I need to
Get a Complex Connection
Complex Connection
To request an electrical connection, you will need to engage an electrician and complete our online connection NC1 form.
Some commercial and industrial properties as well as subdivisions with multiple connections, require complex design and analysis to handle higher energy demands safely and efficiently.
These projects often need tailored solutions, like high-voltage supplies for factories or balanced loads for retail stores. Upgrades to infrastructure, such as transformers or substations, may be needed to meet demand without sacrificing performance. Regulatory compliance is also essential to meet safety and energy efficiency standards.
The detailed analysis helps identify grid weaknesses, ensuring reliable power for your business operations while reducing the risk of outages.
Before submitting your new connections form, take a moment to review our project tips and key information. For large scale complex connection, please contact our team early in the project – we are here to help every step of the way. Involving your electrician or electrical consultant from the start of the project can help ensure a smooth and efficient connection process.
Our process to your connections journey
Pre-Application
If you need help with your project requirements, contact the Unison team on 0800 286 476 or visit our website.
Quick tip: consult your electrician ahead of the application
Application
When you’re ready to progress with your application, please complete our New Connections NC1 Form.
Conceptual Design
The Unison planners will assess your request to plan and coordinate the infrastructure needed to connect you to the electrical grid.
Estimate & Design Fee
We’ll provide a cost estimate. To proceed, you’ll need to pay a design fee for a detailed design and formal job cost.
Detailed Design
Once we receive the signed documents and design fee payment, our contractor will contact you to outline the detailed design and costs for the planned work.
Offer & Full Payment
We’ll send you a letter of offer and request for payment for the final design, and project terms and conditions.
Works Planning
Once you’ve paid us our contractor will get the materials and resources needed and figure out exactly when a crew can do the work for you.
Build
Our contractors will let you know when they’re coming, then come and carry out the physical work needed to help you.
Estimated timeline for a complex new connection:
- Pre-Application to indicative cost estimate: 6-8 weeks
- Payment of design fee to detailed design: 12 -18 weeks
- Works planning to build: 12 weeks
- Total Estimated Time: 38 weeks
Project tips
The Unison team recognises that service connection projects can vary in size and complexity. Whether you're new to these projects or it's been a while since your last one, we have compiled some valuable project tips to guide you through each stage of your journey.
Having a strong feasibility study and business case is key when planning a new network connection. This will help to justify the investment and make sure everything aligns with your goals. Together, they ensure the project is realistic, worthwhile, and set up for success.
Here are a few questions to keep in mind:
- Have you selected and organised your project team, which may include a project manager, builder, electrician, consultants, and others?
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Are there any building, resource, hazardous activities and industries (hail) consents or constraints you may need to investigate or consider?
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Have you checked for underground cables or utility infrastructure on your site before you design your building plan (beforeUdig and Unison can help with this).
- Do you have a design and plan for your project?
- Do you have an estimate for the costs and resources needed?
- Have you created a solid business case and organised financing?
Effective project planning helps ensure a smooth connection to Unison's network. Here are a few tips ahead of hitting go on your project:
- Finalise contracts with your project team.
- Outline all workstreams and timelines.
- Confirm the sequence and timing with your team.
- Identify potential risks and develop contingency plans.
When your project is about to start, effective planning for construction and work delivery is crucial for a smooth connection process. Since projects often involve multiple companies, like Unison, and various complexities, timing and planning are essential.
Here are some key tips to enhance your approach to construction and work delivery:
- Keep track of progress and deadlines.
- Identify necessary changes as they arise.
- Collaborate with your project team to negotiate and agree on adjustments to scope, timing, and costs.
- Reassess and recalibrate your timeline and tasks as needed.
- Maintain ongoing monitoring of completed work.
- Celebrate the project's completion and the overall outcomes achieved.
Builders Temporary Supply (BTS)
Your builder may need a temporary electricity supply to help them power tools during the construction process. If your project needs this facility, make sure you request a temporary supply when completing the new connections NC-1 application form.
Key roles in your connection project
Electricity connections and systems can involve many people and they all have different roles and responsibilities that may not be familiar to you. Here are some of the common roles you may come across during your project.
Unison's team
Unison's team is here to connect you to the network safely, efficiently, and on time. We’re dedicated to providing you with reliable, cost-effective connections that help keep the electrical grid stable and ready for growth.
Customer Planner
The Unison customer planner will determine what needs doing and what it costs. They will assess your application, identify the service, configuration, and cost you need. The planner will give you the cost estimate and letter of offer.
Contractor
The Unison contractor will get everything and everyone ready to get the job done. They will design how the on-site work needs to get done, organises the materials and work crew needed and will schedule a date to do the work.
Field Crew
The Unison field crew that does the physical construction work needed to establish or upgrade a connection to Unison’s network at your site.
Your project team
When undertaking a new connections project, it is important to have a skilled team on board. Let's take a closer look at the specific roles and responsibilities required for this type of project.
Your project manager will organise the whole project for you. They will organise the rest of the team and make sure everything happens, when, how, and in the order it should.
Impact on Unison service: We try to sequence our work to fit in with the specification and timelines that the project manager has determined.
Consultants such as surveyors, Geotech, civil and electrical engineers provide specialized technical advice and expertise throughout your project. As well as defining key aspects of the design and construction, they can often take a lead on dealing with other parties and manage other aspects of your project like council consents on your behalf.
Impact on Unison service: Consultants can play a crucial role in delivering essential technical information that can influence the design, configuration, and cost of Unison’s connection work.
Your electrician is the specialist and will likely be your primary point of contact for Unison. They are responsible for ensuring the electrical infrastructure and technical requirements are in place for your connection. They may also manage your request with Unison.
Impact on Unison service: It is essential to engage an electrician prior to submitting your application. They will be a key contact throughout the duration of our involvement in your project.
The bank provides the necessary funding for your project. It’s important to secure financing to cover the costs, including a contingency for potential overruns.
Impact on Unison Service: Once Unison has made an offer, the quote will remain valid for 20 working days.
A surveyor measures and maps out land, airspace and boundaries. They also map out subdivisions, roads, infrastructure and utilities. They work closely with other specialists which may be involved with your project such as architects, engineers and planners and can often lead the way with obtaining council consents and other approvals.
Impact on Unison Service: They can provide valuable technical information that can influence the design and cost of Unison’s connection work and can help ensure all consents are in place before we begin our work.
The builder will construct your house or building. Your architect or draught person will create the design. Builders typically manage all the materials and sub-contractors used for the construction.
Impact on Unison service: If you have delays with your construction, please contact us as soon as possible so we can adjust your schedule.
Unison may need an easement to ensure we have rights of access to inspect, maintain, or fix any of our assets located on your property. Your solicitor will arrange for you to sign the legal documents and will register any easement you agree to on the title for your property.
Impact on Unison Service: As landowners you will need to sign the easement agreement before Unison can proceed with the physical work required for your project. You’ll also need to ask your solicitor to register the formal easement on the title to your property after the works are completed.
The council is responsible for granting the necessary permissions for your project to proceed. They issue consents and permits required for the work to be authorised.
Impact on Unison Service: The timing of obtaining council consents can affect the schedule for your project and influence when we can proceed with our work.
The energy retailer is the company from which you purchase the electricity you use. All customers connected to our network must have an account with an energy retailer, who will bill you for your energy consumption.
Impact on Unison Service: It's essential to select an energy retailer before applying to Unison, as we require their approval prior to proceeding with your connection.