How to Notify Your DNO Under G98: The Complete 2026 Walkthrough

If you've bought a plug-in solar kit — or you're about to — there's one piece of paperwork that trips people up more than anything else: the G98 notification. It sounds bureaucratic, but it's genuinely one of the simplest parts of the whole process once you know what you're doing.

This guide walks through exactly what G98 is, whether it applies to your system, and the four steps to get it submitted — start to finish, in about 15 to 20 minutes.

What G98 actually is

G98 is short for Engineering Recommendation G98, published by the Energy Networks Association (ENA). It's the technical standard that governs how small generators — including plug-in solar kits — connect to the UK's local electricity network.

Any generator up to 3.68kW on a single-phase supply falls under G98, which covers every domestic plug-in solar kit on the market (all currently capped at 800W). The rule is often summarised as "connect and notify" — unlike its bigger sibling G99 (for larger systems), you don't need permission before you switch on.

Do you actually need to do this?

Yes, if your system is connected to the mains grid — even via a compliant hardwired connection to your consumer unit rather than a wall socket. G98 notification is a legal requirement, not an optional courtesy to your network operator. It applies whether you've had an electrician wire it in, or you're connecting a certified plug-in product under SI 2026/848, the route that opened on 27 August 2026.

What the rules actually say — and where they disagree

Plug-in solar became legal to self-install in Great Britain on 27 August 2026, when SI 2026/848 came into force. It amends the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 so a notified body can approve a BS 1363 plug for a plug-in microgenerator, and ties compliance to the DESNZ Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification v2.0 (July 2026), which caps a device at 800 VA and 3.5 A.

What it does not do is set a notification deadline. The 28 days everyone quotes — this page included, until now — comes from G98 itself, an engineering recommendation published by the Energy Networks Association, not from the regulations. Here is what each source actually says:

In practice, notify within 28 days. It is what the networks expect, it is what both consumer-facing sources say, and there is nothing to gain by waiting. But it is worth knowing that missing it does not break the law — it puts you outside an industry process, which is a smaller and more fixable problem than the phrasing on most sites suggests.

Northern Ireland is a special case

Most guides say the change is Great Britain only. That is the right answer for the wrong reason, and the detail matters if you live in Northern Ireland.

The extent provision splits within the same instrument. Regulations 1 and 2 — the part that lets a plug be approved for a microgenerator — extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Regulation 3, which amends the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002, extends to England and Wales and Scotland only.

On top of that, G98 is a GB document — Northern Ireland uses G98/NI — and the Interim Product Specification states that applying it in Northern Ireland is subject to further consideration and may require amendment. So the practical advice for Northern Ireland readers is still to wait. The reason is the missing electricity-safety duty and the unresolved G98/NI position, not the plug approval, which does extend to NI.

Step 1: Find your DNO

Your DNO (Distribution Network Operator) is the company that physically owns and maintains the electricity cables in your area — this is not the same company as your energy supplier (the one that sends you a bill). You could be with Octopus or British Gas for your supply, while a completely different company owns the local wires.

The quickest way to find yours is the Energy Networks Association's postcode checker at energynetworks.org, or check your electricity bill — your network operator is sometimes listed there as "distributor" or "network operator." As a general guide, UK electricity distribution is split between a small number of regional operators, including UK Power Networks, National Grid Electricity Distribution, SP Energy Networks, SSEN (Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks), Electricity North West, and Northern Powergrid — but always confirm with the postcode checker rather than assuming based on region, since coverage areas don't map neatly onto county lines.

Step 2: Gather what you'll need

Have these ready before you start the form — it turns a fiddly process into a five-minute one:

• Your MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) — a long reference number found on your electricity bill, not on the meter itself
• Installation address and postcode — use the property address, not a separate billing address
• Inverter make and model — check it appears on the ENA's G98 type-tested product register before you submit; nearly all major UK-sold plug-in kits (EcoFlow, Anker, Hoymiles) are already listed
• System capacity — the AC output rating of your micro-inverter (not the panel wattage), e.g. 800W
• A contact email and phone number — your DNO may follow up here if they have questions

Step 3: Submit the notification online

What happens after you submit

For a standard sub-3.68kW system, most DNOs simply log the notification on their network records — you won't receive a formal "approval" document, just confirmation that it's been received. Occasionally, a DNO may follow up with additional questions if a lot of small generators are already registered on the same local network segment, but this is rare for a single 800W system and doesn't mean you've done anything wrong.

G98 vs G99: which applies to you

For virtually every reader of this site, the answer is G98 — but here's the full comparison so you know why:

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using panel wattage instead of inverter AC capacity — the single most common error, covered above
• Assuming your energy supplier and your DNO are the same company — they're almost never the same
• Waiting past the 28-day window — there's no penalty for notifying early, so many people submit on the day of installation rather than risk forgetting
• Not checking the ENA type-tested register first — if your inverter isn't listed, some DNOs will ask for extra documentation, which slows things down
• Losing the confirmation email — it's easy to lose a one-line confirmation email; save it somewhere you'll find again in a few years

Choosing a kit with G98 already sorted

One upside of buying an established plug-in solar brand: the inverter is already on the ENA's type-tested register, so this whole process is friction-free. These are the same kits we recommend elsewhere on the site, and all three are pre-cleared for G98:

Summary — the key facts

• G98 is a notification, not an application — you install first, then tell your DNO
• You have 28 days from switching the system on to submit it
• It's free and takes about 15–20 minutes online
• Your DNO is not the same company as your energy supplier — check via the ENA postcode tool
• You'll need your MPAN and your inverter's AC output capacity, not the panel wattage
• G98 covers everything up to 3.68kW single-phase — every domestic plug-in kit qualifies
• It's separate from the Smart Export Guarantee, which needs its own certification if you want export payments

Once it's submitted and confirmed, you're done — there's nothing to renew, and no ongoing paperwork unless you move house and need to re-notify the new property's DNO.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: October 15, 2026