FAQs

In utility infrastructure, a Point Of Connection (POC) is the specific location where a development or property is physically connected to an existing utility network, such as electricity, water or gas.

It’s the exact spot where your services connect into the wider network. This could be, for example, where a new cable joins the electricity grid, or where pipework connects into a public water main.

The POC is a critical part of the design and approvals process, as it determines how a site will access essential services and what works are required to enable that connection.

Establishing a POC helps to ensure:

• Safe and compliant integration with existing networks
• Clear ownership and maintenance responsibilities
• Accurate design and construction planning
• Efficient coordination between developers and utility providers

Put simply, the point of connection is the agreed place where your site “plugs into” the existing utility network.

In the electricity industry, ICP stands for Independent Connection Provider.

– Although technically “ICP” means an Independent electricity Connections Provider, it has been commonly adopted as a way to describe independent multi-utility connections providers, like Fulcrum.

– An ICP is an accredited company that can design and build new electricity connections outside of the traditional electricity Network Operators. They operate in competitive parts of the utilities market, giving customers more choice when getting new connections.

– Fulcrum is a leading ICP (Independent Connection Provider) designing and building electricity, gas and water connections and infrastructure for all sizes of residential, industrial and commercial developments across the UK.

– We have over 200 in-house utility experts – including directly employed design and installation teams.

An ICP (Independent Connection Provider) doesn’t just install utility connections. They manage the entire journey, from design to adoption, across electricity, gas, water (and more):

– ICPs design the network – all fully coordinated from day one to deliver best value.

– ICPs build the infrastructure – joined up installation of the utility infrastructure – to avoid clashes and to mitigate delays.

– ICPs manage adoption – once installed, the network must be adopted by a utility owner. An ICP handles that process, whether it’s the regional incumbent or an Independent Network Owner.

– So an ICP isn’t just a contractor. We design it. We build it. We connect it. We manage adoption – to get the best solution and best value for your development.

Using an ICP offers multiple practical and commercial benefits for developers, businesses, and anyone needing new or upgraded utility infrastructure.

1. One provider for electricity, gas, water (plus fibre and streetlighting for residential) with one application, quote, and programme

2. Co-ordinated and more cost-effective delivery and access to Asset Value (AV) payments via Independent Network Owners

3. Option to adopt utilities through independent operators offering discounts and flexible design standards

4. Responsive communication, in-house design and delivery, transparent pricing, flexible scheduling

5. Co-ordinated multi-utility planning and aligned timelines

6. Fully accredited designs and installations meeting network owner standards.

– These benefits are significantly amplified when choosing a single ICP, like Fulcrum, to deliver all the project’s utility infrastructure needs – electricity, water, and gas.

– For residential developments, Fulcrum’s offer also includes fibre and streetlighting connections for a completely coordinated solution.

– Fulcrum is one of only a handful of ICPs in the UK that can provide a complete multi-utility solution.

Using a multi-utility ICP like Fulcrum offers many commercial benefits – especially lower installation costs and capital commitment. Here’s how we achieve this:

– A fully integrated delivery – shared trenches, civils, and reinstatement

– A “value engineered” design – a utility network design that delivers a more cost-effective build solution

– Partnering with Independent Network Owners – who provide Asset Value (AV) payments, reducing the overall capital commitment

– With our expertise we can secure lower costs and less upfront spend for your new utility infrastructure.

– A UIP is an accredited company that can design, construct, and install new gas connections and gas network infrastructure as an alternative to the regional Gas Distribution Network Owner

– UIP work is part of the competitive connections market

– Independent Connection Provider (ICP) has been more commonly adopted as a way to describe independent UIPs who provide multi-utility connections

– An SLP is an accredited company that can design and install new water mains and service connections as an alternative to the regional water network owner

– Independent Connection Provider (ICP) has been more commonly adopted as a way to describe SLPs who provide multi-utility connections

Multi-utility infrastructure providers, like Fulcrum, can deliver multiple benefits by designing and installing new electricity, gas, water infrastructure (and more) – in a combined and coordinated package with joined up delivery.

This matters as, instead of managing three separate utilities, you get:

– One point of contact

– One application and one combined quote

– Cost savings from combined delivery efficiencies

– A better coordinated programme of works

– Consistent standards and service across all utilities

That means simpler, more cost-effective delivery and fewer headaches.

In utilities, “contestable” refers to work that can be done by an ICP, while “non-contestable” work is restricted to the regional, large network operator.

– Contestable works Include the more practical aspects of a new connection, such as installing cables and substations, and can be carried out by Independent Connection Providers (ICPs)

– Non-Contestable works Include elements, such as the final connection to the existing network in the electricity sector, which must be performed by the network owner

As an ICP, Fulcrum can package and coordinate both Contestable and non-contestable elements. So even if the work is “Non-Contestable”, we can help.

– An Independent Network Owner is a licensed and regulated company that owns, operates, and maintains local utility networks – such as electricity, gas, or water, networks that serve a specific development or site.

Independent Network Owner is a term used to cover:

– Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNOs) in electricity

– Independent Gas Transporters (IGTs) in gas

– New Appointment and Variation companies (NAVs) in water and wastewater

– An Independent Network Owner adopts a utility network that has been designed and built by an Independent Connection Provider (ICP).

– Once adopted, the Independent Network Owner takes full responsibility for the network’s long-term operation, safety, maintenance, and regulatory compliance.

– From the end customer’s perspective, service quality and protection are equivalent to those provided by traditional regional utility network owners.

– The Independent Network Owner earns an ongoing income from the adopted utility network for transporting electricity, gas, or water through their adopted infrastructure. This is a regulated return based on the value of the utility network assets.

– The Independent Network Owner offers an Asset Value (AV) to the ICP for utility network assets based on this income / return. This AV can often then be offset as a discount from the cost of constructing the new utility networks.

– It’s important to note that only Independent Network Owners offer Asset Values (AVs) when adopting utility networks – the large, incumbent and regional utility network owners do not offer AVs or financial incentives to adopt utility networks.

– An Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) is a company that owns and runs smaller, local electricity networks.

– Instead of the regional electricity company building those cables and substations, the IDNO installs and maintains them and connects them to the main local grid.

– They are licensed and regulated by Ofgem, and people connected to an IDNO network can still choose their electricity supplier as normal.

– An Independent Gas Transporter (IGT) is a company that owns and runs smaller, local gas networks,

– Instead of the regional gas network company installing the pipes, the IGT builds and maintains the local gas network and connects it to the main gas system.

– They are licensed and regulated by Ofgem, and customers can still choose their gas supplier as normal.

– A NAV company is a private company that provides water and/or wastewater services to a specific site.

– Instead of the local water company serving that area, the NAV company is appointed to supply water and manage wastewater services there.

– They are licensed and regulated by Ofwat.

– An Asset Value (AV) is a value associated with the long-term economic worth of the physical network infrastructure to the Independent Network Owner

– It is usually calculated by considering regulated income potential, operational lifespan, and associated operational costs

– The ICP applies for an Asset Value (AV) for the new utility network at the time of quoting for the works

• The ICP will offset a proportion of this against the cost to design and build the network

– By doing this, the cost to you and the capital contribution that the you need to make, can be significantly reduced

Fulcrum is an ICP with expertise that enables us to optimise and maximise AVs supplied by Independent Network Owners. This helps us to secure best value for Developers.