Team

Alistair has significant experience in both market reform and regulation. Before becoming a consultant, Alistair worked for the UK power sector where he was appointed to lead the negotiation of several significant developments to the Electricity Pool, as well as acting as Market Operations Director for the 12 Regional Electricity Companies of England and Wales. As a consultant, he has had a leading role in sector restructuring and wholesale market design in the UK and worldwide, with significant experience in networks regulation. Examples of his work include:

• Heading the Design Authority function of the I-SEM wholesale market design programme for the Irish Regulatory Authorities;
• Project direction in choosing the market reference price for baseload and intermittent FiT CfDs in Northern Ireland to DECC, as well as development of the EMR policy around CfDs;
• Advising on regulatory price controls, including for regulators in UK, Ireland and France, on the design and implementation of price controls, cost reviews following price controls and the close out of losses incentives; and
• Performing the lead advisor role to one of the UK Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) through the 5th Distribution Price Control (DPCR5) as well as the introduction of RIIO.

Alistair has advised a number of major UK and European utilities on trading and risk management. This includes:

• Advising on power contracting under new market designs for ESB, including ancillary service contracts, fuel price risk management, price submissions and effectiveness of generation scheduling;
• Providing insight to inform bidding and trading strategies, including work that lifted a UK power company from the least profitable to most profitable company in the prompt electricity market;
• Carbon Trading Strategy development, where Alistair has advised companies on their optimum trading strategies under the European Emission Trading Scheme, including how best to use the Kyoto flexibility mechanisms (the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation); and
• Advising on operational systems and processes. Alistair has advised companies on the organisation of their trading operations to drive efficiency and effectiveness whilst managing the risk of fraud.

Where Alistair’s strategy work leads to a transformation or IT programme, he typically retains an on-going role to ensure business needs are met. In carrying out this role, Alistair has additionally taken the lead in a number of programme areas including:

• Benefits realisation: Developing a clear framework for how the changes give rise to benefits. This both focuses the project, and allows tracking of the delivery of benefits;
• IT Specifications: Developing a clear specification of what IT systems need to do, and ensuring this understood by those who will develop the systems; and
• Programme Management: Supporting the programme management through overall programme health checks, as well as a specific focus on the management of project risks, and ensuring alignment with business benefits.

Alistair has led work to design and implement operating models for a variety of companies. This includes:

• The design and implementation of a new retail business for a European power company;
• Advice on the operating model for a UK Distribution Network Operator (DNO); and
• Advising interconnector owners on commercial risks and how these can be managed under the form and governance of ownership structures.

Alistair has advised a number of companies on market entry. This includes advice to existing utilities looking to diversify, as well as to new entrants to power markets. In each case, Alistair works with clients through an objective and structured approach to identify what they need to succeed in that market and the reward they can expect from successful entry. He has gone on to support those companies in developing the capabilities they need for success.