Utilities Research Articles

The Financial Model for Water and Sanitation Services in Portugal: Lessons from Decades of Subsidies and Questionable Public Policies

Despite the billions of euros used as subsidies over recent decades, Portugal’s water sector continues to struggle, being characterized by significant inefficiencies and differences between high- and low-performing water and sanitation services (WSSs). Current subsidy policies lack transparency and are not linked to performance results, undermining efforts to promote efficiency and sustainability in both environmental and financial dimensions. To address these issues, this article highlights relevant aspects to be taken into account in the redefinition of funding allocation in the Portuguese WSS sector. By implementing performance-based criteria for subsidy allocation and prioritization, regardless of the identity of beneficiaries or providers, we aim to instigate accountability and efficiency in this process. The analysis draws on empirical data to highlight the shortcomings of existing practices and demonstrates the potential benefits of adopting the “user-pays” principle. This principle is able to improve the definition of tariffs aiming for full cost recovery, while still providing for disadvantaged and vulnerable customers through social tariffs or assistance programs. Key findings indicate that coordinated efforts among government agencies, regulators, public and private utilities, and municipalities are essential to develop and promote effective financing strategies. This stakeholder’s cooperation is essential for managing the urban water cycle sustainably and addressing the sector’s long-term challenges. This research implies that a strategic shift in subsidy allocation is required, to develop accountability, efficiency, and equity in the WSS sector. The allocation of financial resources must be better justified to enhance overall performance in the sector.

Navigating Urban Mobility: The Relationship between Car Consumption and Public Transport Usage in Malaysia

Increasing private-owned cars in Malaysia has, thus far, contributed to growing congestion, environmental pollution, and decreasing public transport utilization. Car ownership has become possible through economic growth, and convenience and status attached to cars triggered tendencies from shifting to public transit. This development contradicts investments in public transport and aggravates environmental problems. This paper examines the relationship between private car ownership and public transport usage in Malaysia from 2000 to 2022, concentrating on intercity bus services, KTM commuters, and light rail transit. The results indicate that with increased riders for intercity buses and KTM commuter services, car usage drops, while that of light rail may raise car ownership. The study emphasizes the need to upgrade intercity and KTM services to mitigate the pressures of car ownership and calls for further research into the role of light rail.

The Impact of Regulatory and Technological Advancements on the Indian Banking Sector: A Comparative Analysis of Leading Banks

Lending or investing in securities, for the purpose of lending or investment, and which is a scheduled bank. "Over the last decade, the Indian banking sector has witnessed several positive developments and notable improvements in regulation. The policymakers, including the Reserve Bank of India Ministry of Finance, and other relevant government and financial sector regulatory entities, have played a crucial role in these advancements. One of the significant achievements in the Indian banking sector is the improvement in key metrics such as growth, profitability, and the management of non-performing assets. The sector has witnessed steady growth, with banks expanding their operations and increasing their market presence. Profitability has also improved, with many banks reporting robust financial performance. Efforts have been made to address the issue of which are loans or assets that have become non-performing or in default. and the government have implemented various measures to enhance asset quality and reduce These include the introduction of mechanisms like asset quality reviews, prompt corrective actions, and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code to facilitate the resolution of stressed assets. Moreover, a few banks in India have achieved remarkable success in terms of innovation, growth, and value creation. These banks have demonstrated a strong commitment to customer-centric services, technological advancements, and the adoption of innovative banking practices Overall, the study's findings provide evidence that disinvestment and associated reforms can positively impact the performance and government control may not necessarily need to cease entirely to achieve this improvement. It appears that the statement is discussing the historical context of the Indian banking sector until. During this period, banks in India operated in a protected environment characterized by government control and regulatory restrictions. Administered interest rates, high reserve requirements, and directed credit were prevalent measures implemented by the government. These initiatives have helped them enhance their competitiveness and contribute to the overall growth of the sector. In conclusion, the Indian banking sector has experienced positive transformations over the last decade. The efforts of policymakers and regulatory entities have played a crucial role in improving regulation and promoting growth. The sector now compares favorably with banking sectors in the region in terms of metrics such as growth, profitability. Additionally, certain banks have emerged as leaders in innovation, growth, and value creation, setting a benchmark for others in the industry wider mandate to serve as the principal banking institution in the country. They have introduced digital banking solutions, expanded their product offerings, and implemented efficient risk management systems. Utility services refer to a range of non-core services provided by banks, such as facilitating utility bill payments, offering insurance products, selling mutual funds, providing account services, and other similar activities. These services are aimed at enhancing customer convenience and meeting their diverse financial needs. The history of banking in India dates back to the early when three Presidencies’ These banks were granted the power to issue banknotes. Taken as Alternative parameters for AXIS bank, HDFC bank, ICICI bank, KMB bank, FBL bank, IBL bank, RBL bank, DCB bank, SIBL bank” Evaluation parameter taken as PB Banks, Net profit margin %, Return on long-term fund %, Return on net worth %, Interest income to total funds %, Interest expended to total funds %, Operating expenses to total funds %. the first ranking training is obtained with the lowest quality of compensation.

