Expertise

Economic Regulation

Most firms face regulation of some form, while some industries are subject to explicit economic regulation. Regulated industries include ‘utility’ industries such as energy, water and telecommunications and media as well as the transport, financial services and natural resources (forestry, fisheries) sectors.

Talk to our regulation team

It is vital for firms in regulated industries to engage appropriately in the regulatory process to protect their commercial interests. Often this means “walking a mile in the regulator’s shoes” to see things from its perspective.

A number of the Frontier Economics staff have previously worked at economic regulatory agencies in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK. Frontier Economics also has a long track record of advising governments, regulators and companies in Australia and around the world. This experience, combined with our expertise in providing rigorous economic thinking and a creative external perspective, helps our clients make the best possible decisions.

For details on our regulation work, see our energy, telecoms, water, transport and other industry pages.

Specialist regulatory advice

Our expertise in this sector includes:

Network Access & Interconnection: We have been a key advisor to policy makers, regulators, governments and businesses on the development of the energy, telecommunications, water, airports and rail regulatory frameworks in Australia and Southeast Asia.
Price Reviews: There are few things more fundamental to a business than the price it can charge for its product. Regulators are charged with the responsibility to ensure that prices are not excessive.
Regulatory Finance: Frontier Economics applies its expertise in financial economics to the regulation of network industries.
Regulatory Strategy, Policy & Advice: We help our clients to develop effective arguments to make to regulators or governments on broad regulatory issues, such as the role of energy networks in delivering a low-carbon energy sector.
Tariff Design: While the level of prices is generally a function of a business’s costs and customers’ demand, the manner in which prices are designed or structured can be the function of diverse and often competing objectives.
Liberalisation & Structural Reform: Introducing competition into a market that was formerly dominated by a monopoly provider is an area where regulatory economics plays an important role.