Six utilities, six front doors
Where a new-load request starts at National Grid, Central Hudson, O&R, Con Edison, UI and CMP, and what each published page says about the first answer
Two of the six utilities describe a step before the formal application for a large load, and only one publishes how long the first answer takes. The table sets out what each utility's own page says. Everything in it reflects the pages as read on October 22, 2026.
| Utility | Where a request starts | What triggers review | First answer published |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Grid | Online portal, email or phone. Above the threshold, a Step Zero inquiry call. Page, process document | Above 200 kW, typically more than 800 amps three-phase | Engineer assigned within 3 business days; within 10 business days, whether capacity is readily available or more analysis is needed |
| Central Hudson | Contact the utility before applying. State housing agency page | Over 100 kW single-phase or 300 kW three-phase | None. Engineering study estimated at 16 weeks |
| O&R | Project Center login and New Business application, then a scoping call. Page | None stated | None. No fees, timeframes or capacity statement |
| Con Edison | Licensed contractor submits through the Project Center. Contractor guide | None stated | Project layout with scope, timeline and cost after a system impact review. No processing time |
| UI | Application to UI Engineering. 2017 guidebook | All commercial and industrial applications; voltages above 480 V by special contract | Engineer contacts the customer within about 5 business days; 6 to 8 weeks for the engineering drawing |
| CMP | Phone call to the Customer Relations Center. Page | None stated | New Service Coordinator contacts the customer within 2 business days, but is described as assigned to single-phase requests |
What the table leaves out
National Grid's document does not say whether the ten business days start at the call or at the engineer's assignment. Central Hudson asks the applicant for a stamped, municipally approved site plan, an application, a load letter and a one-line diagram, and says any off-site changes require a contribution that may be partly refundable. UI's guidebook is nine years old and describes the process as of its own edition.
At O&R, Con Edison and UI, the published path leads straight into engineering review, and the pages do not say what a requester can expect to learn before it begins. I also found no statement on any of the six pages about whether a broker, a tenant or an economic development office can open an inquiry for a property it does not own.
Weighing a list of sites? Send up to ten addresses and I'll send back a free written brief. ash@substationcapacity.com