Independent Expert comes between BWS and PUC
An independent expert has been appointed to analyze the initial decision of the Public Utilities Commission in the Full Tariff Review Proceeding (FTRP) for the Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL). The PUC’s decision was to grant a ten point six percent rate increase as opposed to the twenty-five percent hike that BWSL had requested. But the utility company rejected that offer, which is where Richard Hern comes into the picture. Hern is the independent expert, chosen by the PUC and BWSL to assess the PUC’s decision, BWSL’s rejection of their offer and the comments submitted by the public. He is expected to hand in a report by February eighth. Hern is the director of NERA Consulting Company in London, where he specializes in economic regulation of utility industries, particularly the water sector. His long list of qualifications includes considerable experience in regulating international water markets. Hern has served as an independent expert in FTRPs in both Belize and Honduras between 2004 and 2005. He has also co-authored a number of World Bank reports including reports on regulatory risk mitigating mechanisms and international regulatory transparency.