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By Rowan Halstead · Updated 23 September 2026

G98 Form & DNO Notification for Plug-In Solar UK 2026

Telling your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) that you have installed a plug-in solar system is a legal requirement — but since 27 August 2026 most people no longer use the G98 form to do it.

If your kit is on the ENA compliant register, you register at myplugin.solar instead: about two minutes, no MPAN, no datasheet, no wiring diagram. The Energy Networks Association notifies your DNO for you. If your kit is hard-wired, over 800W, or not on the register — an EcoFlow or Anker system, or anything with an integrated battery — you still need the full G98 process, which this page also covers in full. (Zendure's solar-only SolarFlow 800 joined the compliant list on 21 September 2026; its battery kits did not.)

The requirement was never waived. During consultation, some respondents asked the Government to drop DNO notification for compliant products. It declined. What changed is not whether you notify but how — and almost every guide published before late August still describes the old 14-DNO paperwork route as if it were the only one.

Quick Facts - Compliant kit? Register at myplugin.solar — ~2 minutes, address and device only. Run by the Energy Networks Association; it notifies your DNO automatically - Non-compliant, hard-wired or over 800W? Full G98 form with your own DNO — 10–20 minutes, needs MPAN, datasheet and schematic - Who must do it: Anyone connecting a plug-in solar system to the UK grid — including 800W balcony kits. The ENA states plainly that registration is a legal requirement - When: Within 28 days of installation. It's connect-and-notify, not an approval process — you don't wait for permission - Limit: One plug-in solar device per household, maximum 800W - Cost: Free, either route - If your device isn't in the dropdown: it's not on the register yet. Wait and check again — do not pick a close match - If your DNO says you don't need to notify: register anyway and keep the confirmation (why)

What Is a DNO and Why Do They Need to Know?

Your DNO is the company that physically delivers electricity to your home — separate from your energy supplier. They need to know about your solar installation for grid safety and stability reasons, but this is a notification, not an approval: you do not need their permission to install an 800W plug-in system.

Your Distribution Network Operator is the company that owns and maintains the cables, substations, and local electricity infrastructure that delivers power to your home. They are separate from your energy supplier (the company you pay your bills to) — your supplier sells you electricity; your DNO physically delivers it.

The UK has 14 DNO licensed areas, each managed by one of six companies: UK Power Networks, Western Power Distribution (now National Grid Electricity Distribution), SP Energy Networks, Northern Powergrid, Elia UK (formerly Electricity North West), and Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution.

The DNO needs to know about your solar installation because:

1. Grid stability: A large number of small generators feeding electricity into a local network can affect voltage levels. DNOs need to monitor this at scale, even if a single 800W system has negligible individual impact.
2. Engineer safety: If an engineer works on cables near your property believing them to be de-energised, an unnotified solar system feeding electricity into those cables could cause injury or death. Anti-islanding protection in compliant microinverters prevents this technically, but notification ensures the network record is accurate.
3. Future grid management: The government's smart energy transition requires accurate data on distributed generation across the network.

Critically: G98 notification is a notification, not an approval process. You do not need permission from your DNO to connect an 800W plug-in solar system. You notify them after installation, within 28 days.

G98 vs G99: Which Applies to You?

For a standard balcony solar kit under 800W, G98 applies — a simple post-installation notification form, not an application or approval process. G99 is for larger systems and does not apply here.

The UK grid connection standards for small generators are:

G98: For systems up to 3.68kW (single-phase). This covers all standard balcony solar kits (typically 800W). G98 is a simple notification — you fill in a form and submit it. No application, no fee, no approval needed.

G99: For systems over 3.68kW or with specific technical requirements. This requires a formal application process, engineering review, and potentially several months of waiting. Not relevant for plug-in balcony solar.

G100: A newer standard that may apply to systems with smart energy management features or batteries that actively manage import/export. As of September 2026, the application of G100 to domestic plug-in solar is still being clarified. For a standard 800W system without battery, G98 applies. If you have a Solarbank 2 or Zendure with active grid optimisation, check with your DNO whether G98 or G100 applies.

How to Find Your DNO

You do not choose your DNO — it is determined by your property's location. Every postcode in England, Scotland, and Wales is assigned to one of the 14 licensed distribution areas.

