UMSUG codes – Are we overcomplicating lamppost EV charging? 

For local authorities and charge point operators (CPOs), retrofitting existing street lighting columns with EV chargers makes sense. It’s cost-effective, minimally disruptive, and taps into existing infrastructure. 

But there’s a problem: confusion over the need for UMSUG codes, and it’s slowing things down. 

What’s the issue? 

UMSUG (Unmetered Supplies User Group) codes are typically assigned to equipment such as streetlights, allowing local authorities to calculate energy usage under unmetered arrangements. But when it comes to in-column EV charging, the waters are muddied. 

Do these charge points need a UMSUG code or not? 

The answer, it seems, depends on who you ask. 

Caught in the middle 

Within many councils, responsibility for on-street EV charging often falls, by default, to street lighting teams. They’re tasked with navigating unfamiliar ground: electrical load profiles, metering discussions, supplier agreements, and code requests. 

We recently encountered this firsthand. A local authority client needed a compliant solution that ticked every box but hit a roadblock when the local DNO refused to approve the charger because it lacked a UMSUG code. 

Yet when we escalated the issue through the appropriate technical channels, including the Lighting Industry Association (LIA) and Power Data Associates (PDA), it was confirmed: a UMSUG code was needed. 

So, case closed? Not quite. 

The industry body responsible for issuing those codes, ELEXON, said the opposite, no UMSUG code was required for an EV charge point installation. 

The result? Delay, frustration, and additional costs. All because of a lack of clarity on a seemingly simple question. 

Why this matters 

EV charging needs to scale, and quickly. The UK government has set ambitious goals: 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans must be zero-emission by 2030. But public charge point deployment is still too slow, and policy gaps like this one aren’t helping. 

If we want to accelerate take-up, we must remove unnecessary barriers. That starts with clarity. 

Our view at evpzee 

We don’t believe local authorities or their delivery partners should be stuck between industry bodies, regulators, and utilities, especially when the guidance is inconsistent. 

We support an open-standard approach to infrastructure. That means: 

• Avoiding vendor lock-in 

• Ensuring compatibility with existing CMS/BO systems 

• Giving local authorities long-term control of assets and revenue streams 

But most of all, it means working within a framework that’s clearly defined. 

What’s next? 

We need a cross-industry resolution. It’s time for the key bodies — the ILP, LIA, ELEXON, PDA, and ChargeUK to come together and establish a single, agreed-upon position. 

Until then, local authorities’ risk being left in the dark, not by technology, but by bureaucracy. 

Let’s clear the path  

Whether you’re a local authority trying to get a scheme off the ground or a charge point operator hitting regulatory friction, we are here to help. Our team works directly with councils, suppliers, and DNOs to deliver compliant, open-standard (OCPP-compliant) EV charging solutions, helping to minimise the guesswork.