Universal Service Obligation
Download: EAPIRF-Online Discussion-Issue Paper (PDF, 104 KB)
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About the Topic:
Universal Service Obligations is a key issue faced by infrastructure regulators. It is a theme with several dimensions, making it relevant for all the sectors and countries of EAPIRF. The relevance and need for the training in this area is further supported by the findings of the Training Needs Assessment. This is reflected in the topics ‘Vulnerable Groups’ and ‘Use of Subsidies’ receiving a high training need rating of 3.67 and 3.61 respectively in the TNA. This topic has also been rated as being very important among the sector specific topics in the TNA.
The theme will deal with the following broad topics:
- USO Policy: Selection of services, products and customers to be subsidised
- Financing of subsidies
- Institutional mechanisms: Ensuring productive efficiency (minimum cost) for subsidised services
This Online Discussion is intended as a “curtain raiser” or a “warm up session” for the Two Day Training Program. It will help Members to get introduced to the issues involved, and raise the challenges being faced by them. It will also help the trainers (who will be the moderators for the discussion) become better acquainted with issues and views of the Members, and fine-tune the content of the Two Day Training Program accordingly.
Background Reading:
Privatisation and Poverty: The Distributional Impact of Utility Privatisation - By Kate Bayliss (PDF, 95 KB)
Improving Access to Infrastructure Services by the Poor: Institutional and Policy Responses - By Penelope Brook and Warrick Smith (PDF, 367 KB)
New Models for the Privatization of Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor - By Ana Hardoy and Ricardo Schusterman (PDF, 146 KB)
USO in Utility Concession Contracts and the Needs of the Poor in Argentina's Privatisations - By Omar Chisari and Antonio Estache (PDF,89 KB)
For further information on USO, please visit:
rru.worldbank.org
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