Unbundling Australia's Utility Regulation

Abstract

The separation of governments' role as regulator and owner of state owned enterprises has been a significant feature of industry reform initiatives in Australia and globally. This structural 'unbundling' of utility regulation is seen by its proponents as promoting competitive neutrality between public and private sector, and maintaining transparency in implementation of government policy choices. These matters are examined within the context of Australian reform initiatives of the 1990 which remain relevant in design of systems of governance applying to regulation of state owned enterprises.