Notice and consultation published on a proposed licence modification to SONI's Transmission System Operator licence

The Utility Regulator has published a notice and consultation on a proposed licence modification to the SONI's (System Operator for Northern Ireland) Transmission System Operator (TSO) licence to reflect the requirement by the Department of the Economy for SONI to begin preparatory works for their designated role in the Renewable Electricity Price Guarantee (REPG) scheme.

We consider that the proposed licence modifications will have the following key effects: 

1. To require the Licensee, in the period prior to new regulations being made by the Department for the Economy (the Department) to introduce and implement a new renewable electricity price guarantee scheme to:
   • Engage, as and when requested, with the Department and/or the Authority, with regard to matters related to the Department's proposals for a new renewable electricity price guarantee scheme; and
   • Carry out such preparatory work as is necessary and proportionate to enable the Licensee to undertake, following the making of the new regulations, the role which is being proposed for it by the Department in respect of the Department's proposed new scheme.

2. Expand the definition of Transmission System Operator Business such that it covers the activities undertaken by the Licensee in accordance with the provisions of the proposed new condition. 

A copy of the proposed new licence condition can be found as a schedule to the Notice.

We welcome industry and stakeholder views and comments on the licence modification proposal and their effect. 

Any representations or objections with respect to the proposals may be made on or before 5:00pm on 29 September 2025. 

Our preference would be for responses to be submitted by email to Electricity_Network_Responses@uregni.gov.uk with cc to Debbie.Hurson@uregni.gov.uk

Additional information:

• Your response may be made public by the Utility Regulator. If you do not want all or part of your response or name made public, please state this clearly in the response by marking your response as ‘CONFIDENTIAL’.
• If you want other information that you provide to be treated as confidential, please be aware that, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, there is a statutory Code of Practice with which public authorities must comply and which deals, amongst other things, with obligations of confidence. In view of this, it would be helpful if you could explain to us why you regard the information you have provided as confidential.

• Information provided in response to this consultation, including personal information, may be subject to publication or disclosure in accordance with the access to information regimes (these are primarily the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 2018.

• As stated in the GDPR Privacy Statement for consumers and stakeholders, any personal data contained within your response will be deleted once the matter being consulted on has been concluded, though the substance of the response may be retained. 

• Copies of all documents can be made available in large print, Braille, audio cassette and a variety of relevant minority languages if required.

Ways to respond