Three ways to find your DNO:

1. Energy Networks Association postcode lookup: Visit www.energynetworks.org/customers/find-my-network-operator and enter your postcode. Returns your DNO name and contact details in seconds.

2. Your electricity bill: Your DNO is sometimes printed on your bill (not to be confused with your supplier). Look for "network operator" or "distribution company."

3. Call 105: The free UK power cut helpline connects you to your local DNO from any phone. Explain that you want to identify your DNO for a solar notification — they can confirm and direct you to the right notification portal.

UK DNOs by Region

If Your Kit Is Compliant, Don't Use the G98 Form At All

This is the part most guides have not caught up with. Since 27 August 2026 there is a single national portal for compliant plug-in solar, and it replaces the DNO-by-DNO G98 form entirely:

Ofgem approved the G98 modification for plug-in microgenerators on 11 August 2026 and directed that it take effect with the legislation, so it has applied since 27 August. The modification adds a plug-in notification form (B2) and points at the ENA's own service.

How it works — four steps:

1. Verify your email. One-time code, no password to create.
2. Confirm your address. Enter your postcode, pick your address from the list.
3. Select your device. Choose from a dropdown of ENA-compliant devices. You search by manufacturer, model or device name.
4. Submit. Review and confirm. The ENA sends the notification to your DNO for you.

What it does not ask for. No MPAN. No inverter datasheet. No wiring schematic. No technology code. Every piece of paperwork the old G98 route demanded has been removed for compliant kits — which is the entire point of the change.

If your device isn't in the dropdown, stop. The ENA's own guidance is that it may still be undergoing assessment; check again in a few days. Do not pick a close match. The registration is against a specific tested model, and selecting a different one records something untrue about your installation. If your kit is genuinely not on the register — an EcoFlow or Anker system, or anything with an integrated battery — you are not on the plug-in route at all and need the full G98 process below, plus an electrician.

One device per household. The ENA is explicit: each household may have one plug-in solar device of up to 800W at any one time. The Interim Product Specification anticipates one device per circuit-breaker-protected circuit, but that only takes effect once G98 is amended to match. It has not been. One per property is the live rule. Replacing a device? Register the replacement through the same process.

So which route do you need?

Everything from here down applies to the second group — hard-wired systems, over-800W systems and non-compliant kits. If you bought a listed kit and plugged it into a socket, you are done at myplugin.solar.

"My DNO Told Me I Don't Need to Notify" — What's Going On

This comes up often enough to address directly, because it is genuinely confusing and the honest answer is not a simple one.

In the weeks before the law changed, UK Power Networks told a customer in writing: "Plug in solar does not fall under the G98 regulations and it is not registered as an LCT on our records. No notification is required at the moment."

That reply was real. But three things about it matter:

1. It predated 27 August 2026. At the time, plug-in solar had no legal definition, G98 had not yet been modified for it, and the ENA portal did not exist. "At the moment" was doing a lot of work in that sentence.
2. The kit in question was an EcoFlow — which at the time held no compliant Plug-in Solar listing. UKPN appears to have identified the product category from the brand name. A kit outside the compliant register genuinely isn't a "plug-in microgenerator" in the legal sense, so in a narrow way the answer was defensible. (EcoFlow's solar-only plug-in kits have since become compliant, on 22 September 2026, which would change the answer for those specific configurations.)
3. One DNO's reply to one household is not a policy. The other 13 DNO areas may answer differently, and the position has since been formalised anyway.

The current position is not ambiguous. The ENA's own portal states plainly: "Registering your plug-in solar device is a legal requirement." Ofgem approved the G98 modification on 11 August; the portal went live with the legislation on 27 August. Whatever a DNO said in July, registration is now required and takes two minutes.

If a DNO tells you today that you don't need to notify: register at myplugin.solar anyway, and keep the confirmation. It costs you two minutes, it is what the ENA says the law requires, and if an insurer or a future buyer ever asks, a confirmation is worth considerably more than a recollection of an email. Notification is a record, not a request for permission — there is no downside to having one.

