Kinetically inert cationic Ni(II)TMPyP 4+ (H2TMPyP 4+ = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin) displayed a characteristic fluorescence (τ = 1.2-1.4 ns, Φ = 2.0×10 -3 ), which was quenched with triethanolamine (TEOA) in a static way. This complex proved to be an efficient photocatalyst in the system containing TEOA and methylviologen (MV 2+ ) as electron donor and acceptor, respectively. Interestingly, however, deviating from the behavior of the analogous Co(III) and Mn(III) complexes in such a system, TEOA did not dinamically quench the triplet excited state of Ni(II)TMPyP 4+ (τ = 6.31 μs), hence no reduction of the metal center occured upon irradition. Instead, in the presence of this electron donor (at 1×10 -3 M) the excited-state lifetime dramatically increased (to τ = 36.6 μs), indicating the formation of a Ni(II)TMPyP 4+ -TEOA associate. This longer-lived triplet was efficiently quenched by MV 2+ (kq = 9.9×10 6 M -1 s -1 ), leading to the formation of MV •+ . The overall quantum yield of this one-step photoassisted electron transfer is considerably high (Φ = 0.011-0.013 at Soret-band irradiation). Hence, this system, combined with a suitable cocatalyst, may be applicable for visible light-driven hydrogen generation from water.