Governance of Regulators' Practices
Accountability, Transparency and Co-ordination
Regulators operate in a complex, high-risk environment at the interface between the
public and the private sectors. They often share some responsibilities for the sectors
and industries they regulate with other public institutions. And yet, if the lights
go out, tap water stop running, trains break down or phones stop working, they are
often held to account. In this challenging environment, the governance of regulators
is critical. The role of the regulator and how it co-ordinates with other public institutions,
the powers it is given and how it is held accountable for exercising these powers
are key elements of a governance architecture that needs to be carefully crafted and
appropriately implemented if the regulator is to succeed in combining effective regulation
with a high level of trust. This report looks at the way in which four regulators
– the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the Australian Energy
Regulator (AER), Portugal’s Water and Waste Services Regulation Authority (ERSAR)
and the UK Office of Rail and Road (ORR) – have addressed these governance challenges.
The report identifies approaches to implement accountability, transparency and co-ordination
and helps identify some lessons that can help guide how these principles can be translated
into practice.
Published on April 11, 2016
In series:The Governance of Regulatorsview more titles