The text below is the transcript from the Your Transmission Connection Journey video.
Welcome. In this video, we'll guide you through the Transmission Connections Process and explain the roles of the different organisations involved. Through developments from the Connections Reform Project, the process for transmission connections has now changed. Understanding how it works and where responsibilities sit can help give you clarity when applying for a connection. When applying for a transmission connection in central and southern Scotland, three key parties are involved.
You the customer, SP Transmission - SPT, and the National Energy System Operator - NESO. Before submitting an application, we recognise that you may have questions. To support this, we are developing a range of digital tools designed to enhance the pre-application experience. These tools will provide high level estimates based on key project information, helping you to build an early understanding of what your connection may look like before formally applying.
They are planned to be introduced alongside future application windows, offering greater clarity, supporting informed decision making and enabling you to prepare more effectively in advance of submission. The journey begins with you, the customer. You submit a Transmission Connection application to NESO providing details such as location, capacity requirements, programme and supporting evidence. NESO then assesses your application and determines whether it will progress through the Connections Reform application window process or the Standard Connections process.
Gate One projects remain in the process but do not yet have a secured queue position, while Gate Two projects have met the required criteria and secured a place in the connections queue. Instead of rolling applications, the process now works to fixed submission windows, which means projects must apply within a defined window. Once that window closes, NESO reviews all applications together.
Based on this assessment, projects are assigned to either Gate One or Gate Two. NESO then shares all project information with SPT in a collated Batch Scheme Briefing Note - BSBN, including key application details, queue position and project status. SPT as the transmission owner for Central and Southern Scotland, reviews these details to inform network planning. Our engineers will then assess your application to understand the technical feasibility of connecting your project to the transmission system.
Once SPT approves your project for competence and your application fees are paid to NESO, your project becomes clock started. SPT assesses the capability of the network, carry out detailed impact studies, and determines whether reinforcements are needed. Once that is complete, our engineering teams design your connection while our project managers map out the delivery programme of your project. This work then comes together in the form of your Transmission Owner Construction Offer - TOCO. Alongside SPT’s assessment, some applications may also require input at a national level. In these cases, SPT works alongside NESO to understand how your connection will interact with the wider transmission system, including any capacity or network constraints. Much of this coordination happens behind the scenes to ensure your connection is delivered safely, efficiently and in coordination with the wider network.
Once SPT finalises the design, your offer is sent to NESO, who assesses this and either accept the contract or raise queries with SPT. If accepted, NESO then issues a Bilateral Connections Agreement - BCA - directly to you as the customer. Once you receive your BCA, it is your responsibility as the customer to review the contract carefully and sign it if satisfied with its terms.
If you have any questions, you can raise technical queries about the contract with NESO. NESO will either respond directly or work with SPT to provide the required information. Once your queries are resolved, you have the option to sign and return the offer to NESO. Once NESO receives your signed contract, they themselves sign it before issuing to SPT. At this stage, your project officially becomes contracted with SPT and will then progress into the development phase in due course.
From start to finish, the connections process is detailed and carefully coordinated. Each stage brings together the necessary technical and commercial expertise to ensure your connection is delivered with accuracy, care and confidence. Together, SPT, NESO and our connections customers support the delivery of a secure, coordinated and future ready transmission system.