Regulating Water Companies

[摘要] The water industry differs in two keyrespects from such other network industries as gas,electricity, and telecommunications. First, it offers feweropportunities for competition among suppliers, since thenetwork of pipes accounts for a large part of the total costof water and can be run efficiently only as a monopoly.Second, the quality of water is crucial but hard forconsumers to check. So, to get the best performance out ofwater companies, governments need to regulate the price andquality of water. To do that job well, regulators must knowthe appropriate price. The authors explain that the best wayto discover this price is to auction the right to supply water.

[发布机构] World Bank, Washington, DC

[学科分类] 社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

[关键词] CUBIC METER;GAS;INFLATION;MONOPOLIES;MONOPOLY SUPPLIERS