Decent Work Practices Incorporated in the Collective Bargaining Agreements of Unionized Firms

We investigated the decent work practices related to employment at work, rights at work, social protection, and social dialogue incorporated in the Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) of unionized firms. We analyzed qualitatively the various provisions of each of the 20 CBAs of unionized firms from diverse industries in the Philippines that come from manufacturing, hotels, resorts, health, education, telecommunication, and public utilities. Findings revealed that the CBAs' provisions articulate many significant provisions on decent work practices. Specifically, the employment-at-work provisions revealed 14 main themes related to benefits, employee classification, wages, work hours, and opportunities for advancement. Eight key themes were identified on rights at work provisions: employee development, protection against discrimination, safeguards against company closure, sale, lease, transfer, or merger, protection against lay-offs and retrenchment, shared social responsibility, and the ban on labor contracting. On social protection provisions, twelve main themes emerged: maternity benefits, other social security benefits, job security, extended financial assistance and loan benefits, and medical/health care incentive programs. On social dialogue provisions, 11 main themes evolved about union-management communication, acknowledging the current labor union as the sole bargaining representative, the institution of grievance machinery, the union's right to information and consultation, as well as the presence of the Labor-Management Committee. The overall results underscored the important role of the union through its collective bargaining power in ensuring that decent work thrives in the workplace. We recommend implementing the “one union one industry policy” as stipulated in the Labor Code; strengthening the conceptual, technical, and behavioral skills of the union leaders; treating unions as social partners; and undertaking research studies that can benefit both the union and management during their CBA negotiations. These efforts can open more opportunities for unions and those workers covered by CBAs to actualize the ILO conventions of guaranteeing decent work that will transform people and organizations toward a sustainable mindset that includes justice, peace, and equality for the common good of the future generation of working people.

From roads to roofs: How urban and rural mobility influence building energy consumption

Understanding the relationship between travel behavior and building energy use at an urban scale is crucial for developing effective energy management strategies. Mobility patterns significantly impact building occupancy, which in turn affects energy consumption. However, existing methods often focus on individual buildings, whereas geographical influences on energy usage are not adequately examined. This study addresses this gap by using transportation origin-destination (OD) data to estimate building occupancy and energy. The proposed method assigns OD trips from census block groups to the building level, incorporating building, travel survey, and census data to derive building occupancy profiles. This method was applied to urban and rural areas with 4062 buildings in 70 census block groups. We found that the OD-informed occupancy profile exhibits smoother energy consumption patterns compared with that of Department of Energy reference occupancy profiles. Our analysis reveals distinct building energy consumption patterns among groups with long and short commutes, emphasizing the effect of commute times and work schedules on residential energy usage. This framework is useful for practitioners in transportation agencies and utility companies, enabling the estimation of building energy based on mobility patterns. Overall, this study shows the potential of integrating transportation and building energy data to inform cross-sector energy management strategies.

Challenges in reintroducing fair market value to US public water/wastewater systems

ABSTRACT This paper analyses the debates around the shift in public water/wastewater systems valuation from a book value-based system towards a market-driven exchange approach, ‘fair market value’ (FMV). FMV legislation has been introduced in the past decade in 12 additional states. What is driving this shift in state policy and what does it mean for our understanding of value? Based on a review of the FMV acquisition process we explore the debates around this shift in water/wastewater system valuation drawing on historical court cases, two recent acquisitions and a review of public utility commission documents, legislative transcripts, court cases and statutes.

