the site's MPAN - the Meter Point Administration Number shown on any electricity bill or meter certificate. The first two digits on the MPAN's bottom line are the Distributor ID. Regional DNO networks use IDs in the range 10 to 23. IDNO networks use IDs from 24 upward: ID 24 is Independent Power Networks, 25 is ESP Electricity, 26 is Last Mile Electricity, and the list extends to more than 20 active operators.
If no MPAN exists yet on a new-build site, the connection agreement or the developer's technical pack will name the adopting network operator. Contacting the Independent Connection Provider (ICP) building the network infrastructure is another direct route: the ICP will know which operator has agreed to adopt it.
Check the MPAN first
The first two digits on the bottom line of an MPAN identify the network operator. IDs between 10 and 23 belong to the six regional DNOs. Any ID from 24 upward belongs to an IDNO. An electricity bill, meter certificate, or the Energy Networks Association postcode tool will surface the MPAN for an existing site.
For solar and electrical contractors working on renewables projects, identifying the network owner before submitting a G99 application or export enquiry is essential. G99 notifications and connection agreements must go to the entity that owns the network - sending them to the regional DNO when the site sits on an IDNO network will delay the project, as the DNO will redirect the application. Tracking which applications have been submitted and which approvals remain outstanding keeps a project moving without avoidable hold-ups at the connection stage.
When quoting for work on a new-build site, factor in that IDNO connection timelines can differ from DNO timelines. Building realistic timelines for connection agreements and export approvals into your project quotes - and noting which network operator applies - reduces the risk of quoting a programme that the operator's own schedule then extends.