Economic Regulation of Urban Water and Sanitation Services : Some Practical Lessons

This paper discusses the regulation of water and sanitation services in urban areas. Specifically, it explores ways of thinking about regulatory design as part of a wider, country-specific program to reform the way in which water supply and sanitat...

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Main Authors: Ehrhardt, David, Groom, Eric, Halpern, Jonathan, O'Connor, Seini
Format: Working Paper
Language:English
en_US
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2007/04/7680938/economic-regulation-urban-water-sanitation-services-some-practical-lessons
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17239
id okr-10986-17239
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
en_US
topic ACCOUNTABILITY
ADEQUATE WATER
ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY
APPROACHES TO REGULATION
AREAS OF REGULATION
BARRIERS TO ENTRY
BASIC SANITATION
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
CAPITAL INVESTMENT
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS
CASH FLOW
CONCESSION CONTRACT
CONCESSION CONTRACTS
CONSUMER PROTECTION
CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT
CORRUPT PRACTICES
CORRUPTION
COST RECOVERY
CRISES
CROSS-SUBSIDIES
DECISION MAKER
DECISION MAKERS
DECISION MAKING
DRINKING WATER
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC REGULATION
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
EFFECTIVE REGULATION
ENVIRONMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
FINANCIAL CAPACITY
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FORM OF REGULATION
GOOD REGULATORY SYSTEM
GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS
GOVERNMENT ACTION
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS
HOUSEHOLDS
INDEPENDENT REGULATOR
INDEPENDENT REGULATORY
INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS
JURISDICTIONS
LARGE CITIES
LEGAL INSTRUMENTS
LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
MINISTERS
MUNICIPAL SERVICE PROVIDERS
MUNICIPALITIES
NATIONAL UTILITY
NEED FOR REGULATION
NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
OPERATING COSTS
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS
POOR MANAGEMENT
POOR PERFORMANCE
POOR WATER QUALITY
PRIVATE PARTICIPATION
PRIVATE PROVIDERS
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION
PRIVATE UTILITIES
PROVISION OF WATER
PROVISION OF WATER SUPPLY
PUBLIC PRESSURE
PUBLIC UTILITIES
REGULATION BY CONTRACT
REGULATORS
REGULATORY ACTIONS
REGULATORY ADVISORS
REGULATORY AGENCIES
REGULATORY APPROACHES
REGULATORY ARRANGEMENTS
REGULATORY COMMISSION
REGULATORY DECISION
REGULATORY DECISIONS
REGULATORY DESIGN
REGULATORY EFFECTIVENESS
REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
REGULATORY FUNCTION
REGULATORY FUNCTIONS
REGULATORY GOALS
REGULATORY INSTITUTIONS
REGULATORY INSTRUMENT
REGULATORY INSTRUMENTS
REGULATORY ISSUES
REGULATORY OBJECTIVES
REGULATORY OPTIONS
REGULATORY PERFORMANCE
REGULATORY PROBLEMS
REGULATORY PROCESSES
REGULATORY REFORM
REGULATORY REGIME
REGULATORY REGIMES
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
REGULATORY RULES
REGULATORY SOLUTION
REGULATORY SYSTEM
REGULATORY SYSTEMS
REVIEW OF REGULATION
SAFETY
SAFETY REGULATION
SANITATION
SANITATION PROVIDERS
SANITATION SECTOR
SANITATION SERVICES
SELF-REGULATION
SENIOR REGULATORY
SERVICE PROVIDER
SERVICE PROVIDERS
SERVICE QUALITY
SERVICE STANDARDS
SMALL
SMALL PRIVATE PROVIDERS
TARIFF ADJUSTMENTS
TARIFF DECISIONS
TAX INCENTIVES
TAXPAYERS
TRANSPARENCY
URBAN AREAS
URBAN WATER
URBAN WATER SUPPLY
WATER DEPARTMENT
WATER DIRECTORATE
WATER OPERATORS
WATER PARTNERSHIP
WATER QUALITY
WATER RATES
WATER REGULATION
WATER SECTOR
WATER SECTOR REGULATION
WATER SERVICE
WATER SERVICE PROVIDERS
WATER SERVICE PROVISION
WATER SERVICES
WATER SUPPLY
WATER SYSTEM
WATER SYSTEMS
WATER UTILITIES
