Subjects:

Constitutional and Administrative Law

Contents:

Part 1 The constitution, regulation and privatisation: introduction

what is the constitution? - ministerial accountability, individual rights, territorial powers

the background to regulation - the privatisation programme - increasing competition?, regulation

conclusions.

Part 2 The duties, powers and responsibilities of the regulator: duties of the regulator - primary duties, secondary duties, environmental duties, safety duties

conclusions on the Director Generals' duties

responsibilities of regulators - responsibilities in relation to licences - grant, modification and enforcement, competition law powers and relationship with the competition authorities, collection and provision of relevant information, consumer protection - quality of service, dealing with complaints and disputes, inter-connection disputes

conclusions.

Part 3 Regulators and Ministers: government powers over regulators

relations with the Competition Commission

government powers in practice - merger control and the electricity industry, competition in gas supply, charging for water, the convergence of telecommunications, broadcasting and computer systems, the poverty issue

reform and the Green Paper

conclusions.

Part 4 Procedures and accountability: traditional accountability devices - the role of the courts, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, parliamentary committees

decision-making procedures - licence modification, enforcement

regulatory review and freedom of information.

Part 5 Representing the consumer: the legal framework of consumer representation - relations with the regulator and the companies

quality of service

access to utility services - disconnection for debt, universal service

conclusions.

Part 6 The regions and Europe: territory and the constitution

regional aspects of utility regulation

the role of the European Community

conclusions.

Part 7 Rights and the social dimension: rights talk

the Human Rights Act

social rights and obligations

the EC and utilities policy

a new government and a new approach?

conclusions.

Part 8 Issues in price control: price control - origin and issues

legal framework

price control and the water industry

electricity

gas

telecommunications

conclusions.

Part 9 The development of competitive markets: developing the policy - telecommunications, gas supply, electricity

the new Competition Act

conclusions.

Part 10 Conclusions.

This text examines the implications for public law of the regulation of privatized utilities, asking how these institutions fit into our constitutional understandings regarding accountability, individual rights and territorial government. It argues that new approaches are needed if constitutional and regulatory principles are to accommodate one another.

This is of particular interest in the context of recent constitutional reforms and the growing influence of European integration.;After describing the institutions, their powers and duties, particular attention is paid to the position of consumers, the role of the European Community, territorial government and the place of individual rights.

The book concludes by looking at price control, the coming of competitive markets for utility services and the future of the regulatory system in the light of convergence, multi-utilities and the government's planned reforms.