Is Electricity Unlooping Free for an EV Charger?

What does 'free unlooping' actually cover?

The distinction is between the network work required to address the looped service and additional changes requested by the customer.

The government report says standard unlooping was not charged to individual householders by the DNOs studied.

Current DNO material supports the same general picture while showing that eligibility and scope can vary.

For example, SSEN says it can unloop many typical household supplies free of charge when the work is needed for equipment such as an EV charger or heat pump, subject to its criteria.

SP Electricity North West currently describes its proactive unlooping work as being completed without cost to homeowners.

These are useful real-world policies, but the homeowner should still obtain confirmation for the actual job.

References: Unlooping Electricity Network Connections Research · SP Electricity North West Unlooping · SSEN Looped Service

What extra work might I have to pay for?

DESNZ gives two clear examples:

• a three-phase upgrade carried out alongside the unlooping;
• moving the meter entry point at the same time.

A DNO may also have rules around reinstatement beyond its standard scope or other optional changes.

Therefore, if somebody tells you: "the unlooping is free", do not automatically interpret that as: "anything I ask the DNO or electrician to change during the project will be free."

Ask for written confirmation of which work belongs to the standard network intervention and which work is additional.

References: Unlooping Electricity Network Connections Research · SSEN Looped Service

How much does unlooping actually cost the electricity network?

The 2026 government study provides unusually useful evidence here.

One DNO said an unlooping job typically cost the network roughly £2,500-£6,000.

Another reported a narrower range of approximately £3,500-£4,000.

For complex jobs, costs of around £10,000-£15,000 were reported.

The study also notes cases where driveway reinstatement alone cost the network more than £10,000 for surfaces such as printed concrete or resin.

These numbers need a large warning: THEY ARE NOT HOMECHARGELAB QUOTES TO HOMEOWNERS.

They describe costs reported by DNOs as part of the government research.

The fact that the network work can cost thousands of pounds does not mean a householder will receive a bill for that amount.

References: Unlooping Electricity Network Connections Research

Who pays if my driveway has to be reinstated?

The DESNZ study says DNOs reported handling standard reinstatement and remedial works at their cost and to the customer's reasonable satisfaction.

However, one DNO was considering a procedure for charging where requested reinstatement went beyond a particular standard.

Current network operators also describe reinstatement as part of their unlooping programmes.

Because driveways can be expensive and site-specific, ask before work starts:

• what surface will be disturbed;
• what reinstatement standard is included;
• whether any requested upgrade or enhancement is chargeable;
• and which organisation is responsible for the work.

Do not assume that another DNO's published programme establishes the contract for your own address.

References: Unlooping Electricity Network Connections Research · SP Electricity North West Unlooping · SP Energy Networks Planned service unlooping

Does my EV charger installer pay for the unlooping?

Usually these are different scopes of work.

The EV charger installer assesses and installs the customer's charging equipment and handles the relevant application/notification process.

The DNO owns and manages the local distribution-network assets and any required service-network work.

A quotation from your EV installer can therefore contain installation costs even where the DNO's standard unlooping itself is not charged to you.

Ask for the two scopes to be separated clearly.

References: Connecting electric vehicles and heat pumps · Connect Direct

What should I ask before agreeing to any charge?

Ask:

"Is this charge for standard DNO unlooping, or for additional work outside the standard unlooping scope?"

Then ask for the additional work to be itemised.

Do not rely on a vague verbal description such as:

"it's because your supply is looped."

If unlooping is what is delaying the charger, also read: How long does unlooping take?