Agricultural, Commercial & Industrial
Three-Phase Electrician Near York (2026)
I install and upgrade three-phase electrical supplies across York and North Yorkshire, for farms, workshops, industrial units and commercial premises. Every job includes the DNO application to Northern Powergrid, the customer-side installation, motor protection and isolation design, and full BS 7671 certification on completion.
When you need three-phase
Three-phase delivers three times the power of a single-phase supply at the same voltage, and is the correct supply for heavy equipment. Common sectors:
- Agricultural. Grain dryers, irrigation pumps, feed augers, milking parlour motors, dairy hot water, farm workshop equipment.
- Engineering and workshop. Lathes, milling machines, welders, woodworking equipment, air compressors.
- Commercial kitchen. Commercial ovens, combi steamers, large extraction motors, hot cupboards.
- Industrial. Process motors, refrigeration plant, chillers, large HVAC.
- EV charging (commercial or high-rate). 22 kW chargers and higher.
- On-site generation. Solar PV, battery storage, CHP and standby generators above single-phase limits.
What I do
- DNO application. Full Northern Powergrid application for new or upgraded three-phase connections. G99 notifications for generation equipment.
- Service position and tails. New service head and correctly sized meter tails, coordinated with the DNO connection date.
- Three-phase distribution boards. Main distribution and sub-boards in individual buildings, each circuit sized for its load.
- Motor protection. Contactors, overloads, star-delta starters or soft-starters as appropriate for each motor.
- Agricultural machinery supplies. Correct cable sizing, armouring for external runs, IP-rated enclosures, local isolation within 2 m of the equipment.
- Workshop and industrial. IP-rated enclosures where the environment needs them, mechanical cable protection, dust-proof isolators.
- Commercial kitchen. Isolation in line of sight, correct cable support, mechanical protection where cables pass behind appliances.
- Testing and certification. Every circuit tested, every protection device verified. Electrical Installation Certificate issued on the day, Part P registered where applicable.
How a three-phase install runs
- Site visit and load assessmentWe visit, survey the equipment schedule, check the existing supply, and measure the route from the DNO cutout to the distribution point. Load calculations inform the DNO application.
- DNO applicationWe submit the application to Northern Powergrid, including G99 notification where generation is involved. They respond with connection offer and cost.
- Connection date agreedOnce the DNO connection date is booked, we schedule the customer-side installation to meet it.
- Customer-side installDistribution board, sub-circuits, motor controls, isolation points, earthing and bonding. Coordinated with DNO on the connection day.
- Commission, test, certifyEvery circuit tested to BS 7671. Electrical Installation Certificate issued on the day. All relevant notifications (Part P where applicable, G99 where generation is fitted) submitted.
A note on cost
Three-phase jobs have two cost components: the DNO connection cost (set by Northern Powergrid, varies with what infrastructure work is needed), and the customer-side installation cost (which I estimate in writing after the site visit). I give you a clear picture of both before anything is committed. Book a site visit.
Frequently asked questions
When do I need a three-phase supply?
Three-phase power is the standard for heavy equipment: grain dryers, irrigation pumps, feed augers, workshop machinery, air compressors, welders, commercial kitchen equipment, and industrial motors. If your equipment is single-phase but the sustained load exceeds the capacity of your existing single-phase supply, a three-phase upgrade is usually the correct answer.
Who is the DNO for York?
Northern Powergrid manages the electricity distribution network for York and most of North Yorkshire. Any new or upgraded three-phase supply must be applied for through Northern Powergrid, who assess the existing infrastructure and specify what is needed to connect the new supply.
How long does a three-phase connection take?
The DNO side (survey, design, connection work by Northern Powergrid) typically takes between six and sixteen weeks from application to connection date, depending on what infrastructure work is required. The installation work on the customer side is then usually a few days, depending on scope.
What is a G99 notification?
G99 is the Engineering Recommendation that covers the connection of generating equipment (solar PV, battery storage, CHP, generators) to the distribution network. If your three-phase installation includes on-site generation, a G99 notification to Northern Powergrid is required. I handle it as part of the DNO application.
Do you work on agricultural sites?
Yes. I cover agricultural three-phase work across North Yorkshire, including grain dryers, irrigation, feed systems, milking parlours and workshops. We understand the sector, the seasonal pressures, and the need to keep operations running during installation work.
Can you upgrade a single-phase supply to three-phase?
Yes, where the DNO infrastructure supports it. We submit the application, liaise with Northern Powergrid on the upgrade, and handle the customer-side installation including the new service position, tails, meter tails, main switch, and distribution board. Timeline depends on what DNO work is needed.
How is three-phase work priced?
Every three-phase job is scoped on site. Cost depends on DNO charges (separate, set by Northern Powergrid), cable route and distance, distribution board specification, motor protection and isolation arrangements, and the nature of the equipment being supplied. I give you a clear written estimate before any work starts.
Related services and references
EV charger installation, including 22 kW three-phase commercial
Consumer unit / distribution board upgrade
- Energy Networks Association, Engineering Recommendation G99. energynetworks.org
- Northern Powergrid, connection services. northernpowergrid.com
- BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Wiring Regulations. bsigroup.com