DNO applications for home solar and batteries
Questions about notification, approval, export limits and commissioning when adding generation at home.
Reviewed 2026-09-24 · 5 min read
Why connection matters
Solar and batteries interact with the electricity network. The installer must establish electrical characteristics and whether notification or prior approval is required. The route is not determined by panel count alone: inverter, phase, export and total generation matter.
Ask which DNO serves the property, what process is proposed and who submits it. Keep the reference, approval or notification and final commissioning documents. Do not energise a system in a way that bypasses the required process.
The installer should explain whether the system is being connected on a single phase or three phases, what inverter settings apply and whether any existing generation is included. A battery added later may still affect the connection assessment, even if the original panels were already installed.
Do not confuse a DNO notification with a guarantee of performance or permission to change the meter. The network process addresses connection requirements; it does not replace planning checks, building work, the electricity supply contract or the installer’s obligations.
Ask when the application was made and whether the design has changed since submission. Keep correspondence from the DNO and check that the final inverter and export settings match the information provided. A substitution at installation can require the process to be revisited.
If the property already has solar, storage or another generator, include it in the discussion. Treating a new system as isolated can produce an incomplete technical picture and may create avoidable delays at commissioning.
Understand export limits
An export limit restricts flow to the network while allowing onsite use. Ask how it is measured, where the controller sits, what happens after failure and whether it can be changed. For batteries, clarify grid charging, discharge, export and backup functions.
If export is capped, ask whether excess generation is curtailed or diverted to a battery and what happens when that battery is full. Confirm whether the monitoring app shows the limit and whether the owner receives an alert when a control fault reduces generation.
A future change to panels, inverter, battery or export settings should be reviewed before work starts. Keep the original approval and ask the installer to explain whether the proposed change needs a fresh application or updated notification.
Completion records
Request test results, system documents, monitoring access, warranties and DNO paperwork for the actual system. Confirm who handles a rejected notification or design change. Use current DNO and ENA guidance rather than an old forum post.
At handover, check that the serial numbers and inverter model match the design and that the monitoring account belongs to you. Ask where isolators are located and which circuits are affected. Keep the diagrams somewhere accessible for a future electrician or emergency response.
If the installer says paperwork will follow, put a date and responsible person in writing. Do not let an attractive completion date hide missing evidence that the connection was commissioned in accordance with the accepted design.
Common questions
Does every home need G99?
No. The applicable route depends on system and connection characteristics; the DNO or installer determines it.
Can an export limit reduce savings?
It can change surplus use or export, so model the actual limit and demand.
What comes at handover?
Relevant test, commissioning, DNO, equipment, warranty and monitoring records.