What You Need Before You Start the Form

Most DNO G98 forms ask for the same information. Gather the following before opening the form:

About your property: - Full address and postcode - MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) — the 13-digit number on your electricity bill, or contact your supplier if you can't find it

About your system: - Manufacturer and model of the microinverter (e.g., "Hoymiles HMS-800-2T" or "EcoFlow STREAM Microinverter") - Rated AC output in watts (e.g., 800W) - Number of panels - Whether the system includes battery storage and its capacity - Installation date

Documentation (you may need to attach): - A copy of the microinverter's technical datasheet or declaration of conformity confirming G98/EN 50549-1 compliance - A simple wiring schematic — most kit manufacturers provide a standard diagram

All reputable microinverter brands (Hoymiles, APsystems, EcoFlow, Anker SOLIX) provide downloadable documentation on their websites. Download this before you buy, as some sellers don't include paper copies.

Step-by-Step G98 Notification Process

The process varies slightly by DNO, but the general steps are consistent across all 14 areas:

Step 1: Install your system

Connect your panels, mount the microinverter, plug in the connection cable. You do not need to notify before you start using the system — the 28-day window begins on installation.

Step 2: Find your DNO

Use the Energy Networks Association postcode lookup at energynetworks.org. Write down your DNO's name and note the notification portal URL.

Step 3: Locate your MPAN

Your MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) is the 13-digit reference number for your electricity supply point. It is printed on your electricity bill — look for a box labelled "supply number" or "MPAN." If you can't find it, call your energy supplier; they'll give it to you immediately.

Step 4: Download your inverter's technical datasheet

Go to the manufacturer's website and download the datasheet for your specific inverter model. This is the document the DNO may ask you to attach to confirm the system meets G98 requirements. For Hoymiles: hoymiles.com → Products → Datasheet. For EcoFlow: ecoflow.com/uk → STREAM → Technical Specs. For APsystems: emea.apsystems.com → Products → DS3 → Downloads.

Step 5: Complete the G98 notification form

Navigate to your DNO's notification portal. Most have a dedicated online form for small generation registrations (sometimes called "micro-generation registration" or "small distributed generation notification").

The form typically takes 10–20 minutes to complete. You'll enter: - Property address and MPAN - System type (plug-in solar) - Microinverter manufacturer, model, and rated output - Installation date - Whether battery storage is included

Some DNOs still accept paper forms by post. Check their website if the online form is unavailable.

Step 6: Submit and save your reference number

After submission, you'll receive a reference number (by email or on-screen). Save this. You may need it if your insurer asks for proof of notification, or if the DNO has a query.

Step 7: Wait for DNO acknowledgement

For G98 systems under 3.68kW, most DNOs process notifications within 1–5 working days and send a confirmation email. You do not need to wait for this confirmation before using your system — you notified them, and the obligation is met at the point of submission.

What Happens If You Don't Notify Your DNO?

Skipping G98 notification does not immediately result in a fine or enforcement action — DNOs do not actively monitor new installations. However:

Insurance: Most home insurers require notification of any modifications to your electrical installation. A solar system connected without proper notification gives an insurer grounds to reduce or reject a claim related to the system (or to home electrical damage generally). This is the most practical risk.

Grid liability: If your system causes a fault on the local network — unlikely but not impossible — and the DNO investigates, an un-notified installation complicates the liability position. A notified installation that caused a fault due to equipment failure points to the manufacturer; an un-notified installation raises questions about the owner's compliance.

Compliance when selling the property: A future buyer's solicitor may ask about modifications to the electrical installation. A solar system without a G98 notification on record could delay or complicate a property sale.

Practical risk level: Low in the short term; a genuine risk if you ever need to make an insurance claim or sell the property.

The form takes 15 minutes. Submit it.

The Simplified Pathway Has Now Landed

Earlier versions of this page described a simplified consumer registration route as government intent rather than reality. That changed on 27 August 2026 — the single national route now exists and is described at the top of this page.

The history is worth knowing, because it explains why so much published advice is still wrong:

• March 2026: DESNZ announced plug-in solar reform; Ofgem and the ENA were asked to develop a simplified consumer registration pathway.
• July 2026: Some consultation respondents asked the Government to waive DNO notification for compliant products. It declined — notification remains required for every grid-connected system. (DESNZ, Plug-in solar: government response, 16 July 2026.)
• 11 August 2026: Ofgem approved the G98 modification for plug-in microgenerators, directing that it take effect with the legislation.
• 27 August 2026: SI 2026/848 came into force and myplugin.solar went live.

So both things are true at once, which is where the confusion comes from: notification was never waived, but the way you do it became dramatically simpler. Guides written before late August describe a 14-DNO patchwork requiring MPANs and datasheets. For a compliant kit, none of that applies any more.

