Economic regulation of SA’s public utilities - A concept paper

¦ The governance structure of the regulatory agency should have multiple board members/commissioners with staggered terms of office; ¦ The human resource capacity of the agency must be commensurate with the regulatory mandate and level of ambitions of the regulator; ¦ Independence of the regulatory agency is a long-term objective and important to create confidence in the regulatory system, but can. [...] Electricity privatisation in the UK has occurred in the context of the privatisation of much of the formerly state- owned UK industries and the reduction of the central government’s role in the national economy. [...] The first chapter of the Act provided for the establishment of the Electricity Supply Commission (Eskom), and the Act also made provision for the establishment of the Electricity Control Board (ECB), which had a restricted role and was basically functioning as an arm of government. [...] ¦ In general a broader understanding is thus needed in spheres of Government of the regulatory compact, the distinction between regulatory policies and broader economic and industrial policy, and of the importance of the separate roles of the state as regulator, its role as owner of public enterprises and its role in making and implementing economic policy in the public interest. [...] ¦ Resources: The majority of the staff of the national energy regulator still needs development in terms of experience, skills and knowledge of the industry to assist and support the Regulator in executing their mandate.