Queue Management
What is Queue management?
Queue management is the process by which network companies manage projects which have an accepted connection offer and have not yet connected. This enables network companies to;
- Effectively manage contracted projects if they are not progressing against agreed milestones.
- Avoid stalled or slow-moving projects from affecting other projects.
- Utilise flexible resources in connection queues to better utilise the available capacity.
Queue management is used to remove a project from a connection queue where the project is delayed compared to its contracted milestones and deemed to be outside the agreed tolerance period. Where this occurs, network companies would take steps to terminate the agreement. These processes have been developed across all network companies and with the aim of consistent implementation. The full Queue Management User Guide can be found here.
Through the use of milestones and tolerances, network companies can apply queue management in a clear and consistent way to remove delayed projects from connection queues and so ensure that network capacity is available for other customer projects that are ready to progress. These could be projects that are already in the connection queue or new connection applications.
These principles of queue management will apply to any new or modified applications submitted on or after the 1 July 2021 for distributed generation connections of 1MW or above.
Milestones
Milestones are the agreed benchmarks by which we will manage your project. We will use milestones to measure and track project progress towards a contracted connection date. Failures to meet milestones may mean that your project is terminated.
Tolerance
This mechanism provides some flexibility and recognises that there may be some delays which lead to Milestones not being achieved on time and provides a customer with an opportunity to get their project back on track within prescribed time periods.
Cumulative Delay
For earlier milestones, delays are accumulated and the cumulative delay is compared to the total allowed Tolerance for the project. Please refer to the guide for details on timescales.
How does it affect me?
The process will apply to Distribution Generation projects which meet the following criteria:
- Applications for new or modified connections after 1 July 2021
- Applications for 1MW or above
What is the process?
Connection offer issued
Your new or modified offer will be issued with the milestones and tolerances detailed within your connection offer. Your contract will provide the timescales applicable to your project for each milestone and the allowed tolerance.
Acceptance
Following acceptance, you will need to provide us with evidence that you have met each milestone and when it was met. Examples of the evidence for each milestones is included in the Queue Management User Guide which can be found here.
Your nominated point of contact will be able to help support and guide you through any queries you have with the new process.