Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“At a recent detailed and straight-talking meeting with the head of SONI, Robin McCormick, I was dismayed to discover that SONI’s already diminished independence is set to be undermined further.
“Supposedly the electricity system operator for Northern Ireland, SONI, once bought over by Eirgrid, became a mere vassal organisation to the Dublin Government owned Eirgrid. This is demonstrated in the management domination of Eirgrid and leaves Northern Ireland in perilous dependency. The recent auction was an illustration of how our generators have become the poor relations, with Kilroot and Ballylumford both under the kosh. The auction was operated to ROI standards, not NI standards, yet SONI and the Utility Regulator meekly acquiesced.
“However, now even the semblance of SONI independence is to be stripped away. Whereas, SONI is under a Licence condition to have full operational independence and to produce regular reports showing compliance with that independence obligation (which has not been happening), Mr McCormick revealed that moves are afoot with the Utility Regulator to revise the Licence so that the requirements for full operational independence and compliance reports are removed. Thereby the Eirgrid coup de grace will be complete!
“It is as brazen as it is shameful that SONI, having been allowed to become a mere adjunct of Eirgrid, is now in collusion with the Utility Regulator to set about shedding its independence obligations.
“Much of this goes back to the folly of the DUP DETI minister in 2007 (Nigel Dodds) embracing the all-island single electricity market.
“Things have now progressed to the noose of the ISEM which will tie our electricity sector into the EU arrangements and under the ECJ, despite Brexit.
“With virtually all our eggs in the north/south interconnector basket, which is slipping further away, the threat to our security of supply is increasing. Next to RHI the oversight and control of energy policy by the Department of the Economy has been lamentable.”