摘要：A ccess pricing regulation of activities such as gas and electricity transmission and distribution, transport, and telecommunications, is an important and difficult task. Owners and investors will only hold or create such assets on the expectation that regulated prices are consistent with an expected rate of return on their investment, which at least compensates for the risk incurred. Access seekers and end users naturally have concerns that access prices are not set too high, at levels that deliver excessive returns to access providers. It is the role of regulators such as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and various State regulators to make judgements about access prices which balance, and (ideally) are seen to balance, these conflicting interests. Unfortunately, even if the process of access pricing regulation is transparent, the complexities of the issues involved means that it is often difficult for observers and participants to identify whether decisions are fair and reasonable
