Frequently Asked Questions Related to Chapter 6
- What do regulators need to do differently to tackle the needs of poor consumers?
- What should regulators do to meet social objectives set by policy-makers?
- Should social objectives be met through funds obtained at the national level and allocated to meet the objectives in each sector and region?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of creating dedicated agencies or « funds » to support the development of infrastructure services in rural areas? How should the regulator relate to such funds?
- Are successful programs for peri-urban areas appropriate for rural areas?
- Do higher income customers benefit more from subsidies than do poorer customers?
- How can a regulator promote investment while keeping service prices affordable?
- What procedures should the regulator adopt in order to balance economic and social objectives (like efficiency vs. fairness)?
- What are the strength and limitations of lifeline rates?
- When and why would the regulator choose not to regulate the price structure, leaving the task to the operating company?
- In an industry where an aging network and generation capacity constraints lead to poor service delivery, to what extent should consumers contribute towards capital expansion?
- Since rates in the water sector seldom reflect full cost recovery, how can you convince citizens to accept higher prices (given their willingness to pay)?
- To what extent does service quality need to be the same for high and low cost areas?