Overview of Regional Networks of Infrastructure Regulators

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Overview of Regional Networks of Infrastructure
Regulators
EAP FORUM OF INFRASTRUCTURE REGULATORS

• Apurva SanghiSenior Economist
• The World Bank

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Outline

• Three regional fora
• History?
• Objectives?
• Activities?
• Structure?
• Funding?
• Summary and Lessons learnt

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Regional Networks Snapshot
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I. South Asia Forum for Infrastructure Regulators
(SAFIR)
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A. SAFIR History

• Established 1999
• World Bank and PPIAF Support
• No legal status members comply with SAFIR
  guidelines
• SAFIR activities guided by Steering Committee of
  experienced regulators
• Membership also open to non-regulators

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B. SAFIR Objectives

• Platform for experience sharing
• Learning events
• Regulatory decision-making
• Research on regulatory issues

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C. Some SAFIR Activities

• Annual Core Training Program on Infrastructure
  Regulation and Reform
• 10 days full of lectures, sector-specific case
  studies, practical exercises, and panel
  discussions with utility experts
• Special training courses
• Newsletter
• Web-based discussion groups

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D. SAFIR Structure
Annual meeting
1. STEERING COMMITTEE Decision-making
body Members SA Regulatory commissions and
associations
2. CHAIRPERSON of Steering Committee
3. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Members Research
Institutes
TERI, Host Entity
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E. SAFIR Funding

• Annual membership fee
• Regulatory agencies/association 1000/ 2000
• Research Institutes 500
• Consumer groups 250
• Corporate associations 3000
• Donors 10,000
• World Bank and PPIAF support
• Resources generated by sales of services
• Training program generated a surplus in 2003

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II. Africa Forum for Utility Regulation (AFUR)
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A. AFUR History

• Established 2000
• Consultative Group in 2001 to shape AFUR
  structure and work program
• Gained legal status November 2002
• Formal constitution adopted in Pretoria (South
  Africa)
• Membership open ONLY to regulators
• Observer status Government officials in process
  of setting up regulatory agencies

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B. AFUR Objectives

• Support the development of effective regulation
  in Africa
• Information sharing
• Facilitate regulatory capacity building
• Support the harmonization of policies and
  legislations
• Promote sound relationships with governments and
  other stakeholders

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C. Some AFUR Activities

• 5 plenary meetings
• Workshops
• Consumer issues Relations with service
  providers Regulatory governance
• Information dissemination
• Newsletters, surveys, regulatory research,
  website
• Training
• Financial issues in regulation (2 courses)
• Electricity regulation for Eastern African
  countries (1 course)

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D. AFUR Structure
General meeting (once every 3 years)
1. GENERAL ASSEMBLY all AFUR Members (29)
Three-year term of office
2. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (8 AFUR Members)
Chair and Deputy Chair
3. SECRETARIAT National Electricity Regulator,
South Africa
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E. AFUR Funding

• Annual membership fee (US 2500)
• Donor grants (World Bank, PPIAF)
• Shifting towards a more financially
  self-sustainable model
• Co-pay by members to attend meetings and
  workshops
• Co-financing of secretariat costs by Chair of EC

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III. Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA)
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A. ERRA History

• Established 1999
• Focus on independent energy regulators from
  Central and Eastern Europe
• Formalized December 2000
• Constitution signed by 15 Members in Bucharest

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B. ERRA Objectives

• Improve energy regulation in member countries
• Foster development of stable energy regulators
  with autonomy and authority and improve
  cooperation among energy regulators
• Increase exchange of information, research and
  experience among members
• Increase access to energy regulatory information
  and experience around the world
• Promote opportunities for training

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C. Some ERRA Activities

• Regular meetings
• Training program
• Study tours and exchange programs
• NARUC provides support
• Database of electricity tariffs in
  Central/Eastern Europe

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D. ERRA Structure
Annual General meeting
3. SECRETARIAT Hungarian Energy Office
Standing Committee
1. GENERAL ASSEMBLY 19 Full members 4 Associate
members
Financial Committee (3 Members)
2-year term of office
2. PRESIDIUM (7 ERRA members)
Chair and Deputy Chair
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E. ERRA Funding

• Annual membership fee
• US 1500/500 for Full/Associate Members
• ERRA Members cost-sharing
• Travel expenses, in-kind contributions (e.g..
  office and equipment for secretariat)
• Training courses
• Partially funded by co-operation agreement
  between NARUC and USAID
• No fees for ERRA Members/Fees may be charged to
  non-member organizations
• Grant from Local Government Initiative (Soros
  Foundation, Budapest)

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Network Models Summary
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Network Models - Lessons Learnt Decision-making
function

• Need high level decision-making body
• Need day-to-day implementation of approved
  decisions
• Need interface between above two

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Network Models - Lessons Learnt Training program

• If capacity building is priority, partnership
  with training provider is essential
• ERRA Model Training provider (NARUC)
• Associate Member
• Works closely with regulators / secretariat
• SAFIR Model Training provider (TERI)
• Member of Executive Committee / Secretariat

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Network Models - Lessons Learnt Sustainability

• In the long-term, network must become financially
  self-sustainable
• Limited availability of donor funds
• Some degree of members cost-sharing required
• Pricing activities at cost-recovery level
  essential

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Implications for EAP Network

• OBJECTIVES PRIORITIES?
• ACTIVITES?
• Is capacity building a priority?
• __________________________________
• STRUCTURE Organization and Membership?
• FINANCIAL?