Making economic efficiency easier for the water sector to understand
Frontier Economics was commissioned by the Water Services Association of Australia to produce a report to explain economic efficiency to the water sector.
Input Methodologies and Financeability – Vector
Frontier Economics' recently provided advice to several clients in regards to the Queensland Competition Authority's process for their approach to climate change related expenditure. This [...]
Frontier Economics’ Independent Advice on QCA’s Climate Change Expenditure Review
Frontier Economics' recently provided advice to several clients in regards to the Queensland Competition Authority's process for their approach to climate change related expenditure. This [...]
Regulatory financeability tests: early or late warning systems?
This bulletin explains why it is essential for regulators in Australia to adopt financeability tests as standard practice whenever they make a regulatory determination, and to take the results of [...]
Same but Different: Diverging Paths of Merger Reforms in Australia and the United States
Warwick Davis' view on the ACCC’s proposed merger reforms for processes and legal tests for merger clearance, and the differences in the US. Following from his participation at the International [...]
Economic Regulation: Beyond Efficiency?
A summary of the address given by Dinesh Kumareswaran, Director of Frontier Economics, during the first plenary session titled 'Beyond efficiency", at the 2023 ACCC/AER economic regulation [...]
ACCC consults on NBN Co’s special access undertaking (SAU) variation proposal
The ACCC has released a consultation paper on NBN Co’s SAU variation. NBN Co’s latest proposals are accompanied by two expert reports prepared by Frontier Economics.
Frontier Economics welcomes two new Directors to Frontier Economics Pty Ltd – Dinesh Kumareswaran and Matt Harris
Frontier Economics appoints Dinesh Kumareswaran and Matt Harris as directors.
Frontier Economics welcomes new director Alexus van der Weyden
Frontier Economics appoints Alexus van der Weyden as a director.
Murray-Darling Basin water markets inquiry final report released
The ACCC has released the final report from its Murray-Darling Basin water markets inquiry.
Competition Commission of India clears Facebook acquisition of stake in Jio Platforms
The Competition Commission of India has cleared Facebook's acquisition of a 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms through its subsidiary Jaadhu Holdings LLC.
Singapore competition regulator issues findings for market study on e-commerce platforms
Today the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (“CCCS”) issued its findings and recommendations for its market study on e-commerce platforms.
Market power of digital platforms – Philip Williams presentation at GCR Live Interactive
Philip Williams presented on the market power of digital platforms at the GCR Live Interactive conference, held on 4 September 2020.
Heavy Vehicle National Law review regulatory impact statement released for consultation
The National Transport Commission has released the consultation regulation impact statement for reforms to the Heavy Vehicle National Law.
The Value in Value Capture
Using value capture to fund infrastructure makes infrastructure investment more equitable and productive.
Sunny With a Chance of Wind
Wind and solar generation in the National Electricity Market is examined in this bulletin, with focus on the implications for supply diversity.
Regulation of wholesale mobile voice terminating services to continue
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will continue to regulate wholesale mobile voice terminating services but will cease to regulate terminating services for SMS.
New Bulletin: Market Power Misdiagnosed
This bulletin from Frontier Economics examines the claims of market gouging by generators in the National Electricity Market following the closure of Hazelwood Power Station.
Market Power Misdiagnosed
This bulletin from Frontier Economics examines the claims of market gouging by generators in the National Electricity Market following the closure of Hazelwood Power Station.
New Bulletin: Writing down the NBN: Requisite or Red Herring?
A new bulletin from Frontier Economics looks at the issue of an NBN write-down of assets and explores the links between pricing, write-downs and value.
Writing down the NBN
This bulletin from Frontier Economics looks at the issue of an NBN write-down of assets and explores the links between pricing, write-downs and value.
Biggus stickus: implications of the Federal Government’s ‘Big Stick’ Legislation
Frontier Economics examined the implications of the government's "Big Stick" legislation for the Australian Energy Council.
Economic and regulatory barriers to cost-effective water recycling
Infrastructure NSW engaged Frontier Economics to advise on the optimum regulatory framework for the uptake of cost-effective recycled water initiatives.
Frontier Economics – Christmas holidays hours
The Australian offices of Frontier Economics will be closed from 5pm Monday 24 December 2018 and re-open Wednesday 2 January 2019 at 9am.
Submissions to the 2018 Productivity Commission Review of Airport Regulation
We discuss the ACCC's submission to the Productivity Commission's 2018 Review of Airports Regulation.
Frontier Economics Singapore – new address
Frontier Economics has moved into new offices in Singapore. This is effective from 1 July 2018.
