Staff Profiles
The Commission is headed by up to three Commissioners at any one time.
At present there are two Commissioners, Michael G. Tutty and Dermot Nolan who have agreed certain lead responsibilities between them.
There are four Divisional Directors, each heading up one of the CER’s functional Divisions.
- Michael G. Tutty, Chairman
Michael G. Tutty is chairman of the Commission for Energy Regulation. His lead responsibilities include the regulation of all electricity and gas network infrastructure including the east-west interconnector. He is responsible for the Commission’s activities on renewable and sustainable energy, research and development and customer care. Michael has responsibility for the development of the All- Island energy market including the Common Arrangements for Gas (CAG) project. He is also responsible for the CER’s involvement with CEER and ERGEG.
The operational support sections of the organisation are a primary responsibility of the Chairman.
- Dermot Nolan, Commissioner
Dermot Nolan is a member of the Commission. His lead responsibilities include the regulation of retail gas and electricity, the generation sector and security of supply issues as well as fuel disclosure and the public service obligation (PSO) levy. Dermot has responsibility for the Single Electricity Market (SEM), the Commission's Smart Metering project and the regulation of gas and electrical safety. He is also responsible for the CER's strategic and business planning and chairs the organisations Audit Committee.
- Eugene Coughlan, Director of Operations and Electricity Markets
Eugene Coughlan is Director of the Operations and Electricity Markets Division within the CER. This division is responsible for overseeing the wholesale electricity market (SEM- Single Electricity Market) in cooperation with the Northern Ireland Regulator (NIAUR). The division also monitors security of supply and generation adequacy in Ireland and is also responsible for licensing and authorising the construction and operation of new generation stations.
Eugene is Deputy Commissioner and heads up the CER’s operational support divisions, including the Business Information Centre (BIC), Human Resources (HR), Finance, IT and Facilities Management.
- Denis Cagney, Director of Gas Division
Denis Cagney is the Director of the CER’s Gas Division. This division regulates the natural gas network infrastructure in Ireland as well as overseeing the development of the retail gas market and supply to end customers.
The division is presently working with the Northern Ireland Regulator (NIAUR) on the design and development of a possible 'all island gas market'. This project involves possible harmonisation of rules and codes of practice for transmission, distribution and supply of gas, north and south. In the retail market, the division oversees and approves charges by Bord Gais Energy Supply for natural gas.
- Cathy Mannion, Director of Electricity Networks and Retail Division
Cathy Mannion is Director of the Electricity Networks and Retail Division. This division oversees the economic regulation and development of the electricity networks (transmission and distribution) in Ireland as well as approving charges for access to the networks and resolving disputes in the area of network connections. The division is also responsible for developing policy in relation to network connection, with increased emphasis on connection of renewable generators.
Cathy's division also licences electricity suppliers and regulates the end user prices charged by the public electricity supplier (ESB PES) to end customers.
- Paul McGowan, Director of Safety Division and Environment and Customer Affairs Division
Paul McGowan is Director of Safety, Environment & Customer Affairs with the CER. Paul is responsible within the Commission for implementation of the new statutory electricity and gas safety frameworks, which include the registration of electrical contractors and gas installers by bodies designated for this purpose by the CER. Paul’s brief also includes advising the Commission on fulfilling its statutory functions with respect to renewable energy and environmental matters. Finally, on consumer affairs, Paul will oversee the implementation of a new statutory complaints/customer service function for customers of energy undertakings.