Current Issues In Public Utilities And Public Policy

Current Issues in Public Utilities and Public Policy

This book is novel in that it reveals significant issues of economics, management and business fields currently observed in network industries such as public utilities and transportation, and provides empirical evidence of their mechanisms and policy implications from various perspectives. This is a holistic collection of literature on public utilities economics and management, since the industries discussed include a wide range such as electricity, water supply, sewerage, transport, and postal service, which compound social infrastructure as public benefit service, and the issues examined contain not only economics topics such as cost, efficiency, and productivity, but also management topics such as governance, strategy and organizational restructuring. The book also investigates general private companies to derive future implications for policy and governance of public utilities, and covers multiple countries such as Japan, the US, and Vietnam. It demonstrates various empirical approaches and methodologies for public utility analysis through 17 chapters by experts in each field, which contributes to further cultivation of empirical studies in public utilities.

Public Utilities

Professor McNabb has produced an excellent overview of the management challenges facing public utilities in the 21st century. His description of the evolution, changes, and challenges of different types of utilities is insightful. What makes this book uniquely valuable is his addressing the variety of utility management responsibilities including human resources, information services, and strategic planning in a single volume. I recommend it highly. Jeffrey Showman, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, US An introduction to the current issues and challenges facing managers and administrators in the investor and publicly owned utility industry, this engaging volume addresses management concerns in three sectors of the utility industry: electric power, natural gas, and water and wastewater systems. Beginning with a brief overview of the historical development of the industry, the author looks at policy issues and discusses management ethics. He then examines a number of the major challenges in these organizational functions: management and leadership, planning, marketing, accounting and finance, information technology, governance, and human resources. In the final section of the volume he looks at issues specific to each of the three industry sectors. Accessible and comprehensive, this thoughtful exploration of the various issues facing managers in public utilities in the new century will prove a useful overview for students of business and economics, utility staff, and directors of local utility governing boards.

Current Issues in Public-utility Economics