Private sector participation in the water sector – optimal allocation of risk
Mike Woolston, Frontier Economics, has co-authored a paper on public private partnerships in the water sector, titled Private Sector Participation in the Water Sector - Optimal Allocation of Risk.
NBN price changes – finally having an impact?
As NBN Co (nbn) continues to refine pricing of the various products it offers, we examine the early impact of a price change that took place 14 December 2017.
How does taxation affect share prices?
Frontier Economics director Jason Hall is presenting today at the Australasian Finance and Banking Conference in Sydney. Jason will explain some recent work estimating the market value of [...]
New Bulletin: Quantitative analysis – quality assured?
This bulletin from Frontier Economics looks at econometrics and discusses some examples of when econometric modelling goes awry.
Quantitative analysis – quality assured?
This bulletin from Frontier Economics looks at econometrics and discusses some examples of when econometric modelling goes awry.
Infrastructure Australia report on reforming urban water released
Infrastructure Australia has released a report suggesting fundamental changes to the governance and regulation of Australia's urban water markets.
Frontier Economics submits to senate committee that Parliament should reject Bill to abolish limited merits reviews of decisions by AER
Frontier Economics’ Managing Director, Danny Price, explains in this submission to the senate committee examining the Bill why abolition of LMR rights would harm, rather than promote, the [...]
Victorian taxi and ride sharing reforms pass Parliament
The Victorian Parliament has passed legislation that will introduce Australia's most open and competitive commercial passenger vehicle market.
Ministers decide to retain and reform limited merits review regime
The COAG Energy Council has decided to retain but reform the limited merits review regime that applies to decisions of the Australian Energy Regulator.
Options for enhancing the Australian Limited Merits Review regime
Frontier Economics and leading law firm Herbert Smith Freehills were engaged by Energy Networks Australia to prepare a policy paper, "Options for enhancing the Australian Limited Merits Review [...]
Australian Government consults on fixed line broadband reform package
The Australian Government has released details of its reform package on proposed changes to the regulatory regime applying to superfast broadband.
Secondary Gas Trading Market Design in Singapore
Frontier Economics (leading a consortium including Norton Rose) has been retained by the Singapore Energy Market Authority to design a secondary gas trading market for Singapore.
Review of vesting contract regime in Singapore completed
The Singapore Energy Market Authority has completed a review of the vesting contract regime in Singapore and released the final report.
Victorian Government leases Port of Melbourne
The Victorian state government announced that the Lonsdale Consortium was the successful bidder for the 50-year lease for the commercial operations of the Port of Melbourne.
Victorian Government legalises Uber and other ride-sharing services
The Victorian Government today announced a package of regulatory reforms designed to reduce barriers to entry into the taxi and other commercial passenger vehicle market. This will formally allow [...]
Ministers announce new inquiry into limited merits review regime for regulated energy networks
On 19 August the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council decided that its Senior Committee of Officials would conduct a fresh review of the limited merits review (LMR) regime that [...]
ACCC not to oppose proposals for Port of Melbourne Lease
On 19 August the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council decided that its Senior Committee of Officials would conduct a fresh review of the limited merits review (LMR) regime that [...]
Sudden Impact
Scrutinising the wholesale price impact of assisted closure of brown coal power stations.
Once Bitten Twice Shy
A recent judgment by the Australian Competition Tribunal leaves it open to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) to consider whether it would be in the long-term interests of consumers of [...]
Essential Services Commission (Victoria) releases draft report on taxi fares
The Essential Services Commission today released its draft report on the regulation of maximum taxi fares in Victoria.
Sudden impact – New Frontier Economics report
Frontier (Australia) has published a new report scrutinising the wholesale price impact of assisted closure of brown coal power stations in the National Electricity Market (NEM).
New Frontier report – Outcome of merits review of AER reset decisions for NSW and ACT networks
On 26 February 2016, the Australian Competition Tribunal (Tribunal) issued its judgment in relation to merits reviews, sought by consumer groups and several regulated energy networks, of recent [...]
Outcome of merits review of Australian Energy Regulator (AER) reset decisions for NSW and ACT networks
On 26 February 2016, the Australian Competition Tribunal (Tribunal) issued its judgment in relation to merits reviews, sought by consumer groups and several regulated energy networks, of recent [...]
Unappealing Prospects | New Frontier Economics Bulletin
This bulletin from Frontier (Australia) explains why a merits review regime is essential to a well-functioning regulatory system.
Australian Competition Tribunal releases judgments on appeals against Australian Energy Regulator’s determinations
Today the Australian Competition Tribunal published its judgments on several merits reviews of revenue reset decisions made by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).
Frontier looks at incentives and innovations in regulatory mechanisms
Last week, Frontier (Australia) hosted a series of seminars aimed at stimulating policy debate on the future of energy network regulation in Australia.
