> Case Study
Powering a New NHS Hospital on a National Grid Deadline
When a new hospital was commissioned on the site of a demolished building, the construction team faced an immediate and time-sensitive problem: they needed a live temporary electricity supply and meter installed before National Grid arrived to carry out the mains connection. That date was already fixed, and missing it would delay the entire construction programme.
Energy Solutions stepped in to manage every phase of the project, from securing the temporary builder supply ahead of the National Grid deadline, through to installing a permanent electricity meter once the hospital was ready for full operations.
The Challenge
A newly commissioned hospital required a full electricity supply infrastructure built from scratch. With the old building demolished, there was no existing supply to rely on. National Grid had already set a firm date to attend the site and complete the mains connection, the project had to be ready.
The client needed a trusted energy partner who could:
- Establish exactly what National Grid required before any work could begin
- Source and appoint a capable, experienced meter installation supplier at speed
- Agree supply costs for both the temporary meter and ongoing electricity service
- Coordinate all parties, client, supplier, and National Grid, simultaneously
- Guarantee the installation was complete before the National Grid attendance date
- Plan for future phases: backup generator installation and eventual permanent supply
How Energy Solutions Helped
Temporary Builder Electricity Supply
Energy Solutions began by establishing the client’s exact requirements alongside National Grid’s technical specifications. Rather than rushing to any available supplier, we identified a well-established, trusted installation partner with a proven track record for exactly this type of time-sensitive work.
We agreed on both the meter installation costs and the ongoing electricity supply costs upfront, with complete transparency. From that point, we maintained constant communication with all three parties, the client, the supplier, and National Grid, to ensure every requirement was met and every step was completed on schedule.
The temporary meter was installed and the builder supply was live before National Grid’s fixed attendance date. The mains connection went ahead as planned. Construction could begin.
Backup Generator Installation Period
Once the temporary supply was live and construction was underway, the client moved to install on-site backup generators to provide a reliable, uninterrupted power source for the duration of the build. Energy Solutions monitored this phase closely, keeping communication lines open and beginning preparations for the final transition to permanent supply.
Permanent Meter and Full Operational Supply
Once the generators were fully installed and the site was ready to transition to a permanent electricity supply, Energy Solutions arranged the permanent meter installation, coordinated the formal removal of the temporary meter, and revised the supply agreement to reflect the hospital’s new and significantly higher consumption requirements.
Every phase was closed out cleanly. The site moved into full operational energy supply with no disruption to the build schedule.
“Site up and running with minimum disruption. Energy Solutions handled every phase, from the initial National Grid deadline to the permanent supply – so we could focus entirely on the build.”
Hospital Construction Client
UK NHS New Build Project
Results
Deadlines Met
National Grid's fixed deadline was met, the temporary meter and builder supply were in place on time, keeping the entire construction programme on track.
Stakeholder Alignment
All stakeholders remained aligned throughout, continuous three-way coordination between the client, appointed supplier, and National Grid prevented any miscommunication or costly delay.
Clean Transitions
Each energy phase was managed and closed out cleanly, from temporary supply to generator period to permanent meter, with supply costs revised at each transition.
Zero Disruption
The site went from zero infrastructure to full hospital operational supply with zero days of construction disruption.
Why It Worked: The Energy Solutions Approach
This was not a standard meter swap. It was a complex, multi-phase energy procurement challenge with a hard external deadline, multiple stakeholders, and real consequences for any delay. Three things made the difference:
Requirements first, action second
Before contacting any supplier, we established the client's exact technical needs and National Grid's specific requirements in full. No assumptions were made.
The right supplier, not just any supplier
We used our established network to identify a partner with the specific capability, capacity, and track record to deliver on a tight timeline, and agreed all costs transparently upfront.
Active management, not passive brokering
We maintained consistent, three-way communication with all parties throughout each phase, proactively managing progress rather than waiting for problems to arise.
About Energy Solutions
Energy Solutions is an independent UK business energy broker and consultant. Since 2016, we have helped businesses of all sizes manage their electricity and gas contracts with complete transparency and no hidden fees. From straightforward tariff comparisons to complex procurement projects like this one, we put our clients’ interests first.
If your business is facing an energy challenge, whether it’s a new connection, a difficult deadline, a multi-site setup, or a supplier dispute, we are here to help.