Electricity Distributors

Electricity Distributors

In this section of our site, we have included a wide range of industry information and resources in regards to the UK energy industry. The whole of the UK is split up into 14 areas where one single company the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) has the license to distribute electricity in that area. They effectively carry electricity from the National Grid (National Level) to the exit point (each has a unique MPAN and a possibility of several meters) where the customers are. The owner of the distribution network charges electricity suppliers for carrying the electricity in their network. The regions are based geographically on the old, nationalised electricity board areas. In the event of a power failure or when you are looking to connect at a local level you would need to contact your regional DNO.

• Area 10 EDF Energy Networks: 0800 783 8838
• Area 11 East Midlands Electricity: 0800 056 8090
• Area 12 London Electricity: 0800 028 0247
• Area 13 Manweb: 0845 272 2424
• Area 14 Midlands Electricity: 08457 331331
• Area 15 Northern Electric: 0800 668 877
• Area 16 United Utilities: 0800 195 4141
• Area 17 Scottish Hydro: 0800 300 999
• Area 18 Scottish Power: 0845 272 7999
• Area 19 Seeboard: 0800 783 8866
• Area 20 Southern Electric: 08457 708090
• Area 21 Western Power Distribution: 0800 052 0400
• Area 22 SWEB: 0800 365 900
• Area 23 Yorkshire Electricity: 0800 375 675

Electricity like most other commodities is sold by the unit. But what precisely is a kilowatt? And what’s the difference between a kilowatt, a megawatt and a gigawatt?

• Kilowatt - The kilowatt (kW) is the standard metric measure of electrical power and is equivalent to 1,000 watts. The kilowatt hour (kWh) - the actual rate of energy consumption - gives us the ‘unit’. A heater rated at 1000 watts (W), for example, running for an hour would use one kWh. The Imperial measurement of energy, first devised by James Watt inventor of the steam engine, is horsepower. He calculated that a horse could lift 330 pounds, 100 feet in a minute. A kilowatt is the equivalent of 1.3 horsepower, roughly one hundredth the power output of an average family saloon car.
• Megawatt - A megawatt (MW) is a million watts, or the equivalent of 1,000 kilowatts. A megawatt could power over a thousand homes.
• Gigawatt - A gigawatt (GW) is one thousand million watts, or 1,000 megawatts, of electricity. One gigawatt translates to approximately enough electricity to meet the needs of 604,833 households, 1,451,600 people or around 1per cent of the UK energy supply.
• The tables below show the conversion factors for converting between different units of energy and typical calorific values of fuels. Please note that the calorific values were updated September 2008.

The following table gives the number you need to multiply by to get from a variety of different units to kWh. The table gives the number you need to multiply by to get from a variety of different units to kWh.

• Energy - Therm x 29.31 = kWh
• Energy - Btu x 0.0002931 = kWh
• Energy - MJ x 0.2778 = kWh
• Energy - kcal x 0.001163 kWh
• Power - hp x 0.7457 = kW
• Power - Btu/h x 0.0002931 = kW