SONI meaning

SONI is the electricity transmission system operator for Northern Ireland. In legal practice it denotes the licensed entity that operates and plans the high‑voltage transmission system in Northern Ireland and coordinates cross‑border power flows within the all‑island Single Electricity Market (SEM). Its functions arise under a transmission licence granted by the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator pursuant to the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992. “SONI” is the corporate name commonly used as shorthand across contracts, codes and regulatory instruments rather than a standalone statutory definition. Key features and typical usage: - Interfaces with Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE Networks), the transmission owner. - Administers the Northern Ireland Grid Code and related operational standards. - Manages transmission connection offers and access rights. - Procures balancing and ancillary services and implements curtailment/constraint directions. - Calculates and recovers transmission use‑of‑system (TUoS) charges. - Works with EirGrid via SEMO on SEM market operations and system balancing. Jurisdictional context: SONI is specific to Northern Ireland. The functional counterparts are National Grid Electricity System Operator (Great Britain) and EirGrid (Ireland). The term is widely used in UK and Irish energy regulation, grid connection agreements, PPAs, interconnector arrangements, and disputes concerning system access, curtailment and compliance with grid and market codes.