Regional Utility Regulators meet in Belize

The Public Utilities Commission today hosted a regional workshop focussing on the increasingly complex role that regulatory organisations play in the Caribbean. Over twenty delegates from member countries of the Organization of Caribbean Utility Regulators, including Belize, sat down to talk about experiences in this relatively new field and how to present themselves to their different constituencies. Chairman of OOCUR J. Paul Morgan says the challenge is to strike a balance between consumers, providers and national governments.

J. Paul Morgan, Chairman, OOCUR
?I think the first thing really is an understanding that the regulatory bodies need particular expertise which is not widely available. How to use that expertise and at the same time, how you build a sustainable organisation to ensure that the expertise remain even after people have left.?

?You know regulatory business in the Caribbean is new. And we are all at different stages of development. And we?ve brought it here to Belize because of the P.U.C.?s peculiar position at this point in time. And this is it really just to share experiences.?

Patrick Jones
?Regionally with the changing face of technologies, what is the biggest challenge to utility regulators??

J. Paul Morgan
?I think the biggest challenge is acceptance. How you balance those interest between the government on the one hand, the companies on the other and the consumers. And it?s first of all trying to get each to understand that we are not an advocate for each one. And I think the next step beyond that is really, how we communicate to consumers that regulators are really there to protect their interest but not necessarily to advocate for them.?

Patrick Jones
?Do you think that that message is getting through or will it take a little while longer for it to become reality??

J. Paul Morgan
?It will take time. First of all there is the expectation that people have. There is the expectation first of all that once a regulator comes onboard that utility prices will go down. That is not necessarily the case. I think that as they see that, the objective of delivering good service at appropriate prices. And the appropriate price is peculiar to each country. That takes time and I think with that then comes acceptance.?

Although Belize was a founding member of the Organization of Caribbean Utility Regulators, it was not until last year that the P.U.C. became a full participant in the workings of the umbrella organisation. Presenters at today’s workshop shared experiences OF utility regulators in Guyana, Belize and the Bahamas.