Your DNO is your local Distribution Network Operator – the company that owns and maintains the electricity cables, substations, and related infrastructure that physically bring power to your home or business in the UK.

What “DNO” Means

  • DNO stands for Distribution Network Operator.
  • These are licensed companies that operate and maintain the regional electricity distribution networks (cables, transformers, towers, substations).
  • They take electricity from the national transmission grid and deliver it safely to homes and businesses.

Think of a DNO as the road manager for electricity: they don’t sell you the electricity itself, but they manage the “roads” (wires and equipment) that get it to you.

What Your DNO Actually Does

  • Maintains and upgrades local electricity networks to keep power flowing reliably.
  • Fixes power cuts and faults on local lines and substations.
  • Connects new properties or upgrades existing connections (for example, adding EV chargers or big new equipment).
  • Manages safety issues like damaged overhead lines or dangerous faults.

Your supplier (the company on your bill) handles tariffs and customer service, while your DNO handles the physical network in your area.

So… “Who Is My DNO”?

I can’t see your postcode or meter details, so I can’t name the specific company for you, but here’s how people usually find it in the UK:

  • Check your electricity bill: it often lists your “network operator” or gives a DNO region code.
  • Use an online DNO finder: many UK energy/solar sites let you enter your postcode and instantly show your DNO name and emergency number.
  • Ask your electricity supplier’s customer service; they can tell you which operator covers your address.

Typical DNO groups you might see include companies like UK Power Networks or Northern Powergrid, each covering specific geographic regions.

Why “Who Is My DNO” Is Trending Now

  • Solar panels and battery installs often require DNO approval, so more people are searching “who is my DNO” before they apply.
  • EV chargers and heat pumps can trigger network checks or upgrades, again pushing people to find their DNO.
  • Recent guides and postcode tools published in 2025–2026 have made “who is my DNO” a common info-search phrase.

Quick HTML table (DNO vs supplier)

html

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Role</th>
    <th>DNO</th>
    <th>Supplier</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Main job</td>
    <td>Owns and maintains local electricity network.[web:1][web:7][web:9]</td>
    <td>Sells electricity and manages your account.[web:7]</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Contact for power cuts</td>
    <td>Yes – you call the DNO for faults and outages.[web:1][web:3][web:7]</td>
    <td>No – they may redirect you to the network operator.[web:7]</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Contact for bills/tariffs</td>
    <td>No – they don’t bill you.[web:7][web:9]</td>
    <td>Yes – they handle billing, tariffs, and customer service.[web:7]</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>New connections / upgrades</td>
    <td>Handles physical connection work and capacity checks.[web:1][web:3][web:5]</td>
    <td>May coordinate with DNO but doesn’t do the engineering work.[web:7]</td>
  </tr>
</table>

TL;DR: Your DNO is the company that runs the local electricity network where you live; to find out which one is yours, check your bill or use a postcode-based DNO lookup tool online.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.