spellingShingle ACCOUNTABILITY
ADEQUATE WATER
ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY
APPROACHES TO REGULATION
AREAS OF REGULATION
BARRIERS TO ENTRY
BASIC SANITATION
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
CAPITAL INVESTMENT
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS
CASH FLOW
CONCESSION CONTRACT
CONCESSION CONTRACTS
CONSUMER PROTECTION
CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT
CORRUPT PRACTICES
CORRUPTION
COST RECOVERY
CRISES
CROSS-SUBSIDIES
DECISION MAKER
DECISION MAKERS
DECISION MAKING
DRINKING WATER
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC REGULATION
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
EFFECTIVE REGULATION
ENVIRONMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
FINANCIAL CAPACITY
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FORM OF REGULATION
GOOD REGULATORY SYSTEM
GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS
GOVERNMENT ACTION
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS
HOUSEHOLDS
INDEPENDENT REGULATOR
INDEPENDENT REGULATORY
INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS
JURISDICTIONS
LARGE CITIES
LEGAL INSTRUMENTS
LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
MINISTERS
MUNICIPAL SERVICE PROVIDERS
MUNICIPALITIES
NATIONAL UTILITY
NEED FOR REGULATION
NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
OPERATING COSTS
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS
POOR MANAGEMENT
POOR PERFORMANCE
POOR WATER QUALITY
PRIVATE PARTICIPATION
PRIVATE PROVIDERS
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION
PRIVATE UTILITIES
PROVISION OF WATER
PROVISION OF WATER SUPPLY
PUBLIC PRESSURE
PUBLIC UTILITIES
REGULATION BY CONTRACT
REGULATORS
REGULATORY ACTIONS
REGULATORY ADVISORS
REGULATORY AGENCIES
REGULATORY APPROACHES
REGULATORY ARRANGEMENTS
REGULATORY COMMISSION
REGULATORY DECISION
REGULATORY DECISIONS
REGULATORY DESIGN
REGULATORY EFFECTIVENESS
REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
REGULATORY FUNCTION
REGULATORY FUNCTIONS
REGULATORY GOALS
REGULATORY INSTITUTIONS
REGULATORY INSTRUMENT
REGULATORY INSTRUMENTS
REGULATORY ISSUES
REGULATORY OBJECTIVES
REGULATORY OPTIONS
REGULATORY PERFORMANCE
REGULATORY PROBLEMS
REGULATORY PROCESSES
REGULATORY REFORM
REGULATORY REGIME
REGULATORY REGIMES
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
REGULATORY RULES
REGULATORY SOLUTION
REGULATORY SYSTEM
REGULATORY SYSTEMS
REVIEW OF REGULATION
SAFETY
SAFETY REGULATION
SANITATION
SANITATION PROVIDERS
SANITATION SECTOR
SANITATION SERVICES
SELF-REGULATION
SENIOR REGULATORY
SERVICE PROVIDER
SERVICE PROVIDERS
SERVICE QUALITY
SERVICE STANDARDS
SMALL
SMALL PRIVATE PROVIDERS
TARIFF ADJUSTMENTS
TARIFF DECISIONS
TAX INCENTIVES
TAXPAYERS
TRANSPARENCY
URBAN AREAS
URBAN WATER
URBAN WATER SUPPLY
WATER DEPARTMENT
WATER DIRECTORATE
WATER OPERATORS
WATER PARTNERSHIP
WATER QUALITY
WATER RATES
WATER REGULATION
WATER SECTOR
WATER SECTOR REGULATION
WATER SERVICE
WATER SERVICE PROVIDERS
WATER SERVICE PROVISION
WATER SERVICES
WATER SUPPLY
WATER SYSTEM
WATER SYSTEMS
WATER UTILITIES
Ehrhardt, David
Groom, Eric
Halpern, Jonathan
O'Connor, Seini
Economic Regulation of Urban Water and Sanitation Services : Some Practical Lessons
relation Water Sector Board discussion paper series;no. 9
description This paper discusses the regulation of water and sanitation services in urban areas. Specifically, it explores ways of thinking about regulatory design as part of a wider, country-specific program to reform the way in which water supply and sanitation services are provided and paid for. In the past, regulatory advisers often focused on the need to introduce international best practice- generally in the form of an independent regulatory organization-to solve a wide range of performance problems. However, this approach was seldom straightforward, nor was it always successful. There