Cost Recovery, Equity, and Efficiency in Water Tariffs : Evidence from African Utilities

Water and sanitation utilities in Africa operate in a high-cost environment. They also have a mandate to at least partially recover their costs of operations and maintenance (O&M). As a result, water tariffs are higher than in other regions of...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Banerjee, Sudeshna, Foster, Vivien, Ying, Yvonne, Skilling, Heather, Wodon, Quentin
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20100728131236
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3868
id okr-10986-3868
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
topic ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
AFFORDABLE WATER
AVERAGE TARIFF
AVERAGE TARIFFS
BALANCE
BLOCK STRUCTURE
BLOCK TARIFF
BLOCK TARIFF STRUCTURE
BLOCK TARIFFS
CAPACITY BUILDING
CAPITAL COSTS
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS
COMMERCIAL TARIFFS
CONNECTION CHARGE
CONNECTION CHARGES
CONNECTION COST
CONNECTION COSTS
CONNECTION FEE
CONNECTION FEE FOR SEWERAGE
CONSUMPTION BLOCKS
CONSUMPTION CHARGE
COST OF WATER
COST RECOVERY
COVERING
CROSS-SUBSIDIES
CROSS-SUBSIDIZATION
CUBIC METER
CUBIC METERS
CUBIC METERS PER MONTH
DEMAND MANAGEMENT
DESALINATION
DISCOUNT RATE
DISTRIBUTION OF WATER
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY
EFFECTIVE PRICE
EFFICIENT PRICE
ELECTRICITY
EMPLOYMENT
EQUITY CRITERION
EXORBITANT TARIFFS
FIXED CHARGE
FIXED CHARGES
FIXED COSTS
FIXED FEE
FLAT CHARGES
FORMAL UTILITY
FREE WATER
GRAVITY
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
HIGH-VOLUME CONSUMERS
HIGHER CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD CONNECTION
HOUSEHOLD CONNECTIONS
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLDS
INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES
INTERNATIONAL WATER
INVESTMENT COST
INVESTMENT COSTS
IRRIGATION
LEAKAGE
LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION
LEVELS OF CONSUMPTION
LOW TARIFFS
LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
LOWER PRICES
MAINTENANCE COSTS
MARGINAL BENEFITS
MARGINAL COST
MARKET CONDITIONS
METER READING
METERING
NATIONAL WATER
NATIONAL WATER COMPANY
NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS
OPERATIONAL EXPENSES
PAYMENT FOR WATER
PERFORMANCE DATA
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
PIPE
PIPED WATER
POOR CONSUMERS
POOR HOUSEHOLDS
PRICE INCREASES
PRICE OF WATER
PRICE SIGNALS
PRIVATE OPERATORS
PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION
PROVISION OF WATER
PUBLIC FOUNTAINS
PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLIC STANDPIPES
PUBLIC STANDPOSTS
PUBLIC TAPS
QUALITY WATER
QUANTITIES OF WATER
QUANTITY OF WATER
RESIDENTIAL CONSUMERS
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
RETAIL PRICES
SAFE WATER
SANITATION
SANITATION PROGRAM
SANITATION UTILITIES
SANITATION UTILITY
SERVICE DELIVERY
SERVICE PROVIDER
SERVICE PROVIDERS
SERVICE QUALITY
SEWERAGE
SEWERAGE AUTHORITY
SEWERAGE COMPANY
SEWERAGE CORPORATION
SEWERAGE SERVICES
SMALL TOWNS
STATE UTILITIES
SUBSIDIES FOR WATER
SUPPLY WATER
SUSTAINABLE WATER
TARIFF BLOCK
TARIFF CHANGES
TARIFF DESIGN
TARIFF INCREASE
TARIFF LEVELS
TARIFF POLICY
TARIFF REGIMES
TARIFF STRUCTURE
TARIFF STRUCTURES
TOLL
URBAN WASTEWATER
URBAN WATER
URBAN WATER SUPPLY
URBAN WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS
URBANIZATION
USE OF WATER
UTILITIES
VALUE OF WATER
VOLUME OF WATER
VOLUMES OF WATER
VOLUMETRIC CHARGE
WASTEWATER CHARGES
WASTEWATER SERVICES
WASTEWATER SYSTEMS
WASTEWATER TARIFF
WATER BOARD
WATER CHARGES
WATER COMPANY
WATER CONNECTION
WATER CONSERVATION
WATER CONSUMPTION
WATER DEMAND
WATER INTAKE
WATER MARKET
WATER METERING
WATER POLICY
WATER PRICE
WATER SCARCITY
WATER SERVICE
WATER SERVICES
WATER SHORTAGE
WATER SUPPLIES
WATER SUPPLY
WATER SYSTEMS
WATER TARIFF
WATER TARIFFS
WATER USAGE
