Regulators publish statement on joint working
ORR/JNT/01
11 July 2001
Nine regulators have today (Wednesday) issued their annual statement covering formal joint working on a range of cross-industry issues.
This is the third such statement from the regulators' joint working group which this year has been widened by the inclusion of the Postal Services Commission and the Office of Fair Trading, the latter a recognition of the increasing emphasis on developing competition rather than traditional regulation.
The statement, which reflects issues the regulators have in common and the important differences which exist between sectors, has been jointly published by:
- Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem);
- Office of Water Services ( Ofwat);
- Office of Telecommunications (Oftel);
- Office for the Regulation of Electricity and Gas for Northern Ireland (OFREG);
- Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR);
- Civil Aviation Authority;
- Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland;
- Office of Fair Trading (OFT); and
- Postal Services Commission (Postcomm).
Speaking on behalf of the group, Ofgem Chief Executive, Callum McCarthy, said:
"There are a number of issues which are common to many regulators. That is why it is highly desirable that we should pool our knowledge and experience of issues. It is also important to recognise what differentiates, as well as what is similar between, regulatory organisations.
"The purpose of our joint working is not to aim at a single approach but rather to develop approaches which are consistent and transparent about both similarities and differences between sectors."
Major topics in the statement include: ·
- The Competition Act 1998 ·
- Developing efficient regulatory organisations ·
- Effective communications ·
- Developing best practice in service delivery ·
- Approaches to price controls ·
- Transition to competitive markets ·
- Proposals for common regulatory accounting principles ·
- Incorporating social and environmental issues into regulatory work ·
- Developing best practice in compiling and disseminating comparative price information.
Notes to editors:
1. Copies of the joint statement are available from the regulatory offices and from their websites.
2. Ofgem website
Media contacts
For further press information contact:
Richard Hunt on 020 7901 7158
Danny Wilkinson on 020 7901 7022
Rob Jones on 020 7901 7484
Out of hours contact: 0781 8457969
