The NC6 Form Explained: Connecting Solar to the Grid

The NC6 is ESB Networks' microgeneration notification - the free form that tells the grid operator you have a solar system connected at your home. Your installer submits it, and it costs nothing. It matters because it registers your system on the grid and is part of what lets you get paid for the electricity you export under the Clean Export Guarantee.

Solar Ireland files NC6s as a routine part of every domestic install, so here is exactly what the form is, who does what, and why it is one of the quieter but more important steps in going solar.

What is the NC6 form?

The NC6 is the standard notification form used to tell ESB Networks that a small generator - your solar PV system - has been connected at your property. Under the Microgeneration Support Scheme, domestic systems up to a set size can connect on a notify-first basis: you tell ESB Networks the system is in, rather than applying for permission in advance. It is registered against your MPRN, the 11-digit meter point number on your electricity bill.

Who submits the NC6 - you or your installer?

Your installer does. Submitting the NC6 is standard installer work and should be included in the job with nothing for you to fill in. It is also a useful quality marker: an installer who handles the NC6, the SEAI grant paperwork and the smart meter coordination as a matter of course is one who does this properly. If a quote is silent on who files the NC6, ask.

How much does the NC6 cost?

Nothing, for a domestic microgeneration connection. The value of solar is in the electricity you generate and the export you earn, not in connection fees - there are none to worry about for a standard home system.

What is the difference between the NC6 and NC7 forms?

They are both ESB Networks connection forms, used at different scales. The NC6 is the notification route for small microgeneration - the domestic and small-business systems most homeowners install. Larger generators that exceed the microgeneration thresholds move onto a full connection application process rather than a simple notification. For a typical Irish home, the NC6 is the form that applies.

How long does ESB Networks take to process an NC6?

Processing an NC6 notification typically takes a few weeks, though timelines vary with demand. The good news is that the NC6 does not hold up your installation - the panels are fitted and generating for your own use straight away. What the NC6 and your smart meter unlock is the export side: getting credited for surplus electricity you send back to the grid.

Do you need an NC6 to get paid for exported electricity?

Yes. To earn Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) payments you need two things in place: a smart meter, so your export can be measured, and your system registered with ESB Networks via the NC6, so the grid knows there is a generator at your MPRN. With both sorted, your supplier pays you for exported units - typically €200 to €400 a year on a 4 kWp system, and the first €400 a year of that income is tax-exempt. More in our Clean Export Guarantee guide and our smart meter guide.

What is an MPRN and why does the NC6 need it?

Your MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number) is the unique 11-digit number that identifies your electricity connection. It is printed on your bill. The NC6 uses it to register your solar system against the correct connection, which is why an accurate MPRN is one of the details the installer confirms at survey.

What happens if solar is installed without notifying ESB Networks?

Skipping the NC6 is not something a proper installer does. Without it, your system is not registered on the grid, which means you cannot be set up correctly for export payments and you are outside the microgeneration process the scheme is built on. It is free and standard, so there is no good reason to leave it undone - make sure your installer commits to filing it.

NC6 FAQ

Is the NC6 the same as planning permission?

No. They are completely separate. Planning permission is about whether you are allowed to fit the panels - and for almost all houses rooftop solar is exempted development, so no permission is needed. The NC6 is about connecting the finished system to the grid. Our planning guide covers the permission side.

Do I need a smart meter before the NC6?

You need a smart meter to be paid for export, and ESB Networks is rolling them out nationally. Your installer coordinates the smart meter and the NC6 so the export side comes together after the system is live.

What happens to the NC6 if I move house?

The NC6 registers the system against the property's MPRN, so the registration stays with the home. The new owner takes on the system and would arrange their own export tariff with their supplier.