is no one-size-fits-all regulatory design that can be reliably applied to resolve performance problems. Rather, regulation is best developed on a country-by-country basis through answering questions such as the following: a) What are the real sector problems, and which of these can regulation solve? b) What specific objectives is regulation aiming to achieve? c) What combination of organizations and instruments is most suitable and would work best for achieving these regulatory objectives? This paper is not intended to be a detailed guide for regulatory design. Rather, it discusses how to approach regulatory design. This approach encourages decision makers and their advisors to apply sound principles within country-specific settings, rather than advocate best-practice models without a thorough analysis of whether these are suitable for the country's context. The best combination of rules and institutions for setting tariffs and service standards3,-and indeed, the best reform options in general-will vary from country to country. Regulatory designers should select this combination by first focusing on the principal sector objectives and working with institutions that may already be responsible for achieving them.
format Publications & Research :: Working Paper
author Ehrhardt, David
Groom, Eric
Halpern, Jonathan
O'Connor, Seini
author_facet Ehrhardt, David
Groom, Eric
Halpern, Jonathan
O'Connor, Seini
author_sort Ehrhardt, David
title Economic Regulation of Urban Water and Sanitation Services : Some Practical Lessons
title_short Economic Regulation of Urban Water and Sanitation Services : Some Practical Lessons
title_full Economic Regulation of Urban Water and Sanitation Services : Some Practical Lessons
title_fullStr Economic Regulation of Urban Water and Sanitation Services : Some Practical Lessons
title_full_unstemmed Economic Regulation of Urban Water and Sanitation Services : Some Practical Lessons
title_sort economic regulation of urban water and sanitation services : some practical lessons
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2014
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2007/04/7680938/economic-regulation-urban-water-sanitation-services-some-practical-lessons
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17239
_version_ 1764436702992007168
spelling okr-10986-172392021-04-23T14:03:36Z Economic Regulation of Urban Water and Sanitation Services : Some Practical Lessons Ehrhardt, David Groom, Eric Halpern, Jonathan O'Connor, Seini ACCOUNTABILITY ADEQUATE WATER ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY APPROACHES TO REGULATION AREAS OF REGULATION BARRIERS TO ENTRY BASIC SANITATION CAPITAL EXPENDITURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT CAPITAL INVESTMENTS CASH FLOW CONCESSION CONTRACT CONCESSION CONTRACTS CONSUMER PROTECTION CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT CORRUPT PRACTICES CORRUPTION COST RECOVERY CRISES CROSS-SUBSIDIES DECISION MAKER DECISION MAKERS DECISION MAKING DRINKING WATER ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC REGULATION ECONOMIES OF SCALE EFFECTIVE REGULATION ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FINANCIAL CAPACITY FINANCIAL INFORMATION FORM OF REGULATION GOOD REGULATORY SYSTEM GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS GOVERNMENT ACTION GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS HOUSEHOLDS INDEPENDENT REGULATOR INDEPENDENT REGULATORY INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS JURISDICTIONS LARGE CITIES LEGAL INSTRUMENTS LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS MINISTERS MUNICIPAL SERVICE PROVIDERS MUNICIPALITIES NATIONAL UTILITY NEED FOR REGULATION NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING COSTS PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS POOR MANAGEMENT POOR PERFORMANCE POOR WATER