Self-service LV budget estimating tool

We will develop a self-service LV budget tool with input from our customers.

An important part of the connections process and our role as a new connections provider is to help our customers understand the viability of their project - both in terms of network connectivity and cost.

One of the commitments we made this year was to allow customers greater access to our network records to carry out their own initial assessments. However, in cases where customers do not have their own design or assessment capability, we understand that a budget view of costs before making a formal application would be of benefit.

Our current target is a maximum 15-day turnaround for a >1MVA budget cost, but we have been exploring ways to make this faster by developing a new self-service budget estimator tool. Delivery of the new resource will be in the 2019/20 ICE plan year but we made a commitment to involve customers in the development of the tool and seek their feedback to help shape the final output.

We previewed a prototype version of the tool at our Connections Customer Forum and ICP seminar in November 2018 and sought feedback from the customers in attendance. We invited Local Authority contacts from across our region to a preview of the tool in March 2019 and sought their feedback to help develop it further.