Confusion about supplier v DNO

[Vicario]

Down here (SE London/Kent) there have been lots of phone-ins about the power outages and several callers have complained that their electricity supplier wouldn't help. They were then given the number of the DNO but at least two moaned that they'd never heard of it and had never had a bill etc. I always thought that mine was the distribution side of EDF but apparently they were taken over by UK Power a few years ago, so I'm just as guilty in a way). I'm just wondering really how these DNOs are funded and what their relationship is to the suppliers. How many consumers really still think that there is only one company to deal with?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

I'm just wondering really how these DNOs are funded and what their relationship is to the suppliers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distribution_network_operator

How many consumers really still think that there is only one company to deal with?

Impossible to answer.

 

[mfarrow]

This map is correct as of October 2013, from the Energy Networks Association.

I always use the ENA for reference as it should be bang up to date (all the DNOs form, and are part of, the ENA). There are similar maps for electricity transmission (got a supply at 400kV at all? ), plus equivalent gas transmission and distribution.

 

[333rocky333]

I was in a shop recently and the bloke relamping worked for British Gas

 

[westie101]

Political philosophy, so the politicians driven by this decided that what we had wasn't good enough for the consumer, so the civil servants invented what we have now so it would be better for the customer (note the name change)

So we have what we have, is it better? I'll let you decide.

For the OP, in simple terms, you buy electricity from a supplier who pay the Transmission company and the local DNO to deliver it to your house or place of work.