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Aug/Sept 2010 www.esb.ie/em 
ENERGY SOLUTIONS
The connected world: identity theft
SERVICES ORGANIZATION
TODAY'S COMMUNICATION technologies give you the ability to connect and communicate with friends and family in more ways than you could have previously imagined. The use of new mediums can come at a price if you aren't careful.
This article is published by ESB's IS Security Group, to aid ESB staff, their family and friends to remain safe in the ‘connected world’ and avoid being the victim of identity theft.
To start with, ID theft is not a myth. It's real and it can happen easily and quickly. The more information you make available about yourself, the easier it is for the ID thieves. Having your identity stolen can be both financially and emotionally devastating.
What is identity theft?
Identity theft is a type of fraud which involves stealing money or gaining other benefits by pretending to be someone else. It occurs in many ways, from somebody using your credit card details to make purchases, to having your entire identity assumed by another person to open bank accounts, take out loans or conduct illegal business under your name.
How does identity theft work?
Identity theft works in a range of ways, some crude and some well organised, but all are based on getting your personal data and exploiting it for gain.
ID thieves will use various ways to get you to give them your personal data. They will also use public records, information saved on personal computers or posted on social networking sites. Once they have the required details you would be surprised how easy it is to become you.
How do you protect yourself?
- NEVER send money or give personal details to people you don't know and trust. If you don't give it out the thieves can't use it.
- If you receive a call or email from your bank or any other organisation, don't provide your personal details. Instead ask for their name and a contact number. A reputable financial institution will NEVER email you asking you to follow a link or asking you for personal details.
- Regularly check your credit card and/or bank statements to ensure that suspicious transactions are detected.
- Shred all documents containing personal information, such as credit card applications and bank statements.
- NEVER send your credit card or bank details in an email.
- Don't be tricked by an email that looks legitimate or appears to link to a genuine website.
- Limit the amount of personal information you put on social networking sites.
- Never tell anyone your mother's maiden name. It's one of the key questions when applying for a copy of your birth certificate.
- If you think your identity has been misused, you should contact your bank or credit union to let them know.
- It is vitality important that information about staff or customers, or indeed yourself, is either shredded or is disposed of in the secure waste bins provided by Shared Services Facilities group.
- Report any lost of stolen ESB IT equipment to #26699
For additional information on how to securely manage customer and staff personal data contact Jim Smith, Manager IS Security, or any member of the IS Security team.
ESB sponsored prizes at the RHA 180th Annual Exhibition
SERVICES ORGANISATION
ESB HONOURED former Chief Executives Thomas Mc Laughlin and Joe Moran recently on Prize Giving Day at the 180th Annual Exhibition of the Royal Hibernian Academy.
The RHA Annual Exhibition is regarded as one the most important Annual Art Exhibition in Ireland each year.
The RHA Annual Exhibition is divided into two sections. The closed section of the exhibition consists of about 200 works which are submitted by full RHA members and Associate Members. Full elected RHA Members who are artists, approximately normally submit six works each while Associate Members who are also elected Artists are allowed to submit three works each. Submissions are invited for Artists who would like to have a work(s) included in the Open Section of the Exhibition. A judging panel of RHA Members who are Artists decide which works are to be selected.
ESB sponsored two prizes at the RHA Annual Exhibition this year namely The Keating/Mc Laughlin Award for Painting in Year 2010 and the Connor/Moran Award for Sculpture 2010.
Pool Market Operation (PMO)
successful 2010 go-live achieved
SERVICES ORGANISATION
THE POOL Market Operation system processes daily bids and settlements for the ESB business in the wholesale electricity market. The system is managed by teams within ITS.
Since the system was implemented by the ESB AIM Programme in November 2007 releases of planned software enhancements have occurred consistently twice each year. The releases are timed to co-ordinate with regulatory change mandated by the Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO). The releases also include business change requests to support Power Generation, Customer Supply and ESBI. The current PMO team comprises individuals form the ESB business, ITS and Italian based support partners Reply S.p.A.
2010 update
May 2010 saw the successful go-live of the latest PMO release, which included the enhancement of enquiry screens, the retrieval of new and updated SEMO reports and the implementation of new validation procedures for the commercial terms of market bids. Other user friendly features for navigation and usability of the system were also completed.
Further changes are planned for October 2010, including a significant change to the way in which technical generator data is submitted to the market by participants, revised market VAT processing rules and support for the migration of ESBI financial systems to SAP by year end.
Early last year a SAP Business Warehouse system was implemented, known as WMDA. This enables ESB business units trading in the wholesale market to access and analyse market data for electricity generators all over Ireland published by SEMO, thereby contributing support to ESB's competitive market trading positions. The PMO team provide daily operation support for this system and have been able to assist in tuning the reporting performance of this application during the year.
Electric motoring
News, page 04
