Utility Siteworks - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you’re a property developer or construction company embarking on a new project, understanding utilities siteworks is essential for keeping your development on schedule and within budget. Below, we’ve answered the most common questions about siteworks services to help you navigate this crucial aspect of construction.
1. What exactly are utilities siteworks?
Utilities siteworks refer to all construction and management activities required to install, alter, or remove utility infrastructure on a development site. This encompasses gas, electricity, and water supplies, along with associated metering equipment. Siteworks can include new connections, disconnections, meter installations and removals, supply upgrades, capacity alterations, and network reinforcements. Essentially, any utility-related construction work needed to support your development falls under the siteworks umbrella.
2. How do siteworks differ from standard utility services?
Whilst standard utility services involve the ongoing provision and supply of gas, electricity, or water, siteworks specifically address the physical construction and infrastructure work required to facilitate these services. Think of it this way: your utility supplier provides the energy or water, whilst siteworks providers handle the pipes, cables, meters, and connections that make that supply possible on your development site.
3. At what stage of a construction project should I arrange siteworks?
Ideally, you should begin planning for siteworks during the early design and planning phases of your project. Early engagement enables accurate load assessments, effective capacity planning, and the identification of any potential network reinforcement requirements. This planning helps avoid costly delays later in the construction programme. For new developments, it’s advisable to contact a siteworks provider as soon as you have outline plans, so they can advise on feasibility and timescales.
4. What types of siteworks services are typically required?
Common siteworks services include new utility connections for gas, electricity, and water; meter installations and upgrades (including smart meters); supply alterations such as capacity increases or relocations; disconnections and safe removal of existing services; temporary construction supplies; multi-utility coordination across different service types; and consultancy on design specifications and metering strategies. The specific services you’ll need depend on your project’s scope, whether you’re working on a greenfield site, a brownfield redevelopment, or a renovation.
5. Why is coordinating siteworks so complex?
Siteworks coordination involves liaising with numerous parties, including Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), gas transporters, water companies, utility suppliers, specialist contractors, and local authorities. Each organisation has its own processes, timelines, and compliance requirements. Additionally, different utilities may need to be installed at specific stages of construction, requiring careful sequencing. Without expert coordination, miscommunication between parties can lead to delays, additional costs, or even health and safety issues.
6. What are the benefits of using a single point of contact for siteworks?
Appointing a single provider to manage all your siteworks offers significant advantages. It reduces administrative burden, as you’re not juggling multiple contacts and relationships. A dedicated siteworks coordinator ensures seamless communication between all parties, minimises the risk of scheduling conflicts or delays, provides consistent project management across all utility types, and offers transparent cost tracking and reporting. For developers managing multiple sites simultaneously, this single-point management model is particularly valuable for maintaining consistency and quality across projects.
7. How long do siteworks typically take to complete?
Timescales vary considerably depending on project complexity, site conditions, and existing infrastructure. A straightforward meter installation might take a few weeks from quotation to completion, whilst a new connection requiring network reinforcement could take several months. Early engagement with your siteworks provider is crucial, as they can assess your specific requirements and provide realistic timescales. Factors affecting duration include DNO capacity in your area, planning permissions, civil works requirements, and coordination with other construction activities on site.
8. What is DCP 161, and how does it affect my development?
DCP 161 is an Ofgem regulation introduced on 1 April 2018 that imposes significant financial penalties on businesses using half-hourly (HH) electricity supplies that exceed their agreed capacity. For developers, this means that if your construction site or completed development exceeds its authorised capacity, you could face substantial excess capacity charges. Proper capacity planning during the siteworks phase is essential to avoid these penalties. An experienced siteworks provider can help you accurately assess your capacity requirements and ensure your connection is appropriately sized.
9. Can I get temporary utility supplies during construction?
Yes, temporary supplies are a standard siteworks service. Construction sites typically require electricity and water before permanent connections are commissioned. Temporary supplies can power site cabins, tools, and equipment throughout the construction phase. Your siteworks provider can arrange these interim services and then coordinate the transition to permanent supplies once your development is complete, ensuring continuous service throughout the project lifecycle.
