We are often asked to clarify what a Building Network Operator (BNO) is and what are the BNOs responsibilities and what a BNO installation actually is? This is usually a request from a developer or property owner.
A Building Network Operator (BNO) is a term that refers to the installation between the intake position and the customer installation. A BNO is responsible for the placement of the distribution board that divides up the main supply and provides isolation to each part of the building.
A Building Network Operator (BNO) is defined as the organisation that owns or operates the electricity distribution network within a multiple occupancy building, between the intake position and customers installations. The BNO may be the DNO or an IDNO, another licensed distributor or a third party exempt from an electricity distribution license (e.g. a facilities management company).
A BNO can operate within any multi occupancy building or factory that has been sub divided in smaller commercial or industrial units, retail units or apartments and flats.
Network Power Connections, provide the design and installation service for electrical connections to apartment developments (residential flats, sheltered housing, or student accommodation) where individually metered supplies are required. We liaise directly with the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to ensure efficient delivery upon achieving the customer energisation date.
So, a BNO could potentially be a building owner, a landlord, a property developer or someone with a similar function who controls the infrastructure of a building. ie an third party (DNO or IDNO) appointed by the building owner to manage and run the electricity services in a given building.
A Building Network Operator requires a distribution license. The BNO is responsible for the quality of the customer supply at the customer supply terminals in accordance with the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002. A BNO requires a distribution license unless the BNO fulfils the requirements of an EDNO, i.e. the distribution of less than 2.5MW load or generation less than 10MW; amongst other criteria.
The BNO may be the DNO, another licensed distributor or a third party exempt from an electricity distribution license (e.g. a facilities management company)’. Therefore a BNO may be a building owner, landlord, developer or similar function in control of a building infrastructure at that given moment.
A Building Network Operator is a company that ‘owns’ the electrical installation between the intake and the meter. Network Power Connections for example would design and install a new electrical supply for a block of flats. This would be a BNO installation for the BNO (the owner). The DNO will be responsible for the intake but usually stop there even though they may offer multiple MPANS. We NPC, take responsibility for the supply from the intake to the meter.
