The way commercial developments use electricity is changing rapidly.
Historically, many developments relied heavily on gas for heating and hot water, while electrical demand was largely limited to lighting, small power and mechanical services. Today, the push towards electrification means that developments are increasingly relying on electricity for much larger parts of their overall energy demand.
Two of the biggest drivers behind this shift are EV charging infrastructure and heat pump technology.
While these technologies bring clear environmental benefits, they are also changing the way electricity connections need to be designed and delivered.
For developers, this can have significant implications for cost, programme and overall connection strategy.
Traditional Load Assumptions are Changing
Electricity networks were not originally designed around widespread electrification.
Many existing commercial and residential developments were built on the assumption that:
- Heating would largely be gas-fired
- Vehicle charging demand would be minimal
- Electrical loads would remain relatively predictable
As developments move towards low-carbon technologies, these assumptions no longer apply.
Projects that may once have required relatively modest electrical supplies are now seeing significantly increased demand due to the inclusion of:
- EV charging infrastructure
- Air source and ground source heat pumps
- Electric hot water systems
- Greater reliance on electrically powered building services
This increase in demand is beginning to affect the type of electricity connection many developments require.
EV Chargers Can Significantly Increase Electrical Demand
EV charging is becoming an increasingly important consideration on commercial developments.
Whether it is a residential apartment scheme, care home, office development or industrial site, developers are now often expected to provide some form of vehicle charging infrastructure.
The impact on electrical demand can be substantial.
Even relatively small numbers of chargers can add significant load to a development, particularly where rapid or ultra-rapid chargers are proposed.
For example:
- Workplace charging facilities
- Fleet vehicle charging
- Residential parking provisions
- Future-proofing requirements from planners or end users
…can all influence the overall connection requirement.
While diversity assumptions are often applied to EV charging loads, the cumulative effect can still be significant — particularly when combined with other forms of electrification.
Heat Pumps Increase Base Electrical Load
Heat pump systems are also changing the electrical profile of developments.
Where gas boilers once provided heating and hot water with relatively little electrical input, heat pumps rely directly on electricity to operate.
This can create a considerable increase in base electrical demand, particularly on developments with high heating requirements such as:
- Care homes
- Apartment buildings
- Hotels
- Leisure facilities
- Commercial buildings with large domestic hot water demand
As building regulations continue to evolve, many developments are now being designed with reduced or no gas infrastructure at all.
While this supports wider decarbonisation goals, it also places additional demand on the electricity network.
More Developments Are Reaching High Voltage Thresholds
One of the most noticeable effects of electrification is that more developments are now reaching the point where a standard low-voltage supply is no longer sufficient.
As electrical demand increases, developers are increasingly finding themselves requiring:
- Larger LV supplies
- Multiple LV supplies
- High-voltage (HV) connections
- On-site substations
In some cases, relatively modest developments can now trigger HV requirements due to the combination of EV charging, electric heating and future-proofing allowances.
We explored this in more detail in our article on the LV to HV tipping point on commercial developments.
Existing Electricity Networks Are Under Pressure
The growth in electrification is also increasing pressure on existing electricity infrastructure.
In some areas, networks that were originally designed decades ago are now struggling to accommodate rapidly increasing demand.
This can result in:
- Limited available network capacity
- Reinforcement requirements
- More complex Point of Connection studies
- Longer delivery times
Developers are often surprised to find that electricity infrastructure in an area may not have sufficient spare capacity for a proposed development — particularly where multiple projects are progressing at the same time.
This is one of the reasons electricity connections can sometimes take far longer than expected.
We discuss this further in our article on why electricity connections take so long on new developments.
Why Early Planning Matters
As developments become increasingly electrified, early planning of utility infrastructure is becoming more important than ever.
Leaving electricity requirements until late in the design process can create significant challenges if network constraints or reinforcement requirements are identified.
Early consideration of:
- Electrical load requirements
- EV charging strategy
- Heating strategy
- Point of Connection options
- Future expansion requirements
…can help developers make more informed decisions and reduce the risk of delays later in the programme.
Final Thoughts
Electrification is changing the way commercial developments interact with the electricity network.
Technologies such as EV charging and heat pumps are increasing electrical demand across many types of development, which in turn is affecting connection strategy, infrastructure requirements and delivery timescales.
Understanding these impacts early can help developers avoid unexpected costs and programme issues later in the project.
About the author
Andy Shadwick is a utility connections consultant specialising in commercial and industrial electricity connections across the UK. He works with developers, consultants and contractors to plan and deliver new electric connections, helping projects avoid delays, unnecessary cost and long-term capacity constraints.