ESC releases final report on Accident Towing Regulation in Victoria
The ESC today released its final report into the regulation of accident towing services in Victoria. Frontier Economics assisted the ESC with the report.
Frontier presents at Water Pricing conference in Melbourne
Rob Francis, Associate Director at Frontier (Europe), spoke at the Essential Services Commission of Victoria (ESC) Water Pricing conference on 9 and 10 November 2015 in Melbourne
Levelling Up
In an earlier bulletin, Uber Regulated? we examined the case for regulating so-called “sharing economy” services, like Uber and Airbnb. In this companion piece, we discuss why it is important to [...]
Levelling up – New Frontier Economics bulletin
In a new bulletin published today, Frontier (Australia) discusses why it is important to understand the economic value likely to be created by sharing services such as Uber and Airbnb.
ACCC releases final decision on copper network access prices
The ACCC today released its final decision on the prices that other operators pay to use Telstra’s copper network to provide telecommunications services to consumers.
Frontier presents at the ACCC Regulatory Conference 2015
Warwick Davis from Frontier (Australia) presented on net neutrality and the open internet at the ACCC Regulatory Conference 2015.
Frontier report on Optional Firm Access published by AEMC
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has been examining the merits of its Optional Firm Access (OFA) proposal over the past fifteen months. Frontier's response to the draft report has [...]
Networks NSW to appeal AER determinations
Networks NSW has announced that it intends to appeal some aspects of the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) determinations, made on 30 April 2015, on the revenues that these networks will be [...]
ACCC releases draft decision on prices for access to Telstra’s copper network
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued its draft decision on the prices that other operators pay Telstra to use its copper network.
Frontier releases report examining AEMC’s Optional Firm Access Proposal
Frontier (Australia) today published a report prepared for a broad coalition of National Electricity Market participants on the Optional Firm Access proposal from the Australian Energy Market [...]
Frontier Economics welcomes SFG Consulting and new executive directors
Specialist financial economists Professor Stephen Gray and Dr Jason Hall from SFG Consulting Pty Ltd, along with Andrew Harpham from our energy team have joined Frontier (Australia) as executive [...]
AER releases draft decisions on revenues for NSW and ACT energy businesses
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has released its draft decisions on the revenue proposals submitted by ACT and NSW distribution and transmission businesses, for the period commencing on 1 [...]
NZCC amends WACC percentile for price-quality regulation for electricity lines services and gas pipeline services
The New Zealand Commerce Commission has released its final determination on one aspect of its approach to estimating the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) for regulated electricity lines [...]
Frontier report on regulation of urban water industry released
Today, the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) announced the release of the report “Improving Economic Regulation in the Urban Water Industry”.
Uber regulated? – New Frontier Economics bulletin
Frontier (Australia)’s latest bulletin considers how we should regulate new smartphone-based taxi apps like Uber.
Uber Regulated?
How We Should Regulate ‘Smartphone’ Taxi Apps. The emergence of smartphone-based apps to order and pay for taxis could revolutionise how these markets work – and reduce the need for onerous regulation.
Pray For Rain: ACCC’s Loss Capitalisation Model
A fundamental objective of economic regulation is to ensure a regulated firm has a reasonable opportunity to recover its efficiently-incurred costs. Without this opportunity, such a firm will no [...]
Pray for Rain – New Frontier Economics bulletin
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC’s) recent draft decision on how State Water’s volume risk should be managed departs from standard regulatory practice. This bulletin [...]
Time For Solar To Pay Its Way
Consumers in Australia have experienced sharply rising retail electricity tariffs in recent years. This has been largely driven by the need to fund major investments in network infrastructure. [...]
Australian Energy Regulator releases Draft Rate of Return Guidelines
On 30 August the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) released its Draft Rate of Return Guidelines. The AER is responsible for setting the regulated tariffs charged by gas and electricity networks [...]
Frontier report on giving customers a greater voice in urban water sector
Frontier (Australia) has undertaken a review of urban water customer choice options, policy drivers and regulatory instruments for the National Water Commission.
Taxi reform to commence in Victoria
The Australian state Government of Victoria today published its response to the recommendations of the Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry, that it set up in March 2011.
IPART publishes draft decision on regulated retail electricity prices
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales (IPART) has published its draft decision on regulated retail electricity prices for 2013-14 to 2015-16.
Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry Final Report Released
The final report of the Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry was tabled in Parliament today. The Inquiry, looking into all aspects of the Victorian taxi industry, ran for 16 months and included [...]
Regulator commences retail electricity prices review in New South Wales
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales (IPART) has today commenced its review and determination of regulated retail electricity prices for 2013-14 to 2015-16.
