Independent Connection Provider (ICP)

What Is an Independent Connection Provider?

An Independent Connection Provider (ICP) is a specialist company, accredited under the National Electricity Registration Scheme (NERS) for electricity and the equivalent schemes for gas (GIRS) and water (WIRS), that designs, constructs and connects new utility infrastructure to the network. ICPs handle the engineering, civil works, cabling or pipework, and installation required to deliver a new or upgraded supply.

The ICP model exists because of a change in UK legislation in the early 2000s, when Ofgem opened the connections market to competition. Before that, developers and businesses had to rely solely on the regional network operator. Now, for the parts of a connection where competition can safely be introduced, known as contestable works, you can appoint an accredited ICP such as Air Utilities instead. There are currently more than 450 accredited ICPs in the UK, so choosing one with the right accreditation scope and track record matters.

What Does an ICP Do?

An ICP delivers the contestable works on a new connection, which typically includes:

• Electrical, gas or water design to the network operator's standards
• Point of connection applications and all network operator liaison
• Cable laying and jointing, or gas and water mains and service pipes
• Substation installation for higher-capacity electricity connections
• Civil works, including excavation, ducting and reinstatement
• Testing, commissioning and coordination of final connection
• Managing network adoption, so the completed assets are taken over by the DNO, IGT or water company

The ICP works alongside the relevant network operator to ensure the completed infrastructure meets technical standards, safety requirements and network specifications, so it can be adopted once built.

ICP vs DNO: What Is the Difference?

This is the single most common question developers ask, and getting it right can save months on a programme.

A DNO owns and operates the network and is the only party that can carry out the non-contestable works, such as determining the point of connection, off-site reinforcement and final energisation. An ICP carries out the contestable works in competition, usually with a more flexible, customer-focused service. In practice you often use both: the ICP builds the connection and the network operator adopts and energises it.

Contestable and Non-Contestable Works Explained

Every new or upgraded connection splits into two categories, defined by Ofgem's competition framework.

Contestable works are any element of a connection where competition can safely be introduced, and which an accredited ICP can design, construct, install or commission. This includes electrical design, cable laying and jointing, gas and water mains, substation installation and civil works.

Non-contestable works are the sensitive tasks concerning the existing live network that only the licensed network operator is legally allowed to do. This includes determining the point of connection, designing any off-site reinforcement, and making the final connection to the live network.

Air Utilities delivers the contestable works and manages the non-contestable works on your behalf, so you deal with one team throughout.

Why Use an ICP Like Air Utilities?

• Faster programmes. We build the contestable works to your construction schedule, rather than joining the network operator's queue.
• Cost certainty. Fixed-price contracts for the contestable scope, with costs itemised clearly against contestable and non-contestable works.
• A single point of contact. One team handles design, applications, civils, installation and network liaison, acting as the intermediary between you and the network operator.
• Multi-utility capability. Because we hold NERS, GIRS and WIRS, we can deliver electricity, gas and water as one coordinated package, which most ICPs cannot.
• Adoptable from day one. Everything we build is designed to be adopted by the network, with no gaps in compliance.

Accreditation: Why It Matters When Choosing an ICP

An ICP can only carry out work to the extent its accreditation specifies. It cannot legally take on work greater than its stated certification scope. This is why accreditation is the first thing to check when choosing an ICP, and why we are transparent about ours. Air Utilities is accredited across all three national schemes, administered independently by Lloyd's Register:

• NERS, National Electricity Registration Scheme, covering our electricity connection scope
• GIRS, Gas Industry Registration Scheme, for gas connections
• WIRS, Water Industry Registration Scheme, for water connections and self-lay

Where a project requires capability beyond our direct accredited scope, such as higher-voltage electricity work, we deliver it through our network of accredited specialist partners, so the work is always carried out by a provider fully qualified for it, and you still deal with one team.

Do You Need an ICP?

For the majority of new-build residential schemes, commercial developments and industrial connections involving meaningful on-site infrastructure, the ICP route gives you better programme control, greater design input and more commercial certainty than going direct to the network operator. If your project needs a new or upgraded electricity, gas or water connection, an accredited ICP such as Air Utilities is worth comparing against the network operator's offer before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions