What effect does firm structure have on the product service quality on offer? We answer this question by empirically assessing the impacts of complete vertical separation, such as ownership unbundling, on the quality of service delivered by a liberalized network industry. Electricity distribution utilities in New Zealand are considered for this purpose. The results show robust evidence that own...

This paper provides insights on the nature of electricity supply in the rural village Macha, Zambia. It reports on case study research. Use of Information and Communication Technologies and access to e-services are constrained by the availability of electricity. In Zambia`s rural areas, 3.5% of households have access to electricity supply. This paper shows such electricity supply can be erratic...

Electricity energy generation and its supply through electricity networks is mainly organized in a top-down, centralized manner. Energy consumption can be predicted quite accurately at a high level, and this forms the basis for pre-scheduling the production by large power plants. Only few actors are involved in the generation, trade, and transportation of electricity, but this is changing rapid...

[1] Over the past 2 decades there has been a range of reforms to the structure of the water supply and wastewater industries around the world. As yet these reforms have not been as extensive, or as uniform, as in other utilities such as telecommunications, gas, and electricity supply. One focus of reform has been to enhance the structure of water supply and wastewater industries to improve leve...

The supply chain of the conventional Australian sugar industry is characterized by horizontal separation between the stages. Often antagonistic relations between segments, particularly farmers and millers, led to each developing their systems for their own segment’s benefit, without reference to the wider industry interests. Cane growing developed into a monoculture, reliant on material inputs ...

Specifications have a large impact upon capital and operating costs because they are formulated early in the design process. Models of the specification process have been developed for the automotive industry. These models have many shortcomings and have limited application in other sectors. This paper examines the development and use of specifications relating to customised plant for the elect...

In China, the electric power industry as a traditional industry for decades, has stepped into its next phase. The installed capacity by 2010 reached 960 GW. But the power shortages happened in a lot of provinces by April 2011, and the peak time of power shortages has advanced. How to use electricity efficiently is still a problem. In order to improve the efficiency, decrease the energy loss in ...