The person behind the mask: supervisor-subordinate relationships and well-being at work

Purpose Taking the subordinates’ perspective, this paper aims to explore the supervisor-subordinate relationships and how daily interactions, personal ties and connections with the supervisors contribute more significantly, positively or negatively, to the subordinates’ well-being. Design/methodology/approach This exploratory study is based on the thematic analysis of data collected from two rounds of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 21 participants in a Portuguese utility company. Findings The subordinates’ perceptions of the nature and quality of their relationships with supervisors were found to have considerable effects on well-being. Positive effects were identified when subordinates feel emotionally supported and believe that supervisors truly care about them and are genuinely willing to listen to their concerns, but the most significant effects on the subordinates’ well-being are produced when the perceived authenticity of the supervisor allows the relationship to evolve into a state of relational closeness, and the subordinates connect with the person-as-real, the human being behind the mask who is playing the supervisory role. These findings reflect features of the cultural setting where the study was conducted. Originality/value The study provides evidence to support the argument that a better understanding of supervisor-subordinate relationships and their effects on well-being requires an integrated approach that considers the valuable contributions of different literatures and theoretical frameworks and the multiple dimensions of that relationship, including personal and non-work dimensions. This approach is particularly relevant in cultural contexts where these dimensions might play a critical role in work relations.

Photosensitizer conjugated carbon dots@dopamine-copper sulfide nanocomposites: Advanced photoactive agents for antibacterial applications through experimental and theoretical insights

The massive use and abuse of antibiotics has given birth to drug-resistant bacteria and emergence of severe bacterial infections in people. Intriguingly, light activated antimicrobial activity i.e. antimicrobial photodynamic therapy has gained enhanced therapeutic potential and efficacy in killing the bacterial cells. Therefore, the present study investigates the efficacy of employing advanced nanocomposites for biocidal inhibition of bacterial growth through enhanced sterilization capabilities. Specifically, dopamine functionalized CuS NPs combined with carbon dots (CDs@Dop-CuS) were selected for their remarkable photodynamic potential when used in conjunction with methylene blue (MB). Comparative and synergistic application of Dop-CuS, CDs, and MB revealed the superior singlet oxygen generation potency of MB/CDs@Dop-CuS. Furthermore, the structural changes in the E. coli bacterial cells membrane were elucidated through scanning electron microscopy imaging, demonstrating superior inhibition rates of MB/CDs@Dop-CuS compared to MB alone under 660 nm irradiation. The commendable docking score and binding potential of CDs@Dop-CuS nanocomposites obtained via molecular docking simulations further validate their efficacy as photosensitizers against E. coli bacterial cells. Thus, this novel MB/CDs@Dop-CuS photosensitizer provides enhanced efficacy as an alternative to traditional antibiotic treatments, offering a superior disinfection for public utility services and addressing the growing issue of drug-resistant bacterial infections.

Research on the Predictive Ability of Economic Policy Uncertainty on Stock Returns of Industries

In recent years, the emergence of economic policy uncertainty has had a certain impact on stock returns. It can be used as a research object to explore whether economic policy uncertainty can significantly predict future stock returns. This paper studies the predictive ability of economic policy uncertainty based on relevant data from major industries in the United States from January 1985 to December 2023, including Food industry (Food), Retail Stores industry (Rtail), Fabricated Products industry (FabPr), Drugs, Soap, Perfumes, Tobacco industry (Cnsum), Construction and Construction Materials industry (Cnstr), Consumer Durables industry (Durbl), Automobiles industry (Cars), Textiles, Apparel & Footwear industry (Clths), Machinery and Business Equipment industry (Machn), Chemicals industry (Chems), and Transportation industry(Trans), Utilities industry (Utils), Steel Works Etc industry (Steel), Mining and Minerals industry(Mines), Oil and Petroleum Products industry (Oil), and Banks, Insurance Companies, and Other Financials industry (Finan). Through both in-sample and out-of-sample examines, it is found that economic policy uncertainty is a reliable indicator for predicting stock returns, and its predictive performance is better in Food industry, Retail Stores industry, Fabricated Products industry, Transportation industry, Construction and Construction Materials industry, Consumer Durables industry, Automobiles industry, Textiles, Apparel & Footwear industry, Machinery and Business Equipment industry, Chemicals industry, and Drugs, Soap, Perfumes, Tobacco industry than in Utilities industry, Steel Works Etc industry, Mining and Minerals industry, Oil and Petroleum Products industry, and Banks, Insurance Companies, and Other Financials industry. Meanwhile, by replacing the measurement indicator of economic policy uncertainty, conducting long-horizon forecasting, and using different evaluation periods for robustness checks, it is found that the research conclusions are robust.

