Eye on Cover Story
NIALL DINEEN & ELECTRIC IRELAND... An Accountant by training, Niall Dineen started his career & qualified with Deloitte before moving to ESB. In ESB he has worked in a series of financial and commercial management roles and led a number of significant strategic financial and IT projects.
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ost recently, he has been appointed to head up the commercial function in Electric Ireland, the leading energy supplier in Ireland and the primary customer facing business unit of the ESB Group. It’s a role that allows him to draw on his experience and understanding of the Energy Market across the Island of Ireland and the UK. Speaking to Niall, it is clear that he relishes the challenges and opportunities presented by this diverse role. In leading Electric Ireland’s commercial team, Niall is responsible for sales and marketing, pricing, regulatory affairs and energy trading. “It’s an exciting role” says Niall. “We are striving to ensure that our customers can rely on us for price certainty and stability while at the same time we are trading on the
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open markets with a hedging strategy in place. In summary it’s about the management of volatility, and that’s always an interesting challenge”. “We are working day to day with businesses and residents across Ireland”, Niall explains. “In Northern Ireland we are into our second decade in the business market and we have a wide range of customers across a number of industries, including agri-food, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, and engineering. It’s very exciting to be getting involved at a time when the business sector is really starting to grow in line with a better performing Northern Ireland economy” Quick to compliment his team, Niall points to their skills and experience as the reason that Electric Ireland’s business sector market share is at 21% in a very competitive and active market. “I’m very impressed by the knowledge and commitment of the NI team,” he says. “What really makes the difference for customers is knowing that they can rely on people who understand their business and can deliver the right energy solutions for them, at the right price. That’s why we are doing well, even with 8 other competitors in the market. I see it as my role to support this high-performing
team and to make sure that we continue to be effective energy partners for companies across Northern Ireland.” Of course, the ESB group also has a strong asset base in Northern Ireland - most notably NIE, maintaining the Electricity network and the efficient Coolkeeragh ESB power plant based outside Derry supplying the island of Ireland energy market since 2005. Less well known is that ESB, through its international division, also has a presence in the GB generation marketplace. It is involved in two generation stations in England, and in his position as Commercial Manager for Electric Ireland, Niall Dineen has a role in optimising those commercial activities as well. “Across our all islands marketplace (the UK and Ireland), we constantly look at our options and gauge opportunities to grow,” he says. Electric Ireland is committed to building strong relationships in Northern Ireland. In keeping with its parent company ethos the business is committed to responsible business and the provision of educational support. They are a partner with Business in the Community NI and they have a long term commitment