
Course description
Student testimonial from previous training:
by Dragana Bjelobrkovic Vukcevic, Montenegro Energy Regulatory Agency
Course Objective:
The course features 5 days dedicated to the core responsibilities and activities of water utility regulatory authorities with regard to the oversight of the regulated utilities, principles and practices of tariff setting, performance benchmarking, and new developments in the regulation of the sector.
Participants will gain knowledge on key economic concepts guiding the operation of the sector, the challenges faced by sector participants including the wider problems of water management, and the role of the regulator and regulatory models including best practices. A core theme of the course is tariff setting and approval by the regulator: theoretical lessons will be supplemented by case study examples and a tariff setting exercise. Sufficient time will also be dedicated to the role of performance benchmarking in regulation.
Design of the Course:
Instructors of the course are a mix of utility regulators and researchers. The course is designed to assure the utmost transfer of practices and information from experienced regulators to course participants. This characteristic allows ERRA to design training courses that focus equally on practical application and theoretical methodology and include the transfer of relevant direct experience. In addition to the formal classes presented by the instructors, the course will feature weekly assignment, practical exercises, simulations, participant case studies and a final test.
Target Audience:
The course is available to practising water utility regulators and to non-regulators such as ministry and local government representatives, banking institutions, law and investment firms, consulting companies and regulated utility companies.
Course registration
ERRA Full Members | EUR 1 130 + 27% VAT |
ERRA Associate Members | EUR 1 340 + 27% VAT |
Non-Member Regulators | EUR 1 550 + 27% VAT |
Non-regulators | EUR 2 075 + 27% VAT |
Tuition fee includes: training materials, lunches and coffee breaks during the training course.
Accommodation cost for 5 nights will be added to the tuition fee in the amount of 380 EUR if you chose to stay at the training venue (European Youth Centre Budapest (EYCB); http://www.eycb.coe.int). (In case participants wish to stay at a different location, please note that they will need to do their own hotel arrangements.)
Course location
Budapest
Hungary
European Youth Centre Budapest (EYCB)
Address: 1-3 Zivatar Str., H-1024 Budapest
Tel.: +36 1 438 1030 ǀ Fax +36 1 212 4076
E-mail:
Web: www.eycb.coe.int
Water Utility Economics
Opening address and introductory round

Kis, András
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Center for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Fundamentals of water utility economics

Kis, András
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Center for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Coffee break with group photo
Setting the scene: the regulation of water vs. energy services

Ots, Märt
Chairman, Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA);, Director General, Estonian Competition Authority, Estonia
Lunch break
Case Study: Multi-sector regulation in Estonia

Ots, Märt
Chairman, Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA);, Director General, Estonian Competition Authority, Estonia
Coffee break
Group work: Introducing the off-class teamwork assignment for the week
End of the day
Principles and institutions of water utility regulation
Principles of economic regulation in the water sector

Kis, András
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Center for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Coffee break
Exercise: Tariff setting

Kotek, Péter
Senior Research Associate, Regional Center for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Lunch break
Regulatory models: organisational and institutional options

Kerekes, Lajos
Senior Research Associate, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Coffee break
Case study: The regulatory reform of Hungary

Szalóki, Szilvia
Vice-President for Public Services, Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority, Hungary
End of the day
Tariff setting
Price regulation I: Tariff setting

Szabó, László
Director, Regional Center for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Coffee break
Case study: the Irish Water Utility Regulatory Reform

Brien, Laura
Director of Water And Compliance, Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), Ireland
Lunch break
Price regulation II: Tariff structures

Törőcsik, Ágnes
Research Associate, Regional Center for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Coffee break
Case study: Tariff setting: Kosovo

Duraku, Vehbi
Analyst for assets and capital investments, Water Services Regulatory Authority, Kosovo
Off-class assignment consultation (optional)
End of the day
Performance benchmarking
Introduction to water utility benchmarking

Kis, András
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Center for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Coffee break
Case study: Performance monitoring in Portugal

Andrade, Isabel
Senior Water Regulation SpecialistPortugal
Lunch break
Case study: European Benchmarking Cooperation

Dane, Peter
Managing Director, European Benchmarking Co-operation, The Netherlands
Coffee break
Benchmarking exercise

Andrade, Isabel
Senior Water Regulation SpecialistPortugal
End of the day
New developments and emerging issues in water utility regulation
Regulatory challenges in emerging countries

Allaoui, Moez
Director, SONEDE (National Water Distribution Utility), Republic of Tunisia
Coffe break
Water markets and water trading game

Kis, András
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Center for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Final test
Lunch break
Group work: Presentation of teamwork assignments

Kis, András
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Center for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Course evaluation, Group Photo, Signing the ERRA Alumni Book
End of the day
Course Director

Kis, András
Course Director; Senior Research Associate, Regional Center for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Instructors

Allaoui, Moez
Director, SONEDE (National Water Distribution Utility), Republic of Tunisia

Andrade, Isabel
Senior Water Regulation SpecialistPortugal

Brien, Laura
Director of Water And Compliance, Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), Ireland

Dane, Peter
Managing Director, European Benchmarking Co-operation, The Netherlands

Duraku, Vehbi
Analyst for assets and capital investments, Water Services Regulatory Authority, Kosovo

Kerekes, Lajos
Senior Research Associate, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary

Kotek, Péter
Senior Research Associate, Regional Center for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary

Ots, Märt
Chairman, Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA);, Director General, Estonian Competition Authority, Estonia

Szabó, László
Director, Regional Center for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary

Szalóki, Szilvia
Vice-President for Public Services, Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority, Hungary