QUALITY PRIVATE PARTICIPATION PRIVATE PROVIDERS PRIVATE SECTOR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION PRIVATE UTILITIES PROVISION OF WATER PROVISION OF WATER SUPPLY PUBLIC PRESSURE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATION BY CONTRACT REGULATORS REGULATORY ACTIONS REGULATORY ADVISORS REGULATORY AGENCIES REGULATORY APPROACHES REGULATORY ARRANGEMENTS REGULATORY COMMISSION REGULATORY DECISION REGULATORY DECISIONS REGULATORY DESIGN REGULATORY EFFECTIVENESS REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK REGULATORY FUNCTION REGULATORY FUNCTIONS REGULATORY GOALS REGULATORY INSTITUTIONS REGULATORY INSTRUMENT REGULATORY INSTRUMENTS REGULATORY ISSUES REGULATORY OBJECTIVES REGULATORY OPTIONS REGULATORY PERFORMANCE REGULATORY PROBLEMS REGULATORY PROCESSES REGULATORY REFORM REGULATORY REGIME REGULATORY REGIMES REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS REGULATORY RULES REGULATORY SOLUTION REGULATORY SYSTEM REGULATORY SYSTEMS REVIEW OF REGULATION SAFETY SAFETY REGULATION SANITATION SANITATION PROVIDERS SANITATION SECTOR SANITATION SERVICES SELF-REGULATION SENIOR REGULATORY SERVICE PROVIDER SERVICE PROVIDERS SERVICE QUALITY SERVICE STANDARDS SMALL SMALL PRIVATE PROVIDERS TARIFF ADJUSTMENTS TARIFF DECISIONS TAX INCENTIVES TAXPAYERS TRANSPARENCY URBAN AREAS URBAN WATER URBAN WATER SUPPLY WATER DEPARTMENT WATER DIRECTORATE WATER OPERATORS WATER PARTNERSHIP WATER QUALITY WATER RATES WATER REGULATION WATER SECTOR WATER SECTOR REGULATION WATER SERVICE WATER SERVICE PROVIDERS WATER SERVICE PROVISION WATER SERVICES WATER SUPPLY WATER SYSTEM WATER SYSTEMS WATER UTILITIES This paper discusses the regulation of water and sanitation services in urban areas. Specifically, it explores ways of thinking about regulatory design as part of a wider, country-specific program to reform the way in which water supply and sanitation services are provided and paid for. In the past, regulatory advisers often focused on the need to introduce international best practice- generally in the form of an independent regulatory organization-to solve a wide range of performance problems. However, this approach was seldom straightforward, nor was it always successful. There is no one-size-fits-all regulatory design that can be reliably applied to resolve performance problems. Rather, regulation is best developed on a country-by-country basis through answering questions such as the following: a) What are the real sector problems, and which of these can regulation solve? b) What specific objectives is regulation aiming to achieve? c) What combination of organizations and instruments is most suitable and would work best for achieving these regulatory objectives? This paper is not intended to be a detailed guide for regulatory design. Rather, it discusses how to approach regulatory design. This approach encourages decision makers and their advisors to apply sound principles within country-specific settings, rather than advocate best-practice models without a thorough analysis of whether these are suitable for the country's context. The best combination of rules and institutions for setting tariffs and service standards3,-and indeed, the best reform options in general-will vary from country to country. Regulatory designers should select this combination by first focusing on the principal sector objectives and working with institutions that may already be responsible for achieving them. 2014-03-10T23:30:24Z 2014-03-10T23:30:24Z 2007-04 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2007/04/7680938/economic-regulation-urban-water-sanitation-services-some-practical-lessons http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17239 English en_US Water Sector Board discussion paper series;no. 9 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Working Paper Publications & Research