Broad efforts at regulatory reform and increasing energy and water access may, but will not necessarily, help the poor, says an Asian Development Bank policy brief [1] published in April 2010. The poor often need specifically targeted interventions, measures, and approaches to ensure that they benefit from these efforts.

To implement pro-poor measures, reformers need to identify the poor, determine how they obtain services and what services they can afford, how they are organised and what they want. Pro-poor policy and regulation of utility services are directed toward providing poor customers with reasonable access to utility services at affordable prices and adequate quality, no matter where they are or who serves them.

The poor may be targeted in policy and regulatory design and regulatory reform by:

1. expanding access
2. diversifying service quality (or offering different levels of services), and
3. making prices affordable.

The policy brief provides an overview of measures in each of the above three categories. Though most of the examples come from the energy sector, the measures mentioned are generally applicable for both sectors. These range from different forms of subsidies to flexible payment schemes and good neighbour funds, and from use of low-cost technologies to a moratorium on lifeline disconnections.

[1] Mulqueeny, K.K. and Badelles, A.D.A (2010). Pro-poor policy and regulatory reform of water and energy supply services. (Law and policy reform brief ; no. 3). 8 p. Download full brief [PDF file]

For further information on pro-poor policy and regulatory reform, contact:

• Philip R. Daltrop, Deputy General Counsel, e-mail
• Kala Mulqueeny, Senior Counsel, e-mail

Tags: east asia & pacific, policies & legislation, south asia, water distribution