Törőcsik, Ágnes
Research Associate, Regional Center for Energy Policy Research (REKK), Hungary
Please note that Training Materials are available only for registered participants and ERRA Members. Please LOGIN with your username and password.
Nr. | Country | Name | Organization | Job Title |
1 | Saudi Arabia | Naif Al-Amri | Electricity & Cogeneration Regulatory Authority (ECRA) | Administration Senior Specialist, Consumer Care Department |
2 | Saudi Arabia | Majeb Abdulrahman AlOdayani AlOtaibi | Industrial Cities Development & Operating Company - ICDOC | Chief Executive Officer (CEO) |
3 | Hungary | Miklós Budai | Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority (HEA) | Legal advisor |
4 | Jordan | Nayef Hammad | GIZ | Component Manager |
5 | Hungary | Tamás Hegedüs | Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority | Economic analyst |
6 | Lesotho | Selloane M. D. Letsunyane | Lesotho Electricity and Water Authority | Economic Analyst |
7 | Georgia | Givi Nadiradze | Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC) | Deputy Director of Water Supply Department |
8 | Vanuatu | John Obed Alilee | Vanuatu Utilities Regulatory Authority | Chief Executive Officer |
9 | North Macedonia | Pajazit Sheapi | Energy and water services Regulatory Commission of the Republic of North Macedonia | Deputy Head of Energy Markets Monitoring Department |
10 | Ireland | Karolina Szumierz | Commission for Regulation of Utilities | Graduate Analyst (Water Division} |
11 | Montenegro | Milica Tomic | Montenegro Energy Regulatory Agency | Economic Analyst at Utility Services Regulation Department |
12 | Cape Verde | leodemilo Vieira | Regulatory Agency Multisectorial Economy | Techical Economic Regulation |
13 | Latvia | Ingrida Zazerska | Public Utilities Commision of Latvia | Analyst of Economic Analysis Department |
Venue/ Accommodation
European Youth Centre Budapest (EYCB)
Address: Zivatar u. 1-3., H-1024 Budapest
Tel.: +36 1 438 1030 ǀ Fax: +36 1 212 4076
E-mail:
Web: www.eycb.coe.int
Tuition fee includes: training materials, lunches and coffee breaks during the training course.
Please be informed that 5 nights of accommodation at the course venue – European Youth Center (EYCB) can be added (check in on 24 March, check out on 29 March). Please note that EYCB has a dormitory type of accommodation, which means that there are no television and air conditioner in the rooms. Participants are accommodated in private rooms with private bathroom included. For more information please visit: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/eycb/Conf_facil/photos_en.asp. In case you need extra nights for your stay, a separate form will be sent to you with the confirmation letter. Single room rate is € 76/night+VAT (including breakfast).
Visa
Please verify the visa requirements of Hungary by contacting the Hungarian Embassy in your country. The list of diplomatic missions is available here: http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade/missions. The list of countries whose citizens do not require visas to enter Hungary can be found at http://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/visa-waiver-agreements.
List of third countries, where a Schengen state issues visas on behalf of Hungary is available on this page: http://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/visa-issuance-on-behalf-of-hungary.
In case you need an entry visa, please immediately contact the ERRA Secretariat! To prepare a visa invitation letter for you, please send us your passport copy.
Airport Transfers/ Travel Information
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (formerly Ferihegy):
- Located 16 kilometres (9,9 mi) east-southeast of the centre of Budapest
- Central telephone number for information: +36 1 296 7000
- http://www.bud.hu/english
- The transfer time to/from the airport to the downtown is approximately 45-60 minutes (subject to traffic)
Shuttle bus
miniBUD (http://www.minibud.hu/) is the official airport shuttle service company providing fixed-priced transfer service between Budapest Airport – Budapest city center – Budapest Airport. The miniBUD airport shuttle service counters located on the arrivals level of Budapest Airport.
Rate to the EYCB:
- one-way: HUF 3900 (approx. 12,5 EUR)
- round trip: HUF 6900 (approx. 22 EUR)
Taxi from the Airport
There is an official airport taxi company (Főtaxi) available at the Arrival Hall of the Terminals. All Főtaxi cars are equipped with POS terminal, therefore passengers can pay with credit card as well. Reservations can be made in person at Főtaxi booths located at the exit at Terminal 2A and 2B. At the taxi rank in front of the stands taxis are parking continuously waiting for passengers.
Rates (for reference purposes only): around HUF 9300 (30 EUR) for one way.
Calling a Taxi in Budapest
Please find below the list of larger taxi companies in Budapest:
- Citytaxi: +36 1 211 1111
- Főtaxi: +36 1 222 2222
- 6×6 Taxi: +36 1 666 6666
Public Transport
Budapest’s network of public transport services (BKK) includes buses, trolleybuses, trams, subway (Metró) and over ground suburban trains (HÉV).
For ticket prices and more information please visit the official website of BKK: http://www.bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/
Booklet in PDF with useful information is available here >>
Railway Stations
International trains operate from the three largest stations:
- Keleti pályaudvar: VIII., Baross tér. Tel: (+36-1) 413 – 4610.
- Nyugati pályaudvar: VI., Nyugati tér Tel: (+36-1) 349-8503
- Déli pályaudvar I. Krisztina krt. 37. Tel: (+36-1) 375-6593
All three international railway stations are part of the Budapest Underground system, the Metró. The Déli is on the Red (Number 2) line, Keleti is on the Red (Number 2) and Green (Number 4) lines and the Nyugati is on the Blue (Number 3) line.
Official website of the Hungarian State Railways: https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en
General Information
Currency: | HUF (Hungarian Forint) Currency Exchange Rates: http://www.mnb.hu/en/arfolyamok |
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Time zone: | UTC/GMT +1 hours | |
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Electricity: | 230 V/50 Hz (Europlug) | |
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Dial Codes: | +36 – | |
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Emergency Calls: | 112 (ambulance, police and fire) | |
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Smoking: | Smoking is not permitted in public places, dining and meeting facilities. | |
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Weather: | http://www.meteoprog.hu/en/weather/Budapest/ http://koponyeg.hu/t/Budapest |
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Information on Budapest: |
http://bebudapest.hu/ http://www.budapest.com/ https://www.budapestinfo.hu/home.html http://www.funzine.hu/ |
Course location
Budapest
Hungary
European Youth Centre Budapest (EYCB)
Address: 1-3 Zivatar Str., H-1024 Budapest
Tel.: +36 1 438 1030 ǀ Fax +36 1 212 4076
E-mail:
Web: www.eycb.coe.int