WATER USE
WATER USERS
WATER UTILITIES
WATER UTILITY
spellingShingle ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
AFFORDABLE WATER
AVERAGE TARIFF
AVERAGE TARIFFS
BALANCE
BLOCK STRUCTURE
BLOCK TARIFF
BLOCK TARIFF STRUCTURE
BLOCK TARIFFS
CAPACITY BUILDING
CAPITAL COSTS
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS
COMMERCIAL TARIFFS
CONNECTION CHARGE
CONNECTION CHARGES
CONNECTION COST
CONNECTION COSTS
CONNECTION FEE
CONNECTION FEE FOR SEWERAGE
CONSUMPTION BLOCKS
CONSUMPTION CHARGE
COST OF WATER
COST RECOVERY
COVERING
CROSS-SUBSIDIES
CROSS-SUBSIDIZATION
CUBIC METER
CUBIC METERS
CUBIC METERS PER MONTH
DEMAND MANAGEMENT
DESALINATION
DISCOUNT RATE
DISTRIBUTION OF WATER
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY
EFFECTIVE PRICE
EFFICIENT PRICE
ELECTRICITY
EMPLOYMENT
EQUITY CRITERION
EXORBITANT TARIFFS
FIXED CHARGE
FIXED CHARGES
FIXED COSTS
FIXED FEE
FLAT CHARGES
FORMAL UTILITY
FREE WATER
GRAVITY
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
HIGH-VOLUME CONSUMERS
HIGHER CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD CONNECTION
HOUSEHOLD CONNECTIONS
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLDS
INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES
INTERNATIONAL WATER
INVESTMENT COST
INVESTMENT COSTS
IRRIGATION
LEAKAGE
LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION
LEVELS OF CONSUMPTION
LOW TARIFFS
LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
LOWER PRICES
MAINTENANCE COSTS
MARGINAL BENEFITS
MARGINAL COST
MARKET CONDITIONS
METER READING
METERING
NATIONAL WATER
NATIONAL WATER COMPANY
NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS
OPERATIONAL EXPENSES
PAYMENT FOR WATER
PERFORMANCE DATA
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
PIPE
PIPED WATER
POOR CONSUMERS
POOR HOUSEHOLDS
PRICE INCREASES
PRICE OF WATER
PRICE SIGNALS
PRIVATE OPERATORS
PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION
PROVISION OF WATER
PUBLIC FOUNTAINS
PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLIC STANDPIPES
PUBLIC STANDPOSTS
PUBLIC TAPS
QUALITY WATER
QUANTITIES OF WATER
QUANTITY OF WATER
RESIDENTIAL CONSUMERS
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
RETAIL PRICES
SAFE WATER
SANITATION
SANITATION PROGRAM
SANITATION UTILITIES
SANITATION UTILITY
SERVICE DELIVERY
SERVICE PROVIDER
SERVICE PROVIDERS
SERVICE QUALITY
SEWERAGE
SEWERAGE AUTHORITY
SEWERAGE COMPANY
SEWERAGE CORPORATION
SEWERAGE SERVICES
SMALL TOWNS
STATE UTILITIES
SUBSIDIES FOR WATER
SUPPLY WATER
SUSTAINABLE WATER
TARIFF BLOCK
TARIFF CHANGES
TARIFF DESIGN
TARIFF INCREASE
TARIFF LEVELS
TARIFF POLICY
TARIFF REGIMES
TARIFF STRUCTURE
TARIFF STRUCTURES
TOLL
URBAN WASTEWATER
URBAN WATER
URBAN WATER SUPPLY
URBAN WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS
URBANIZATION
USE OF WATER
UTILITIES
VALUE OF WATER
VOLUME OF WATER
VOLUMES OF WATER
VOLUMETRIC CHARGE
WASTEWATER CHARGES
WASTEWATER SERVICES
WASTEWATER SYSTEMS
WASTEWATER TARIFF
WATER BOARD
WATER CHARGES
WATER COMPANY
WATER CONNECTION
WATER CONSERVATION
WATER CONSUMPTION
WATER DEMAND
WATER INTAKE
WATER MARKET
WATER METERING
WATER POLICY
WATER PRICE
WATER SCARCITY
WATER SERVICE
WATER SERVICES
WATER SHORTAGE
WATER SUPPLIES
WATER SUPPLY
WATER SYSTEMS
WATER TARIFF
WATER TARIFFS
WATER USAGE
WATER USE
WATER USERS
WATER UTILITIES
WATER UTILITY
Banerjee, Sudeshna
Foster, Vivien
Ying, Yvonne
Skilling, Heather
Wodon, Quentin
Cost Recovery, Equity, and Efficiency in Water Tariffs : Evidence from African Utilities
geographic_facet Africa
Africa
Africa
relation Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5384
