Find My DNO
Your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) is set by where the property is, not by who supplies the electricity. Six operator groups run the 14 licence areas in Great Britain.
Enter the MPAN from your electricity bill for an exact answer, or a postcode for an estimate. Once you know your DNO, here's how to get your DNO letter.
Look up your network operator
DNO names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify the network operator. Grid Submit is not affiliated with any DNO.
The six DNO groups
UK Power Networks
UKPN
London, South East and East of England
MPAN distributor ID
10, 12, 19
National Grid Electricity Distribution
NGED
Midlands, South West and South Wales
MPAN distributor ID
11, 14, 21, 22
Northern Powergrid
NPg
North East, Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire
MPAN distributor ID
15, 23
Electricity North West
ENWL
North West England
MPAN distributor ID
16
SP Energy Networks
SPEN
Merseyside, North Wales, Central and Southern Scotland
MPAN distributor ID
13, 18
SSEN
SSEN
Southern England and North Scotland
MPAN distributor ID
17, 20
Want to see what each operator sends back? Read our real DNO letter examples, one from each group.
All 14 licence areas
The first two digits of the 13-digit MPAN core are the distributor ID. Find yours below.
| ID | Licence area | DNO |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Eastern England | UK Power Networks |
| 11 | East Midlands | National Grid Electricity Distribution |
| 12 | London | UK Power Networks |
| 13 | Merseyside & North Wales | SP Energy Networks |
| 14 | West Midlands | National Grid Electricity Distribution |
| 15 | North East England | Northern Powergrid |
| 16 | North West England | Electricity North West |
| 17 | North of Scotland | SSEN |
| 18 | South of Scotland | SP Energy Networks |
| 19 | South East England | UK Power Networks |
| 20 | Southern England | SSEN |
| 21 | South Wales | National Grid Electricity Distribution |
| 22 | South West England | National Grid Electricity Distribution |
| 23 | Yorkshire | Northern Powergrid |
A distributor ID outside 10 to 23 usually means an independent network operator (IDNO). See the FAQ below.
Turnaround times by operator
We're compiling median approval times per operator from our own submission records. Rather than publish round numbers we can't stand behind, this section stays empty until the sample is large enough to be honest about.
In the meantime: G98 has no waiting period, and G99 commonly runs up to 45 working days for the operator's response.
Finding your DNO: questions
How do I find my DNO?
Look at the MPAN on your electricity bill. The first two digits of the 13-digit core number are the distributor ID, which identifies the licence area and so the DNO. Enter it in the tool above for an exact answer. If you don't have a bill to hand, the postcode tab gives an estimate with a confidence level.
Where is my MPAN?
On your electricity bill, usually in a box labelled MPAN or Supply Number. The full MPAN has 21 digits over two rows; the 13-digit core is the bottom row. Your supplier can also tell you it. For solar you will often have a separate export MPAN as well.
Does my export MPAN have the same DNO?
Yes. An export MPAN carries the same distributor ID as the import MPAN at the same property, so either number gives the same answer. Use whichever is easier to find. Both identify the local network the property is connected to, whichever energy supplier buys the exported electricity.
What if my postcode is on a boundary?
Some postcode areas are split between two or more DNOs, so a postcode lookup can only give an estimate. The tool shows every likely operator with a confidence level. The MPAN is exact, so use it to confirm before submitting anything: an application sent to the wrong DNO tends to sit unanswered rather than bounce back.
What is an IDNO?
An independent distribution network operator (IDNO) builds and runs local networks, often on new-build estates, connected to one of the main DNO networks. IDNO MPANs start with distributor IDs outside 10 to 23. If your MPAN isn't recognised, check with your supplier or contact us and we'll help work out who to apply to.
Why the right DNO matters
Submitting to the wrong operator doesn't produce an error, it produces silence. The application sits in a queue belonging to someone who isn't responsible for the site.
Once you're sure of the operator, the next step is a G98 notification or a G99 application, and in time a DNO approval letter for the customer's energy supplier.
We submit to all six
Each operator runs its own portal, its own forms and its own quirks. Some accept email. Some require a per-user account login. Some time out and lose your entry if you take too long over the technical section.
You don't need to learn six systems. We already have — for G98 notifications and G99 applications alike.
Installer? Don't chase DNOs yourself.
We submit and chase G98 and G99 applications for you, and send you the DNO letter when it arrives.