What Does Connect and Notify Mean for a Heat Pump?

What Does Connect and Notify Mean for a Heat Pump?

Connect and Notify is the route used for eligible UK heat pump installations where the installer can connect the system and notify the local Distribution Network Operator afterwards. It does not mean the electricity network is ignored. It means the installer has assessed the installation against the relevant connection rules and determined that prior approval is not required.

Connect and Notify vs Apply to Connect

The practical difference is timing. With Connect and Notify, a qualifying installation can be completed before the DNO is notified. With Apply to Connect, the DNO needs to review the proposed connection before installation. Your installer should choose the correct route; homeowners should not be asked to guess based on the heat pump’s size alone.

Why maximum demand is central to the decision

The assessment is about maximum demand: the likely highest electrical demand at the property, rather than a simple total of every circuit breaker. A good calculation takes account of the heat pump, any immersion heater, electric cooking, showers, EV charging and the way those loads are realistically used. Our guide to how maximum demand is calculated for a heat pump explains why this matters before a connection route is chosen.

Does your house have enough electrical capacity?

Many homes do have enough capacity for a heat pump, but the answer depends on the incoming supply, existing demand and the proposed system. This becomes especially important where a property also has an EV charger, electric shower, induction hob or other large loads. Read does my house have enough power for a heat pump for a clear homeowner-level explanation of what should be checked.

What the DNO does and does not do

The DNO operates the local electricity network. It may need to review an installation where the proposed demand or local network conditions require further consideration. The installer normally handles the paperwork and any technical exchange. For more detail, see do I need to inform the electricity grid before installing a heat pump. If approval is required, that does not automatically mean the project cannot go ahead; it simply means the connection needs to be assessed before work proceeds.

Why this belongs in the heat pump design

Electrical capacity should be considered alongside heat loss, emitter sizing, pipework, controls and hot-water design—not after the equipment has been ordered. A proper heat pump design review can identify whether the proposed system makes sense as a whole. If you are still before installation, a pre-installation design and heat loss review is the right time to question the electrical assumptions as well as the heat pump sizing.

Heat pumps, EV chargers and other large loads

An EV charger and heat pump can often run at the same time, but their combined use must be included in the demand assessment. Smart load management can sometimes help, but it is not a substitute for a correct design. See can an EV charger and heat pump run at the same time for the practical considerations.

What homeowners should ask before installation

• Has the installer assessed the existing supply and calculated maximum demand?

• Will the project use Connect and Notify or Apply to Connect, and why?

• Have EV charging, electric showers, cooking and immersion-heater use been included?

• Who will manage the DNO paperwork and provide the completion records?

If your heat pump is already installed

If you are dealing with poor performance, repeated faults or uncertainty about how the system was designed, our Fix My Heat Pump service provides independent technical support. For installers who need a second opinion on a live project, an installer technical support call can provide focused guidance while the details are still in front of you.

The bottom lineConnect and Notify is a useful route for eligible heat pump installations, but it is not a shortcut around electrical design. The right process depends on a credible maximum-demand assessment, the local network requirements and a system design that considers the property as a whole. Confirm those points before installation and you will avoid one of the most preventable sources of delay and uncertainty.