description Water and sanitation utilities in Africa operate in a high-cost environment. They also have a mandate to at least partially recover their costs of operations and maintenance (O&M). As a result, water tariffs are higher than in other regions of the world. The increasing block tariff (IBT) is the most common tariff structure in Africa. Most African utilities are able to achieve O&M cost recovery at the highest block tariffs, but not at the first-block tariffs, which are designed to provide affordable water to low-volume consumers, who are often poor. At the same time, few utilities can recover even a small part of their capital costs, even in the highest tariff blocks. Unfortunately, the equity objectives of the IBT structure are not met in many countries. The subsidy to the lowest tariff-block does not benefit the poor exclusively, and the minimum consumption charge is often burdensome for the poorest customers. Many poor households cannot even afford a connection to the piped water network. This can be a significant barrier to expansion for utilities. Therefore, many countries have begun to subsidize household connections. For many households, standposts managed by utilities, donors, or private operators have emerged as an alternative to piped water. Those managed by utilities or that supply utility water are expected to use the formal utility tariffs, which are kept low to make water affordable for low-income households. The price for water that is resold through informal channels, however, is much more expensive than piped water.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Banerjee, Sudeshna
Foster, Vivien
Ying, Yvonne
Skilling, Heather
Wodon, Quentin
author_facet Banerjee, Sudeshna
Foster, Vivien
Ying, Yvonne
Skilling, Heather
Wodon, Quentin
author_sort Banerjee, Sudeshna
title Cost Recovery, Equity, and Efficiency in Water Tariffs : Evidence from African Utilities
title_short Cost Recovery, Equity, and Efficiency in Water Tariffs : Evidence from African Utilities
title_full Cost Recovery, Equity, and Efficiency in Water Tariffs : Evidence from African Utilities
title_fullStr Cost Recovery, Equity, and Efficiency in Water Tariffs : Evidence from African Utilities
title_full_unstemmed Cost Recovery, Equity, and Efficiency in Water Tariffs : Evidence from African Utilities
title_sort cost recovery, equity, and efficiency in water tariffs : evidence from african utilities
publishDate 2012
url http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20100728131236
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3868
_version_ 1764388752163078144
spelling okr-10986-38682021-04-23T14:02:13Z Cost Recovery, Equity, and Efficiency in Water Tariffs : Evidence from African Utilities Banerjee, Sudeshna Foster, Vivien Ying, Yvonne Skilling, Heather Wodon, Quentin ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AFFORDABLE WATER AVERAGE TARIFF AVERAGE TARIFFS BALANCE BLOCK STRUCTURE BLOCK TARIFF BLOCK TARIFF STRUCTURE BLOCK TARIFFS CAPACITY BUILDING CAPITAL COSTS CENTRAL GOVERNMENT COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS COMMERCIAL TARIFFS CONNECTION CHARGE CONNECTION CHARGES CONNECTION COST CONNECTION COSTS CONNECTION FEE CONNECTION FEE FOR SEWERAGE CONSUMPTION BLOCKS CONSUMPTION CHARGE COST OF WATER COST RECOVERY COVERING CROSS-SUBSIDIES CROSS-SUBSIDIZATION CUBIC METER CUBIC METERS CUBIC METERS PER MONTH DEMAND MANAGEMENT DESALINATION DISCOUNT RATE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER ECONOMIC BENEFITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY EFFECTIVE PRICE EFFICIENT PRICE ELECTRICITY EMPLOYMENT EQUITY CRITERION EXORBITANT TARIFFS FIXED CHARGE FIXED CHARGES FIXED COSTS FIXED FEE FLAT CHARGES FORMAL UTILITY FREE WATER GRAVITY GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT HIGH-VOLUME CONSUMERS HIGHER CONSUMPTION HOUSEHOLD CONNECTION HOUSEHOLD CONNECTIONS HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION HOUSEHOLDS INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES INTERNATIONAL WATER INVESTMENT COST INVESTMENT COSTS IRRIGATION LEAKAGE LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION LEVELS OF CONSUMPTION LOW TARIFFS LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS LOWER PRICES MAINTENANCE COSTS MARGINAL BENEFITS MARGINAL COST MARKET CONDITIONS METER READING METERING NATIONAL WATER NATIONAL WATER COMPANY NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS OPERATIONAL EXPENSES PAYMENT FOR WATER PERFORMANCE DATA PERFORMANCE INDICATORS PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PIPE PIPED WATER POOR CONSUMERS POOR HOUSEHOLDS PRICE INCREASES PRICE OF WATER PRICE SIGNALS PRIVATE OPERATORS PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION PROVISION OF WATER PUBLIC FOUNTAINS PUBLIC HEALTH PUBLIC STANDPIPES PUBLIC STANDPOSTS PUBLIC TAPS QUALITY WATER QUANTITIES OF WATER QUANTITY OF WATER RESIDENTIAL CONSUMERS RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS RETAIL PRICES SAFE WATER SANITATION SANITATION PROGRAM SANITATION UTILITIES SANITATION UTILITY SERVICE DELIVERY SERVICE PROVIDER SERVICE PROVIDERS SERVICE QUALITY SEWERAGE SEWERAGE AUTHORITY SEWERAGE COMPANY SEWERAGE CORPORATION SEWERAGE SERVICES SMALL TOWNS STATE UTILITIES SUBSIDIES FOR WATER SUPPLY WATER SUSTAINABLE WATER TARIFF BLOCK TARIFF CHANGES TARIFF DESIGN TARIFF INCREASE TARIFF LEVELS TARIFF POLICY TARIFF REGIMES TARIFF STRUCTURE TARIFF STRUCTURES TOLL URBAN WASTEWATER URBAN WATER URBAN WATER SUPPLY URBAN WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS URBANIZATION USE OF WATER UTILITIES VALUE OF WATER VOLUME OF WATER VOLUMES OF WATER VOLUMETRIC CHARGE WASTEWATER CHARGES WASTEWATER SERVICES WASTEWATER SYSTEMS WASTEWATER TARIFF WATER BOARD WATER CHARGES WATER COMPANY WATER CONNECTION WATER CONSERVATION WATER CONSUMPTION WATER DEMAND WATER INTAKE WATER MARKET WATER METERING WATER POLICY WATER PRICE WATER SCARCITY WATER SERVICE WATER SERVICES WATER SHORTAGE WATER SUPPLIES WATER SUPPLY WATER SYSTEMS WATER TARIFF WATER TARIFFS WATER USAGE WATER USE WATER USERS WATER UTILITIES WATER UTILITY Water and sanitation utilities in Africa operate in a high-cost environment. They also have a mandate to at least partially recover their costs of operations and maintenance (O&M). As a result, water tariffs are higher than in other regions of the world. The increasing block tariff (IBT) is the most common tariff structure in Africa. Most African utilities are able to achieve O&M cost recovery at the highest block tariffs, but not at the first-block tariffs, which are designed to provide affordable water to low-volume consumers, who are often poor. At the same time, few utilities can recover even a small part of their capital costs, even in the highest tariff blocks. Unfortunately, the equity objectives of the IBT structure are not met in many countries. The subsidy to the lowest tariff-block does not benefit the poor exclusively, and the minimum consumption charge is often burdensome for the poorest customers. Many poor households cannot even afford a connection to the piped water network. This can be a significant barrier to expansion for utilities. Therefore, many countries have begun to subsidize household connections. For many households, standposts managed by utilities, donors, or private operators have emerged as an alternative to piped water. Those managed by utilities or that supply utility water are expected to use the formal utility tariffs, which are kept low to make water affordable for low-income households. The price for water that is resold through informal channels, however, is much more expensive than piped water. 2012-03-19T18:41:14Z 2012-03-19T18:41:14Z 2010-07-01 http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20100728131236 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3868 English Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5384 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper Africa Africa Africa