Information Management
Once the information needs have been defined, the regulator needs to establish how the information will be gathered and managed.1 Most regulators require operators to submit accounting and operating statistics annually, although some collect certain data, such as fuel costs, on a quarterly basis if there is a need to adjust prices, analyze seasonality of the data, or closely monitor patterns. In developing their systems for managing information, regulatory agencies often seek to provide citizens and operators with greater access to information about the agency and the operators, promote transparency in the regulatory process, provide public interaction with the agency, protect information on customers and operators that should be kept private, ensure relevant information can be retained and retrieved accurately and efficiently, and provide cost effective means for operators to provide the agency with information.2 Best practices are emerging on using the web and email for accomplishing these goals. Key issues are how to protect information on customers and operators that should be kept private and how to provide information in a way that is cost effective for both the agency and the stakeholders.
Footnotes
- See Identifying Informational Requirements. See Institutional Design Issues in Regulatory Process for information on other agency management issues.
- See Regulatory System of Accounts. See Regulatory Process for information on communicating with the public and other stakeholders.
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