THE ESB has officially announced the appointment of its new chief executive. He is Mr Ken O'Hara (58), who takes over the £100,000 plus post from Mr Joe Moran later this summer.
Mr O'Hara has been managing director of power generation in ESB since 1993 and was one of three people who were tipped for the post. Another was said to be Dr Pat Haren, chief executive of Northern Ireland Electricity.
Mr O'Hara has been credited with greatly improving the efficiency of the generating stations.
For a variety of reasons, including maintenance, not all stations are in commission all the time. During his period in this sector, availability of generating stations to supply power has risen steadily. In 1996, it reached a record 86 per cent. The ESB said this translated into adding £30 million to the state company's bottom line last year.
Mr O'Hara takes over the reins at a crucial time in the ESB's history. The company is facing international competition because of liberalisation of the market.
In the year 2000, other companies will be able to enter the Irish market to compete for business, including the already privatised British utilities.
This means that large companies will be free to buy their power from alternatives sources. They could also build a power station on a joint venture basis to supply their businesses.
Ms Rosemary Steen, director of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, said Ireland was seen as a very attractive market which was growing very quickly.
"The ESB is facing a considerable competitive challenge over the next few years," she said.
The ESB connected 35,000 new customers last year and demand for electricity is continuing to grow. The company is also investing £1 billion in regrading the electricity network.
Mr O'Hara will also have to oversee the building of a waste energy plant at Ballycoolin, Co Dublin, a contract which the ESB won recently with its joint venture partner. The company is also in the running for a new European plant to be built in the midlands as part of the same joint venture.
Mr O'Hara joined the ESB in 1961 and has served in a variety of posts since then.
He began his career as an engineer in Galway and Waterford and also did consultancy work in Bahrain.
In 1979 he was appointed district manager in Cork and, from 1985-87, he was regional manager of the southwest region. He was then appointed director of customer operations.
Mr O'Hara holds a degree in electrical engineering and a masters' in industrial engineering. He is a fellow of the Institution of Engineers in Ireland. He is married with four children.
The ESB last night declined to comment on the terms of Mr O'Hara's remuneration. It is understood his salary will come under the Buckley Report guidelines. It will be recommended by a remuneration committee and must be sanctioned by the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications.
