The development of competition in the English and Welsh water and sewerage industry

John Sawkins

Fiscal Studies, 2001, vol. 22, issue 2, 189-215

Abstract: This paper examines the introduction of competition into the English and Welsh water and sewerage industry following privatisation of the 10 regional water authorities in 1989. It outlines the development of comparative, capital and product market competition, arguing that the greatest opportunities now lie with the last through the introduction of common carriage agreements, the extension of Inset appointments and the introduction of transferable abstraction licences. Despite competitive innovations, the industry remains highly regulated, complex and difficult to enter. One of Ofwat’s outstanding challenges for the next decade is to examine the means by which the regulatory burden might be lightened and barriers to entry lowered, to encourage potential entrants to compete with incumbents.

JEL-codes: L9 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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