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Economic Regulation

Papers from the BERR Economic Regulation Team are listed below:

Consumer Representation in Regulated Industries

A report on the efficiency and effectiveness of sectoral consumer bodies, including recommendations on sharing best practice and enhancing effectiveness. Some of these proposals have subsequently been taken forward in the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007.

Benchmarking Review of Energywatch and Postwatch

This report formed an important base for the separate reports on "Consumer Representation in Regulated Industries" (see above) and the National Audit Office report "Energywatch and Postwatch: Helping and Protecting Consumers".

The Drivers and Public Policy Consequences of Increased Gearing

This paper aims to inform Government and regulators' understanding of the issues associated with an increase in debt financing by companies in the regulated utilities markets. It considers the reasons why utility companies have geared up; outlines the possible public policy consequences of increased levels of debt financing; and describes the way regulators have responded.

Concurrent Competition Powers in Sectoral Regulation

This report looks at the use of concurrent competition powers by the sectoral regulators. The report examines how the interface between the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the sectoral regulators operates when dealing with competition cases; how the regulators balance the use of their concurrent competition powers against their sector-specific regulatory powers; and how regulators that have concurrent competition powers use these powers. The project explores the reasons for the decisions made, and considers any differences between the regulators. The report concludes with a set of recommendations for the OFT and the sectoral regulators to consider going forward.