Public-Private Partnership: A New Policy to Ameliorate the Quality of Public Utility Services to the Public

Public-Private Partnership: A New Policy to Ameliorate the Quality of Public Utility Services to the Public

Patient characteristics and health system encounters of decedents not marked deceased in the electronic health record

Abstract Objectives Health systems are increasingly accountable for patients and require accurate electronic health record (EHR) vital status. We recently demonstrated that 19% of seriously ill primary care patients in one system were not marked dead in the EHR and 80% of these decedents had an encounter or appointment outstanding after death. Herein we describe the mechanism of identifying decedents whose death is not captured at the level of the EHR, characterize these decedents, and describe medications refilled after death. Materials and Methods Description of multistep process to identify deceased patients not marked dead in the EHR among a cohort of seriously ill primary care patients including public death file matching, utilization analysis, and chart abstraction. We compared decedents not marked dead in the EHR to known decedents and described pharmacy requests and refills. Results Nearly 90% of encounters and appointments occurred because the health system EHR did not record the death although 11% of these encounters contained condolences or death notifications. Decedents not marked dead in the EHR were older and lived in more vulnerable areas than those marked dead. Of 146 refill requests after death, 88 medications were authorized. Discussion and Conclusion Matching with a limited public death file is an inadequate solution to inaccurate vital status. Better workflows are needed to capture deaths about which clinicians and staff are aware, but will identify only a fraction of the decedents inaccurately listed as alive. Efforts are needed to connect EHRs with more specific sources of linkable decedent information.

Utilities and the Future Grid

It is widely accepted among energy industry professionals that the industry is undergoing a significant and rapid transformation. There are increasing challenges facing the industry including extreme weather events, widespread aging of the electric grid infrastructure, rapidly increasing electricity demand, as well as the impact of climate change policy initiatives. This has spurred an innovation rebirth in an industry that has traditionally been viewed as outdated, and most importantly inaccessible for participation by average customers. However, as the challenges of the changing industry and effects of climate change are impacting their day‐to‐day lifestyles, energy customers are now demanding more visibility, choices, and flexibility from their energy providers, putting a spotlight on the roles and services of utility companies.

Response of the Cyanobacteria Plankton Community to Anthropogenic Impact in Small Lakes of Urbanized Territory in the Permafrost Zone of Northeast Asia (Eastern Siberia, Yakutia)

In the conditions of growing anthropogenic pressure, aquatic ecosystems all over the world are subject to transformation, expressed in the growth of eutrophication, increase in acidity, changes in water exchange, etc. In the region of Eastern Siberia we studied, located in Yakutia in the middle reaches of the Lena River basin, there is a significant population growth accompanied by advancements in agriculture and public utilities. The region is rich in small lakes, which have been under pressure from human activities for the past few decades. The studied region is located in the permafrost zone and is characterized by severe climatic conditions, cold long winters, short hot summers, and a short ice-free period on reservoirs. We studied 17 lakes of various genesis, with varying degrees of anthropogenic pressure, located in the largest city of the region, small villages, and at different distances from them. Previous studies have established that cyanobacteria constitute the phytoplankton main group in these lakes during the summer period. Therefore, we selected them as the focus for our bioindication analysis. An integrated assessment of the bioindication properties of cyanobacteria, along with chemical water parameters, was undertaken using statistical mapping methods, JASP, and Redundancy Analysis (RDA). This analysis revealed the impact of urbanized areas, characterized by a decrease in pH, runoff of nitrogen compounds, and an increase in organic matter. Despite the cryolithozone harsh conditions, in small lakes of urbanized areas, cyanobacteria exhibit their competitive advantages within the plankton community. The prospect of continuing our work is associated with the need to determine the risk of cyanoHAB development since potentially toxic cyanobacteria have a mass development in a number of lakes.

