Connectologists® Nikki Pillinger, Alex Ikonic, and Philip Bale examine the latest Connections Reform delays and the practical challenges developers face navigating milestones, technical limits uncertainty, and escalating project delivery costs.
Since recording, NESO published further revised timelines: Protected 2026/27 transmission offers now expected between 13 February and mid-April 2026, protected distribution between early March and end May 2026, with Phase 1 offers extending through mid-November 2026—months beyond the "few weeks" initially anticipated.
Key discussions:
- Milestone complications: Developers receiving earliest possible connection dates but needing to submit Modification Applications justifying Connections Reform delays—a clunky process with over 10 times more projects in Gate 2 Phase 1 than the protected pot
- Technical limits stalled: No new technical limits opportunities in Gate 2 offers except for existing customers, despite transmission schemes pushing back and smaller distribution projects being more nimble. Some DNOs reclassifying batteries accepting technical limits as "contracted demand" under ETR130 P2 clause—excluding them from network restoration without transparent guidance
- Delivery cost shocks: Connection costs rising 50-60% due to inflation, with some Gate 2 variations approaching 200%. DNOs issuing scope variations and additional costs after work completed—sometimes hundreds of thousands to millions—without prior notification
- Connection agreement surprises: Agreements arriving with significantly stronger terms than offers—availability restrictions, Export Network Management (ENM) requirements, vague abnormal running arrangements extending multiple grid groups beyond connection points
Recorded 04 February 2026
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