1. How the electricity connection charge is formed
On the network operator's published methodology the charge depends on two things: the size of the main fuse, which the client chooses, and the distance of the connection point from the existing substation. Both are known before the application is made.
| Distance from the substation | How the charge is calculated | Known in advance |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 400 m | per ampere | yes |
| Over 400 m | on actual cost | no |
A contract processing fee is added to the connection charge. It is a fixed sum and published in the price list.
The 400 metre line is therefore two different worlds: on one side a figure that can be asked for before buying a plot, on the other a sum that only emerges during the procedure. The distance must be checked when the plot is chosen.
2. What that means in euros
The network operator publishes a specific example in its guidance. The example indicates an order of magnitude, not a quotation.
| Example | Value |
|---|---|
| House connection point up to 400 m from the substation, main fuse 20 A | around €8,000 |
This is a cost that appears in no price per square metre. Beyond 400 metres the sum cannot be estimated in advance, and it may be considerably higher.
Choosing a plot therefore has an electrical dimension that is often overlooked: two plots at a similar price can differ substantially on connection, and the difference can exceed the difference in plot price. The distance to the network is checked before purchase.
The per ampere price has risen in recent years, so older examples cannot be used and the current tariff must be checked. The current price list is obtained from the operator.
3. Where the real saving lies
This is the most useful part of the article. It concerns sizing the main fuse.
Because the charge depends on the size of the main fuse, that choice affects the price directly. The need is calculated from actual consumption.
On professional sources, the required connection tends to be sized too large where design looks only at the rated power of equipment. Taking account of load management, the timing of electric vehicle charging and the use of solar generation as a whole, a suitable solution may be smaller than the initial assumption.
An oversized main fuse costs money immediately and every year, because it affects both the connection charge and the network charge. The difference is not one-off.
This is the same pattern that recurs throughout this guide: not knowing leads to oversizing, and oversizing is expensive. The same logic applies to foundations and ground conditions.
4. Why the application must be made early
The network operator emphasises this itself. Besides the construction work, time is taken by design, agreements with landowners, obtaining approvals from the local authority and agencies, and other associated works.
A connection is therefore not an order but a procedure whose duration the client does not control. The application is made early.
A late application does not raise the price, but it delays the start of construction, which is a cost in itself: temporary accommodation, loan servicing and exposure to price movement all continue. Time is the real risk here.
5. The other networks
Electricity is not the only connection.
Water and sewerage, whose conditions and charges depend on the local water company.
Telecoms, whose conditions depend on whether a network exists in the area.
District heating, where available in the area.
Their charges are not uniform nationally, and they must be requested from the specific service provider. This guide does not state those sums, because no national figure exists.
In summary, and four practical rules
The electricity connection charge depends on the size of the main fuse and the distance from the substation. Up to 400 metres it is calculated per ampere, and on the network operator's example a 20 A connection is around €8,000; beyond that it is set on actual cost and cannot be estimated in advance. The real saving lies in sizing the main fuse correctly, because an oversized fuse costs both at connection and every year thereafter.
Four rules: request connection quotations before approving a budget, because they are concrete figures. Check the distance from the substation when choosing a plot. Size the main fuse against actual use, not the sum of rated powers. Submit applications early, because the processing time is not within your control.
This article serves professional orientation at the date of checking. It is not a quotation.