Making regulatory mechanisms work : lessons from cases of Private Sector Participation

This paper is about the regulation of private sector participation (PSP) in public water utilities. Using case studies from Argentina, Chile and the United Kingdom, it identifies and discusses the regulatory mechanisms that have been introduced and the issues surrounding information access, price and service quality regulation. The paper also analyses what measures have been implemented in these three cases in order to achieve regulatory accountability, independence and an adequate level of financial and human resources. The method adopted was case survey including the analysis of official regulatory documents and other relevant material and validation by an expert panel. It investigates the conditions that are necessary for regulatory mechanisms to be implemented and operated effectively in each context, and draws out some general conclusions for areas of improvement