The Single Electricity Market Committee (SEMC) has announced a delay to the launch of the new Integrated Single Electricity Market (ISEM) wholesale electricity market arrangements.

The SEMC, which is made up of, the Utility Regulator (Northern Ireland), the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and two independent members, announced the postponement today and has informed the Department for the Economy and DCCAE in the Republic of Ireland.

The new ISEM market, designed to ensure greater competition and downward pressure on wholesale prices, was due to go-live on 23rd of May, but is now expected to launch on 1st October 2018.

This decision to delay go-live  followed a series of meetings between SONI and EirGrid, its counterpart in Ireland, market participants and both regulators.

Robin McCormick, SONI General Manager, said:

“Our immediate priority is to work with all of the market participants to address their concerns. 

“The decision to postpone the launch date of the new market is prudent as it will facilitate the completion of final testing of the core ISEM software. It will also allow market participants to ensure that their IT systems are ready.

“In March the ISEM programme office reported to the SEM Committee that there continues to be a number of key IT defects that need to be resolved by third party vendors in the run-up to market go-live.

“SONI, along with EirGrid and the regulatory authorities are fully committed to meeting the new go-live date and acknowledge the significant efforts of all industry participants, vendors and partner organisations in supporting this objective.”