Design and implementation of regulatory systems for government-owned utilities (GOUs) in Bulgaria

The paper investigates the design and implementation of water and sanitation service regulation in Bulgaria since 2005. The study identifies the issues that have been encountered, drawing on performance data, and considers how these are being addressed through formal legal and regulatory changes, and through the practical implementation of regulation in the context of ongoing reform process. The case study of Bulgaria suggests lessons for the design of regulatory systems for water services in countries in which water operators are primarily government-owned.