The Utility Regulator today publishes letters which were issued to NIE, SONI and Moyle Interconnector regarding ‘TSO certification’. European legislation (Directive 2009/72/EC, or ‘IME3’) requires the unbundling of transmission system owners / operators from production and supply interests and the certification of transmission system operators (TSO). These letters were also sent to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, and the European Commission to align with legislative requirements outlined in Article 10E(6) of the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992.
The letters set out the Utility Regulator’s final decision, as made by the SEM Committee on 26 June 2014 that the companies should be certified.
NIE TSO certification final decision letter
SONI TSO certification final decision letter
Moyle Interconnector Limited (MIL) TSO certification final decision letter
As background to the decision, the SEM Committee’s preliminary decisions from November 2013 can be found using the link below:
SEM Committee’s preliminary decisions on TSO certification
The NIE and SONI arrangements were notified to the European Commission and on 12 April 2013 the Commission published its decision.
The MIL arrangements were also notified to the European Commission in July 2013 and the Commission published its opinion.
The Commission’s opinion in relation to MIL and its decision in relation to SONI and NIE required a number of modifications to the MIL, SONI and NIE licences before a decision could be taken on final certification. These modifications have now been consulted upon and made. The consultation and decision papers can be found using the links below:
20 September 2013 licence modification consultation
30 April 2014 licence modification decision
The licence modifications and arrangements now in place are consistent with the Commissions opinion and decision and as such the companies are certified from 26 June 2014.