Waterworks regulator setting up enforcement arm

Uruguay's energy and waterworks regulator Ursea expects to have in place its enforcement unit by year-end, or early next year, Cristina Vazquez, one of Ursea's three-member governing commission, told BNamericas. The government created the regulator last December with the aim of encouraging fair competition where allowed and regulating monopolies by establishing minimum quality levels and fair pricing. The unit's director has been appointed and the rest of the personnel are in the process of being selected, said Vazquez, adding that they are working with the Universidad de la Republica's chemical school with respect to the unit's technical enforcement duties. She said that Ursea's other line of work - regarding the waterworks sector - has to do with a review of the regulatory framework, while its role in the negotiation process to keep Maldonado department waterworks concessionaire Uragua afloat has been to act as a witness during meetings and ensure service continuity. Regarding a plan launched in June to regularize the situation of non-concessioned water and sewerage service providers, Vazquez said they expect to have processed the information submitted by last week's deadline by mid-October. The objective is to give these non-concessioned services a legal framework, as well as have them comply with rates regulations, service quality and drinking water quality standards.