Thread by @paulfrewDUP

The @EirGrid acquisition gave rise to concerns as to whether consumers in Northern Ireland, would continue to be protected, and would not be disadvantaged by the change in control of @soni_ltd. I and others have been calling for this call for evidence by @UREGNI and support it .

@soni_ltd was required by Condition 24 of its System Operator Licence, @EirGrid was required by Condition 4 in Sections B and C of its System Operator Licence, by 1 October 2007 to enter into a System Operator Agreement & thereafter to comply with and maintain.Has this happened?

The background to the agreement between @soni_ltd & @EirGrid was to ensure that each TSO could carry on on a continuous basis fulfilling its separate and specific roll as stated in its licence

Condition 24 of @soni_ltd licence talks of the agreement with @EirGrid designed to protect interests of Northern Ireland consumers,facilitate the planning, development, maintenance and operation of the transmission system and to neither prevent or restrict effective competition ?

The system operator Agreement states that each @soni_ltd & @EirGrid have an adequate number of personal with suitable training & experience are available for the purposes of fulfilling their interface obligations. Has this continued to happen ? The @UREGNI seeks to find answers

Both @soni_ltd & @EirGrid shall procure that it’s nominees on the steering committee & the joint management committee & the staff involved act in a manner which ensures the affect is given to the System Operator Agreement. Has this happened ? Does it continue to happen ?

The function of steering committee was to be an oversight of the two TSOs @soni_ltd & @EirGrid to ensure compliance & maintenance of the System Operator Agreement, comprising the two CEOs of SONI & Eirgrid with each having the same voting power with all decisions being unanimous

Condition 12 of @soni_ltd transmission licence is clear that decisions relating to its transmission business is taken by SONI directors or personnel AND NO OTHERS.

Condition 12 of @soni_ltd transmission licence required it to submit a compliance plan and to appoint a compliance manager at a senior level having full access, who would facilitate compliance with all its obligations. Was this ever completed ? Why not ?

Condition 3A was a new condition added to SONI Transmission license requiring @EirGrid to provide an undertaking that the @soni_ltd shall have adequate financial and non-financial resources. Has this happened to adequate levels ?

Condition 5, “Prohibition of Cross-Subsidies”, requires @soni_ltd to procure that the Transmission System Operator Business gives no cross-subsidy to, & receives no cross-subsidy from, any other business of the Licensee or of any affiliate or related undertaking of the Licensee.

Condition 9, “Disposal of Relevant Assets”, restricts the disposal of or the RELINQUISHING OPERATIONAL CONTROL over any relevant assets by @soni_ltd otherwise than in accordance with the following paragraphs of this Condition.

Condition 13,“Prohibited Activities”: prohibits, except with the Authority’s consent, @soni_ltd from acquiring electricity except to the extent necessary in undertaking the Transmission System Operator Business.

Condition 13 prohibits, from the time @soni_ltd ceased to be affiliate of NIE, (a) SONI or any affiliate undertaking generation or supply or (b) SONI being controlled by any person who undertakes of controls a person who undertakes generation or supply.

To facilitate the acquisition by @EirGrid the prohibition on @soni_ltd being controlled by any person who undertakes or controls a person who undertakes generation or supply is suspended as long as Eirgrid owns SONI and is state-owned. ?!

The @UREGNI has power to amend @soni_ltd licence conditions to protect the interests of existing & future consumers of electricity in Northern Ireland. It needs to ensure that SONI & @EirGrid are meeting their existing obligations under license of which there are serious concerns