The one-device-per-household limit still stands. The Interim Product Specification anticipates one device per circuit-breaker-protected circuit, but that requires a further G98 amendment which has not been made.

Is Balcony Solar Legal in the UK?

G98 Notification for Renters

If you're a renter, the G98 notification process is identical to the homeowner process. You are the person installing the system; you are the one who submits the notification.

However, you should also be aware that notifying the DNO does not substitute for getting your landlord's permission to install the system. These are separate requirements. Landlord permission is about your tenancy agreement and lease conditions; DNO notification is about the electricity network. You need both.

If you're writing to your landlord for permission and want to reference regulatory compliance, you can mention that the system will be G98-notified with the DNO — this may reassure a hesitant landlord that the installation is being handled in an officially recognised way.

Balcony Solar for Renters UK

FAQs

Q: What does a G98 certificate or DNO confirmation actually look like? A: There is no certificate as such, and this trips people up. G98 is a notification, not an approval, so nothing is issued that resembles a pass certificate. What you get is an acknowledgement: register at myplugin.solar and you receive a confirmation to save with your receipts; submit a full G98 form and your DNO sends an acknowledgement email with a reference number, usually within 1–5 working days. That email or confirmation is the proof. Save it as a PDF alongside your purchase receipt and your kit's register entry — that trio is what an insurer or a future buyer would want to see. If you are waiting for something more official-looking to arrive, it isn't coming.

Q: What does a DNO letter for solar panels look like? A: For a plug-in kit, usually nothing arrives by post at all — modern notification is entirely electronic. A DNO acknowledgement is typically a short email confirming the address, the generation capacity, the date, and a reference number. It does not grant permission, because none is needed. If you received a letter that asks you to do something — provide more information, or arrange an inspection — that indicates the DNO has a query about your system, most often because it is over 800W or the equipment details don't match a registered device.

Q: Is there a penalty for not notifying? A: No fine is set out in the regulations, and there is no documented case of enforcement action against a residential plug-in solar user in the UK for failing to notify. The real exposure is not a penalty but everything downstream: your household insurer may decline a claim related to an unnotified generator, a conveyancing solicitor may raise it when you sell, and if a network fault is ever traced to your area the DNO has no record your system exists. Given that registration now takes two minutes and costs nothing, the risk is not worth carrying.

Q: Do I need to notify my DNO before or after installing balcony solar? A: After. G98 is a post-installation notification, not a pre-approval. You have 28 days from the date of installation to submit the form. You can use your system immediately after installing it.

Q: My DNO's online form won't let me complete it — it asks for information I don't have. What should I do? A: Call your DNO directly. Most have a dedicated small generation or microgeneration team. If you explain you have an 800W plug-in solar kit, they can guide you through the process or take the notification over the phone. For some DNOs, emailing a simple notification letter with your address, MPAN, and inverter details is also accepted.

Q: Is a G98 notification the same as planning permission? A: No. G98 is an electrical network notification to your DNO. Planning permission is a separate matter controlled by your local planning authority. For most balcony solar installations, permitted development rights mean planning permission is not required — but this is a separate question from G98 compliance. Is Balcony Solar Legal in the UK?

Q: How long does the DNO take to process a G98 notification? A: Typically 1–5 working days for an acknowledgement. For G98 systems (under 3.68kW), there is no engineering review — the DNO simply records your installation on their network database. You do not need to wait for their acknowledgement before using your system.

Q: If I move house, do I need to submit a new G98 notification? A: Yes. The G98 notification is tied to the property address and MPAN. If you take your plug-in solar system to a new address, you submit a new notification for that address within 28 days of reinstalling.

Q: Does adding a battery to an existing notified system require a new G98? A: Potentially. If you add a battery with active grid management features (like the Anker Solarbank 2 or Zendure Hyper 2000), you may need to update your DNO registration. Adding a passive battery (that simply stores solar energy without actively managing grid import/export) generally doesn't require a new notification. If in doubt, contact your DNO — they can advise without penalty.

Q: Is G98 notification required in Northern Ireland? A: Northern Ireland has a separate electricity network (operated by NIE Networks) and different regulatory framework from Great Britain. The G98 standard does not apply in Northern Ireland, which uses its own network connection procedures. Contact NIE Networks directly for guidance on connecting small generators.