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What is a DNO?

How to find who your Distribution Network Operator is

Written by David Walter, Chief Commercial Officer

8th may 2025: Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) are the companies that own and manage the wires and substations that supply electricity to homes and businesses across the UK. Here’s everything you need to know about what a DNO is, its role in the UK's energy infrastructure, and why knowing who yours is can be crucial for effectively managing your household energy needs.

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What does 'DNO' stand for?

The term 'DNO' stands for Distribution Network Operator. Distribution Network Operators are companies which are licensed by Ofgem and play an essential role in the UK's energy infrastructure, distributing electricity from the national grid to residential and commercial buildings.

What is a distribution network operator (DNO)?

A DNO is a company licensed to oversee the electricity distribution system in a specific geographic area. They maintain the physical network that supplies electricity to your home, and are responsible for delivering it from the grid to homes and businesses.

Unlike energy suppliers who sell the electricity you use, DNOs make sure that power reaches you in a reliable, safe, and efficient way.

To put it into context, let’s take a look at the journey of electricity from how it’s created right up to how it powers our homes. There are four main stages, each handled by a specific type of business within the UK’s power network:

Generation – The electricity supply chain journey starts here, where energy is produced. Power plants generate electricity using various sources, from fossil fuels to nuclear power or, more recently, renewable energy.
Transmission – After the energy has been generated, it needs to be transported to reach population centres. This is handled by the transmission sector, which runs the high-voltage transmission network. These networks carry electricity across regions and are essential for distributing power from generation sites to local distribution networks.
Distribution – This is where Distribution Network Operators come into play. DNOs manage the lower-voltage distribution networks that deliver electricity from the high-voltage transmission grids to individual customers. They’re responsible for maintaining and upgrading the physical infrastructure – including cables, towers, and meters — that deliver electricity directly to homes and businesses.
Suppliers – The final stage involves the suppliers who sell electricity to consumers. These companies buy wholesale electricity from the generation sector and sell it to you. They set energy costs, build fixed or variable tariffs, and bill customers for their usage. You can find out who your energy supplier is here.

Each region in the UK is served by one of several DNOs, whose job it is to fix outages, upgrade infrastructure, and connect new homes to the grid.

Who is my DNO?

To find out who your Distribution Network Operator is, you’ll need to know your Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN). This is a unique number associated with your electricity meter.

It’s usually on your electricity bill and might also be called a ‘Supply Number’ or ‘S number’. It’s made up of a long series of digits, but the ones you need to work out who your DNO is are the first two numbers on the bottom row.

These first two digits of your MPAN represent your Distribution ID, which refers to the DNO that manages the infrastructure for your area.

In the UK, there are 14 licensed Distribution Network Operators, which are owned by six major companies. Each DNO serves a different geographical region in the country.

Once you know your Distribution ID, you can use our handy table to find out who your corresponding distribution network operator is:

Distribution ID	Region	Distribution network operator	DNO emergency contact number
10	East England	UK Power Networks	0800 3163 105
11	East Midlands	National Grid	0800 6783 105
12	London	UK Power Networks	0800 3163 105
13	Merseyside, Cheshire, and North Wales	Scottish Power Energy Networks	0800 0015 400
14	West Midlands	National Grid	0800 316 3105
15	North East England	Northern Powergrid	0800 66 88 77
16	North West England	Electricity North West	0800 195 4141
17	North Scotland	Scottish and Southern Energy	0800 300 999
18	South Scotland	SP Energy Networks	0800 092 9290
19	South East England	UK Power Networks	0800 3163 105
20	Southern England	Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution	0800 072 7282
21	South Wales	National Grid	0800 316 3105
22	South West England	National Grid	0800 316 3105
23	Yorkshire	Northern Powergrid	0800 375 675

There are also a number of Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNOs) that manage smaller, more specific areas.

If you can’t find your DNO listed above or your Distribution ID, you can also use the Energy Networks Association’s checker tool here.

Why do you need to know who your Distribution Network Operator is?

There are a few reasons why you might want to have your DNO’s contact details on hand:

To report power outages – In the event of a power cut, your DNO is responsible for getting you reconnected to the grid. Knowing who to contact immediately can help speed up repairs and restore power more quickly.
To install new electricity connections – If you're building a new property or making major renovations that require additional electricity connections, you'll need to speak with your DNO to ensure that your electricity supply is set up correctly and safely.
To fix supply problems – Sometimes, you might experience issues like voltage fluctuations or regular power interruptions. Your DNO can investigate and help to resolve these problems.
To add renewable energy solutions – If you’re planning to go green by installing renewable energy sources like solar panels into your home energy system, you must let your DNO know. For smaller solar systems, you usually won’t have any further actions, but larger systems can cause load issues on your local grid. In these cases, you may need to get permission from your DNO to get connected.
To make network changes and carry out maintenance — DNOs are also responsible for maintenance and upgrades to the local electricity grid. Knowing who they are can help you stay informed about planned works that might affect your power supply.

What should I do if there’s a power cut at my property?

If there’s a power cut at your property, it’s your DNO’s job to get you back up and connected to an electricity supply.

If you know who your Distribution Network Operator is, you can use our table above to find their contact details and get in touch with them.

You can also call 105 from your mobile or landline, and you’ll automatically be redirected to your DNO’s emergency number that serves your area. This service is free of charge.

They should send out a repair team to locate and fix the issue, whether it's caused by severe weather, equipment failure, or accidental damage to power lines. DNOs can also provide updates, estimated times for restoring your power, and advice on what to do during an outage.