A temporary builders' electricity supply needs a clear contracting customer, suitable connection arrangements and coordinated metering. Keep those details under review as the build changes, then confirm who takes responsibility at handover or closure. This guide helps construction teams in Great Britain manage the commercial and metering stages alongside the network operator and their electrical contractors.
Agree who needs the supply and who is responsible
Start with the site address, intended use, programme and legal business that will hold the energy account. Identify the person approving the contract, the accounts contact and the site contact arranging access. These may be different people or organisations.
List the equipment needing power and ask an appropriately qualified electrical professional to assess the requirement. Cabins, tools, cranes and later fit-out work may create different needs at different stages. The assessment belongs with the technical project team rather than being chosen from an annual energy estimate.
UK Power Networks' site-preparation guidance identifies temporary connections for construction equipment as a separate project consideration. Check the relevant operator's requirements for your site. Do not assume an existing supply can simply be moved or reused without agreement.
Coordinate the contract and meter with the connection programme
Use the new-electricity-supply guide for the sequence from connection quote and meter point administration number (MPAN) to supplier and meter arrangements. Keep each supply identifier linked to the correct site and contracting customer.
BBA Energy helps with supply contracts, metering coordination and supplier enquiries. The network operator or appointed connection provider handles the relevant network work, while the responsible contractors handle the site's electrical installation. Clarify those responsibilities before dates are promised to the construction team.
Ask the supplier and metering provider what must be ready for an appointment, who will confirm it and what happens if site access or prerequisites are missing. Record which dates are targets and which are confirmed. A paid connection quotation does not establish that the meter is installed or that the energy account is operating.
Check the contract against a changing programme
Compare the proposed supply start and contract term with the expected build and handover dates. Ask what the terms say if the project runs longer, responsibility changes or the temporary supply is no longer required sooner than expected. Do not assume the word “temporary” creates a right to end a fixed-term energy contract whenever the site closes.
Use a live project record:
- Contracting business, supplier, account and MPAN.
- Agreed capacity and the technical contact responsible for reviewing it.
- Confirmed supply start, contract end and relevant notice provisions.
- Metering appointments, completion records and access requirements.
- Programme changes and the organisations notified.
- Intended handover or closure route and outstanding questions.
For quotation checks, use the comparison guide. Keep excluded or variable costs visible rather than choosing a contract solely from the unit rate.
Revisit the arrangements as the site develops
Tell the appropriate parties when equipment, layout, access or expected dates change. Ask whether the change affects capacity, metering, contract arrangements or planned work, and keep the written response with the revised programme.
Hypothetical example: a crane leaves the site while cabins and fit-out contractors still require electricity. The change prompts a review; it does not establish that the supply can be closed or the agreed capacity safely reduced. Ask the project team to assess the remaining requirement before requesting changes.
Our capacity guide covers choosing and reviewing the agreed figure. Consumption reports may also help investigate whether the site's use matches the current phase, without assuming every overnight load is unnecessary.
Plan the handover or closure before the final day
Decide whether the supply will continue under the same business, pass to another responsible party, be altered for permanent use or be removed. Ask the supplier and network parties which separate actions apply. Do not assume one email completes the contract, account and physical-work requirements.
For a change of occupier, follow the change-of-tenancy guide: retain the relevant responsibility dates, readings, documents and supplier acknowledgements. For removal or disconnection, confirm the scope, charges, dependencies and completion evidence with the responsible parties.
Check final invoices and any incoming account against the accepted outcome. BBA's meter-coordination and supplier support can help organise the commercial follow-through. Keep the project record open until remaining responsibilities and charges are understood, rather than closing it when the main contractor leaves the site.