Matthew Edgerton

Matthew is an economist at Frontier Economics. He has more than 20 years’ experience in applying economic principles and analysis to inform regulation and public policy across a range of sectors, with a focus on urban economics and water.

Matthew has provided advice to public and private sector clients across Australia, covering regulation and policy design and review; pricing, funding and cost recovery of infrastructure services; and options analysis (including cost benefit analysis).

Prior to joining Frontier Economics, he was an Executive Director at the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), where led IPART’s economic regulation of the water and local government sectors in NSW as well as reviews of other sectors commissioned at the request of the NSW Government.

Economic regulation

Matthew supports regulated businesses to prepare their price proposals to economic regulators, and assists regulators in developing and applying their approaches to regulating prices and performance. This includes developing and/or evaluating proposals relating to the establishment of Regulatory Asset Bases, operating and capital expenditure allowances, efficiency strategies and targets, incentive schemes, risk management and allocation, price structures and general regulatory strategy.

Examples include:

• Supporting Sydney Desalination Plant, Hunter Water, Essential Water, TasWater and South East Water in developing their price proposals to economic regulators
• Supporting Sydney Desalination Plant and Hunter Water in developing their submissions to IPART’s review of its economic regulatory framework, and then in evaluating implications of IPART’s new framework
• Advice on cost recovery and pricing arrangements related to recycled water
• Review of economic regulatory barriers to water conservation, for the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)
• Undertaking a review for IPART on the efficiency of the Central Coast Council’s proposed water, wastewater and stormwater operating and capital expenditure allowances.

Policy advice

As an advisor to various levels of government and service providers, Matthew provides advice, drawing on best practice economic principles and analysis, to inform a range of policies and decisions.

Examples include:

• Reviewing planning and regulatory frameworks governing water and wastewater growth infrastructure in South Australia
• Review and update of the Queensland Council Cost Index, to guide local councils budget and revenue decisions in Queensland
• Review of local water utility dividend requirements for NSW DCCEEW, and analysis of the operating and financial performance of NSW local water utilities for DCCEEW
• Support to NSW DCCEEW in developing guidance to local water utilities on strategic decision-making, understanding their revenue sources and customer service needs, and sound pricing and prudent financial management
• Development of a carbon decision making framework for South East Water
• Advice to the NSW Office of Energy and Climate Change to inform the design of the NSW Peak Demand Reduction Scheme
• A risk analysis of local government participation in the energy market, for the NSW Office of Local Government.

Business cases, Regulatory Impact Statements, cost benefit analysis  

Matthew also undertakes business cases and regulatory impact statements, involving robust cost benefit analysis, consistent with jurisdictional requirements and guidelines.

Examples include:

• Regulatory Impact Statements for proposed changes to the NSW Water Management Regulation and the NSW Water Industry Competition Regulation
• A cost benefit analysis of alternative options for the future of Stephens Creek Reservoir, for Broken Hill’s water security
• A Strategic Business Case for changes to Stormwater and Waterways Governance arrangements in Wianamatta South Creek in Western Sydney.

We work as one team across the world

In Asia-Pacific, we do this from offices in Australia and Singapore. We work as a single team with expertise and people brought together as required by the problem we are solving for our clients.  Reach out to any of our economists and consultants to find out how we can help you.