Matching regulatory arrangements with public values in the provision of energy and telecommunications: one view

The staying power of certain public values underpinning public policy in the provision of utility infrastructure is remarkably strong. A list of (nine) Public Values is offered (e.g., universal service, affordability) that has varied little in the past 100 years in the USA. To accommodate these named public values policymakers in the utility field have an array of Institutional Arrangements to choose from (e.g., public ownership, market competition). Five major ones are identified. The thrust of this paper is to see how far each of the Arrangements is likely to satisfy each Public Value.