Do You Need to Notify Your DNO for an EV Charger?
Last checked: Thu Aug 13 2026 01:00:00 GMT+0100 (British Summer Time)
Yes - but the reassuring part is that it’s not something you have to chase yourself. If you’re getting a proper installation, notifying your Distribution Network Operator is a standard part of the job your installer does, not an extra step you need to arrange.
What a DNO is, and why a charger needs one
Your DNO is the company responsible for the electricity network in your local area - not your energy supplier, which is who bills you, but the operator of the physical wires and substations that deliver power to your street. An EV charger typically draws a sustained 32-amp load, which is a meaningfully larger and longer draw than most household appliances. Multiply that by enough houses on a street installing chargers around the same time, and it’s exactly the kind of change a network operator needs visibility on to make sure local capacity can handle it.
The paperwork, briefly
Notifications to the DNO for this kind of installation typically go through standard forms (you may see them referred to as G98 or G99 depending on the size and type of installation) that confirm what’s being connected and let the network operator flag it if there’s a capacity concern in your specific area. For a standard domestic single charger, this is usually a formality rather than an obstacle - but it’s still a required one.
Who actually does this
Your installer. Part of what you’re paying for in a proper installation - as opposed to an unregistered or DIY job - is exactly this: the paperwork trail that confirms the installation was notified correctly. If you’re getting quotes and want a quick way to gauge whether an installer is doing things properly, asking directly “how do you handle the DNO notification for this job” is a reasonable question, and a competent installer should answer it without hesitation.
What happens if it’s skipped
An unnotified high-load connection is a genuine risk to local network stability if enough of them accumulate unnoticed, which is the whole reason the requirement exists. On an individual level, skipping it - as can happen with informal or DIY installations - also tends to unravel other protections: it’s difficult to have a fully compliant, insurable installation without the paperwork trail that notification is part of. It’s one more reason a cut-price, unregistered install rarely turns out to be the bargain it looks like upfront.