SONI price control (2026-2031) approach

Published:

Consultation opened on . Closing date at 17:00.

Summary

Price controls act as surrogate to competition for natural monopolies and promote good outcomes for both customers and consumers.

The purpose of this document is to seek views on the SONI price control framework from a range of stakeholders. The intention is to use this information to guide our approach to the price control.

SONI is the independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) for Northern Ireland. SONI plans and operates the electricity transmission network in order to balance generation with demand and ensure a secure supply. 

We periodically undertake TSO price controls which give SONI, as a monopoly provider, enough revenue to carry out its functions efficiently for the benefit of Northern Ireland consumers.

Today we publish our approach consultation for the next TSO price control scheduled to run from 01 October 2026 to 30 September 2031.  This price control is known as the SONI Review of Prices (or 'SRP26'). 

The consultation document sets out our proposed approach to the regulatory framework, expectations for SONI in delivering its business plan (including stakeholder engagement), and how we will assess the plan.

We welcome responses to this consultation by 5:00pm on 29 March 2024.  

Responses should be returned, preferably in electronic format to:

SONIUREGNI@uregni.gov.uk and ciara.brennan@uregni.gov.uk

Further information: 

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