UREgni: Call for SONI Annual Forward Plan 2026/2027 Feedback

• The Utility Regulator for Northern Ireland is seeking feedback on SONI's Annual Forward Plan for 2026/2027, the final plan under the current price control.
• An independent panel will evaluate the plan, considering stakeholder input, to assess SONI's performance.
• The regulator's determination will include a financial reward or penalty for SONI, based on the Evaluative Performance Framework.
• Stakeholders must submit written feedback by November 11, 2026, to influence this critical assessment.

Lawyers advising energy companies, large industrial consumers, or other stakeholders in Northern Ireland's electricity transmission sector should recognize the critical importance of reviewing SONI's 2026/2027 Annual Forward Plan and actively participating in this feedback process.

The Utility Regulator for Northern Ireland (UREgni) has issued a call for SONI Annual Forward Plan 2026/2027 feedback, inviting interested parties to submit their views on the System Operator for Northern Ireland's (SONI) proposed work plan. This crucial consultation pertains to the final year of the current 2020-2027 price control period, making stakeholder input particularly significant. The feedback will inform an independent panel's assessment of SONI's performance and future operational strategies for electricity transmission Northern Ireland.

Stakeholders are specifically encouraged to provide written comments on SONI’s Forward Work Plan 2026/2027. All submissions must reach the regulator by the close of business on November 11, 2026. Feedback should be directed to Ruairi Liddy at ruairi.liddy@uregni.gov.uk, with a copy sent to price_controls@uregni.gov.uk. This SONI stakeholder feedback 2026 will be shared with the independent Evaluative Performance Framework (EPF) Panel and subsequently published on the regulator's website, unless a specific request for confidentiality is made.

This feedback process is an integral component of the established Evaluative Performance Framework (EPF), which governs SONI's operations under the current UREgni SONI price control. The EPF serves as the mechanism for assessing SONI's Annual Forward Plan and, by extension, its overall performance in managing the electricity transmission network in Northern Ireland. An independent panel of experts is tasked with reviewing the 2026/2027 plan, applying a defined set of evaluation criteria outlined in the published EPF Guidance.

The panel's review is comprehensive, taking into account all pertinent evidence presented, with a particular emphasis on the perspectives and insights provided by industry stakeholders. Following its assessment, the independent panel will submit its report to the regulator by the end of the current year. The regulator will then publish this report alongside its own determination, indicating whether it accepts the panel's recommendations.

A key aspect of the regulator's determination regarding SONI's Forward Plan is the calculation of a financial reward or, conversely, a penalty. This financial outcome is directly linked to SONI's performance against the established criteria and is calculated using the specific methodology detailed within the EPF guidance. Given that 2026/2027 marks the concluding year of the existing price control, the findings of this assessment will have direct financial consequences for SONI.

It is important for all participants to be aware that any information submitted during this consultation, including personal data, may be subject to public disclosure. This is in accordance with Northern Ireland's access to information regimes, primarily the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 2018. While personal data will be removed once the consultation concludes, as per the GDPR Privacy Statement for consumers and stakeholders, the substantive content of the responses may be retained and published.

Lawyers advising energy companies, large industrial consumers, or other stakeholders in Northern Ireland's electricity transmission sector should recognize the critical importance of reviewing SONI's 2026/2027 Annual Forward Plan and actively participating in this feedback process. Submitting detailed and well-reasoned feedback by the November 11, 2026, deadline presents a direct opportunity to influence the final performance assessment of SONI. This engagement can significantly shape the potential financial implications under the current UREgni SONI price control.

The independent panel explicitly considers stakeholder views as a vital part of its evidence base. Therefore, providing comprehensive SONI Annual Forward Plan 2026/2027 feedback allows industry participants to highlight concerns, suggest improvements, or endorse effective practices, thereby contributing to a more robust and fair evaluation of SONI's operational plans and ultimately impacting the financial incentives or disincentives applied to the system operator.

Lawyers advising energy companies, large industrial consumers, or other stakeholders in Northern Ireland's electricity transmission sector should review SONI's 2026/2027 Annual Forward Plan and consider submitting feedback by November 11, 2026, to influence the final performance assessment and potential financial implications under the current price control.

Source: Original reporting via Northern Ireland Utility Regulator.