Australia’s Public Infrastructure Assets Under Scrutiny
Infrastructure Australia, the Government’s advisory body on infrastructure, today published a report “Australia's Public Infrastructure - Part of the Answer to Removing Infrastructure Deficit”.
Wholesale electricity cost allowances changing in South Australia
The Essential Services Commission of South Australia today released for public consultation a draft determination to change the wholesale electricity cost allowance.
AEMC releases Power of Choice Review Draft Report
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) today called for comment on a draft report proposing new ways for consumers to control their use of electricity and manage their bills.
NSW electricity retail prices increase following introduction of carbon price
Regulated electricity tariffs in New South Wales increased today, following a decision by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) as part of its annual review of electricity prices.
NCC favours ‘no coverage’ application of Australia Pacific LNG pipeline
The Australian National Competition Council (NCC) today published a draft recommendation in favour of granting the ‘no coverage’ application made by the proponents of the proposed Australia [...]
Victorian Taxi Inquiry publishes draft recommendations
The Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry today published its draft recommendations on the reform of the Victorian taxi and hire car industry.
Jet fuel supply services at Sydney Airport escape access regulation
The Australian Treasurer decided today that jet fuel supply infrastructure services at Sydney Airport should not be subject to a third party access regime.
Constructive Criticism
Making negotiations between airports and airlines work. Australia, New Zealand and the UK have adopted different approaches to regulating airports. However, all place some reliance on direct [...]
Constructive Criticism
Australia, New Zealand and the UK have adopted different approaches to regulating airports. However, all place some reliance on direct negotiations or ‘constructive engagement’ between an airport [...]
ACCC lifts exemptions on wholesale voice services
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) today released a decision to lift exemptions applying to certain wholesale voice services provided over Telstra’s fixed line network.
ACCC begins new telecommunications access regime in Australia
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued interim access determinations for the six key fixed line telecommunications services under the new telecommunications access [...]
Australian regulator determines Victorian electricity prices
The Australia Energy Regulator (AER) has handed down its final determination in the Victorian electricity distribution price review for 2011-15.
Third Time Lucky
The Minister for Communications and Technology in New Zealand has finally accepted a recommendation from the New Zealand Commerce Commission (NZCC) to regulate mobile termination rates (MTRs). [...]
Third time lucky – Frontier Economics bulletin
Frontier (Australia)’s bulletin discusses some of the controversy around the latest NZCC inquiry into whether to regulate the service, and consider the likely next steps in New Zealand.
Impacts of water trading in the southern Murray Darling Basin
Today the National Water Commission (NWC) launched a report into the impacts of water trading in the southern Murray Darling Basin.
ACCC clears Australia Post price increase
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) today announced it would not object to Australia Post’s Notification of price increases for the letter services over which it has a [...]
ACCC publishes response to paper on access pricing principles
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has published submissions in response to its discussion paper on access pricing principles for fixed line telecommunications services.
Draft determination on electricity prices for NSW
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has released its draft determination on electricity prices for New South Wales.
Pricing It So They Shall Come
The Australian Government has commenced the roll-out of a national wholesale-only high-speed broadband access network, and is considering the regulatory arrangements that should apply to this network.
New Frontier bulletin: Pricing it so they shall come
Frontier Economics has published a new bulletin, Pricing it so they shall come, which looks at efficient pricing structures for wholesale access services in telecommunications.
The AEMC releases Congestion Management Review findings
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has released the final report of its Congestion Management Review.
Australian National Water Commission looks to the future of urban water pricing
The Australian Government's National Water Commission has released a position statement on urban water pricing.
Australian Government seeks proposals to build a national broadband network
The Australian Government announced the release of an RFP to roll-out and operate a national broadband network.
IPART retail electricity tariff review
Frontier (Australia) has been engaged by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of NSW (IPART) to recommend allowances for energy purchase costs and for retail costs and margins for [...]
Wastewater interconnection services and transportation services by Sydney Water
The Australian Competition Tribunal has decided to uphold the appeal by Services Sydney against the Minister's decision not to declare certain services provided by Sydney Water. This means that [...]
Airside Services at Sydney Airport subjected to regulation
The Australian Competition Tribunal has decided to uphold the appeal by Virgin Blue against the Minister's decision not to "declare" the Airside Service at Sydney Airport. This means that the [...]
ACCC regulatory conference 2005
Dr. Philip Williams, chairman of Frontier Economics, participated in the sixth Australian Competition and Consumer Commission regulatory conference.
Pricing policies for a rural water authority
Goulburn-Murray Water retained Frontier (Australia) to undertake an independent review of its pricing methodologies and models.
