Existing Solutions

regulation, capacity building, tariff setting, investments

technical

Research Policy

LO.RE.NET is the international Network of experts on Regulation of Local Public Services  launched by the Turin School of Local Regulation, an initiative of Fondazione per l’Ambiente, with the contribution of the Chamber of Commerce of Turin. The project idea is mainly based on the awareness that there is a lack of networking initiatives at international level on research and dissemination regarding economic regulation of local public services, and more generally of management and tendering of urban services.  Water and wasterwater services are one of the main focus sectors.  Indeed, while big services at national level, like telecommunication and energy networks, are a well studied subject and their regulation is organized in independent national agencies and authorities (at least in OECD countries), services provided at local level still remain outside a regulatory framework, even if they produce an interesting share of the GDP within the EU.  

OBJECTIVES – To establish an international network of researchers, decision-makers, research and education institutions, enterprises, and other stakeholders, on the issue of regulation of local public services. – To create a culture of regulation of local public services – To build up an international framework and produce guidelines on regulation of local public services – To provide to local public decision-makers and stakeholders the necessary information and instruments to build up regulatory systems of local public services – To set the basis for the creation of a stable international network on regulation of local public services and its institutionalisation.  

Water governance: a matrix survey on property rights and regulation in 14 Countries Amongst the first results of LORENET project there is the creation of a comparative table on regulation of water and wastewater services in 14 different Countries. The results of this work have been presented in a paper discussed at the 13th Mediterranean Research Meeting taking place in Montecatini Terme on 21-24 March 2012.

The project coordination is located in Torino – Italy, but the network groups experts from different Countries (15 Countries has joined so far)

The network is animated by the Turin School of Local Regulation, an initiative of Fondazione per l’Ambiente. The Turin School of Local Regulation is a network school providing research, education and capacity building on regulation of local public services and on local governance. The network is open to participation of experts from different kinds of institutions: – Public local entities – Public agencies of local public services – Regulatory agencies – Universities and research centres – Think tanks – Chambers of commerce – Consumers’ organisations – Other public and private actors with expertise on the issue.

The network is an ongoing initiative. The comparative research on regulation of water and wastewater services is also ongoing and the objective is to collect contributions from countries that have not yet been included in the analysis in order to enlarge its scope. Parallely, the same comparative research is under implementation for other 5 sectors: urban waste sector; district heating; local public transport; distribution of gas; distribution of electricity.

The project idea is mainly based on the awareness that there is a lack of networking initiatives at international level on research and dissemination regarding regulation of local public services, and more generally of management and tendering of urban services. Indeed, while big services at national level, like telecommunication and energy networks, are a well studied subject and their regulation is organized in independent national agencies and authorities (at least in OECD countries), services provided at local level still remain outside a regulatory framework, even if they produce an interesting share of the GDP within the EU. Therefore a coordinated activity of research and dissemination is needed at international level.

The solution intends to animate an enriching dialogue and exchange of information and knowledge amongst experts from different sectors and different Countries, allowing cross-fertilization and spreading the culture of regulation for services managed at local level.

The network is open to participation of experts from different kinds of institutions: – Public local entities – Public agencies of local public services – Regulatory agencies – Universities and research centres – Think tanks – Chambers of commerce – Consumers’ organisations – Other public and private actors with expertise on the issue. The objective is to expand the scope in terms of both geographical and sectoral coverage.

At the time being the network is supported by the Chamber of Commerce of Torino.

Fondazione per l’Ambiente Via Pomba 23 – I 10123 – Torino (Italy) Tel +39 011 571.4750 Fax +39 011 571.4751 Contact person: Elisa Vanin e-mail: elisa.vanin@fondazioneambiente.org website: www.turinschool.eu