10. What happens if I’m working on a brownfield site with existing utilities?
Brownfield sites often have existing utility infrastructure that may need to be disconnected, relocated, or upgraded. Your siteworks provider will conduct surveys to identify existing services, arrange safe disconnections where necessary, coordinate any required diversions or relocations, and ensure proper decommissioning of redundant infrastructure. Working with existing utilities requires additional care and planning, particularly regarding asbestos in older installations or ensuring supplies to neighbouring properties aren’t disrupted.
11. Do I need different providers for gas, electricity, and water siteworks?
Whilst utilities are managed by different network operators, many siteworks specialists offer multi-utility coordination, managing gas, electricity, and water infrastructure through a single contract. This approach ensures all utilities are installed in a coordinated manner, reducing the likelihood of one trade disrupting another’s work. Multi-utility coordination is particularly efficient for large developments where timing and sequencing are critical to maintaining the construction programme.
12. How can an energy consultant help with my development costs?
An energy consultant brings specialist knowledge that can significantly reduce your development’s long-term operating costs. They can negotiate competitive energy rates on your behalf, leveraging relationships with multiple suppliers to secure better terms than you might achieve independently. Energy consultants also provide expertise on capacity planning to ensure you’re not paying for more than you need, advise on energy-efficient design and technology choices, and help navigate the complex energy market to identify cost-saving opportunities. For multi-site developers, an energy consultant can also negotiate portfolio-wide agreements for even greater savings.
13. What’s the difference between energy procurement and siteworks services?
Whilst both are essential for your development, they address different needs. Siteworks services handle the physical infrastructure—connections, meters, and supply installations. Energy procurement, typically managed by an energy consultant, focuses on securing the best commercial terms for your ongoing energy supply once your development is operational. Many specialist providers, however, offer both services, allowing you to benefit from integrated support throughout your project and beyond completion.
14. Can an energy consultant help with sustainable energy solutions?
Absolutely. Energy consultants stay abreast of renewable energy options, government incentives, and sustainable technologies. They can advise on solar panel installations, battery storage systems, heat pumps, and other low-carbon solutions that might benefit your development. They’ll also help you understand available grants or schemes, assess the financial viability of different options, and coordinate installation alongside your broader siteworks programme. For developers focused on achieving high environmental standards or net-zero targets, this expertise is invaluable.
15. What are the biggest risks in siteworks, and how can I mitigate them?
Key risks include project delays due to poor coordination or unexpected network capacity issues, budget overruns from inadequate planning or unforeseen complications, health and safety incidents during construction work, regulatory non-compliance leading to penalties, and disruption to existing services affecting neighbours or adjacent properties. Mitigation strategies include engaging an experienced siteworks provider early in your project timeline, conducting thorough site surveys and capacity assessments, maintaining clear communication channels between all stakeholders, implementing rigorous project management and progress monitoring, and building contingency time and budget into your programme. Working with a reputable, established siteworks provider dramatically reduces these risks through their expertise and proven processes.
Ready to Discuss Your Siteworks Requirements?
Whether you’re planning a single development or managing a portfolio of construction projects, getting your utilities siteworks right is fundamental to your success. At Cibus Energy, we specialise in end-to-end utility management for property developers and construction companies, offering seamless coordination with DNOs, gas transporters, and water companies to keep your project on schedule and within budget.
Our comprehensive services include new connections, disconnections, meter installations, capacity management, temporary supplies, and multi-utility coordination—all managed through a single point of contact. We also provide expert energy consultancy to help you secure competitive energy rates and optimise your long-term operational costs.
Don’t let utility infrastructure become a bottleneck in your development. Contact Cibus Energy today to discuss how our trusted siteworks services can support your project from planning through to completion. Our experienced team is ready to provide the expert guidance and seamless coordination your development deserves.
Get in touch now to learn more about our siteworks solutions and energy consultancy services.