Mr Tom Reeves is to be named as the State's first independent electricity regulator. Mr Reeves, who is currently assistant secretary in charge of electricity at the Department of Public Enterprise, is expected to take up the position early in 1999.

His task will be to oversee the liberalisation of the Irish electricity market to meet European Union requirements.

Under the terms of an EU directive, 28 per cent of the market - in effect those 300 corporate customers that use the most electricity - must be able to choose their power procurer by February 2000. In 2003, one-third of the market must be given access to competition.

The Government has moved quickly to appoint a regulator to act as a spur in the process of implementing the directive. Mr Reeves will take over from the ESB which has enjoyed regulatory power since 1927.

Among his functions will be the issuing of permits for the generation and supply of electricity. He will also have to ensure that there is a level playing field for new entrants to the market which has attracted interest from a number of overseas companies.

For the past decade, volume has been growing at around 5 per cent each year and new generating capacity will be required in the near future. Among those believed to be interested in building power stations here are Northern Ireland Electricity and Marathon.

Legislation establishing the regulator's position was published recently by the Minister for Public Enterprise Ms O'Rourke and is expected to be enacted in February or March next year. However Mr Reeves, who is already working in the area within the Department, is likely to start preparing for the new regime sooner.

The interviews for the position were held last week and included a number of candidates from the public service. Electricity is the second area of the public utilities in which the Government has appointed an independent regulator.