Turn off the faucet: Can individual meters reduce water consumption?

When consumption of water and other utilities is measured collectively for many households and the payment of such services is equally shared among members of the group, individuals may use more than what is socially optimal. In this paper, we evaluate how the installation of individual meters affects water consumption. Using administrative data from the public water utility company in Quito, Ecuador, and an event study approach, it is estimated that water consumption decreases by about 20% as a result of the introduction of individual metering. The effect is large and economically significant: in order to obtain the same effect using the price mechanism in Quito, prices would have to increase by at least 66%. Individual water metering could be a useful tool to curve down consumption in both developing and developed countries.

In‐Pipe Maintenance Robot Using Spray‐In‐Place Pipe Technique for Long‐Distance and Complex Pipe Environment

ABSTRACTConventional pipe rehabilitation technologies are not the most sustainable solution for the utility industry because of various drawbacks, such as time consumption, disturbance to operations, society, and traffic, and the production of waste material. However, aged underground metal pipes are affected by natural forces. Trenchless rehabilitation technologies have been introduced for the treatment and renovation of aged pipes to ensure that utilities are safe and durable from an economic perspective. This paper proposes a portable and automatic robotic solution for a trenchless spray‐in‐place pipe approach for small underground pipelines. This approach shortens the duration of the rehabilitation operation from approximately a week to < 5 h. The robot delivered and monitored a protective well‐mixed urethane coating with plural components accurately using rotary mixing and spraying with a low‐pressure and safer configuration (< 0.8 MPa). The robot exhibited superior capacities in complicated pipe environments for turning into 90° elbows and 6‐in. (150 mm), 8‐in. (200 mm), and 10‐in. (250 mm) pipelines. An automated robot was deployed and rehabilitated at various underground and on‐ground pipe sites. The spray performance was validated using tensile tests. This robot can be applied to any pipeline system and can be developed for other in‐pipe robotic construction and renovation approaches.

Evaluation of transition to 100% electric vehicles (EVs) by 2052 in the United States

With the rising need to transition from fossil fuel consumption to renewables, the transportation industry is foreseeing large-scale adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). According to various studies, the petroleum resources will last until or around 2052. Utilizing the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published data on the number of registered vehicles by each state, the profile of vehicles by 2052 was forecasted using a time series. The vehicle profile comprised vehicles by each type classified as automobiles, buses, trucks, and motorcycles. This future profile became the basis of the quantification of total EVs by the end of 2052. Based on the available fuel economy data published by the US Department of Energy, the average energy consumption per mile (kWh/mile) of each vehicle type was factored into the energy demand calculation for 100% electrification by 2052. A roof-top solar photovoltaic system is easy to install on unoccupied roof space for US house owners. Obtaining the capacity of such a roof-top solar PV system acts as a good decision-making criterion for both house owners and developers. However, for city-dwellers living in multi-family residential buildings, the potential of utilization of roof-top solar PV becomes a subject of future work when effective sharing of resources for local power generation by renewables and development of community-shared EV charging infrastructure is concerned. How well EVs performed against internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in terms of fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions is a driving factor for this transition. For energy demand calculations, a base model was framed, and results were obtained by utilizing mathematical and statistical tools. After accounting for the effects of improved fuel efficiency or reduced energy consumption by EVs over time, the model was modified to obtain revised energy demand and, thus, effective energy generation required. Accordingly, the capacity of EV charging infrastructure required by each state determined the need for preparation by utility companies and local jurisdictions. With limitations on battery size and thus increased frequency for drivers to return for charging, additional fast chargers (level 3) at existing gasoline stations become an option that requires further assessment.

Water and energy deprivation: Addressing the problem of essential utility services poverty in Mayotte

Among the 17 sustainable development goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 are ensuring “availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation” and “access to modern energy sources”. One problem for Mahorais households is access to safe, clean and affordable essential utility services, such as electricity, water and sewerage. Moreover, Mayotte, a French oversea department, is experiencing an unprecedented drought. The island, which is sinking into a severe water crisis, has been depriving its inhabitants of running water two days out of three since the beginning of September 2023. We define a new concept of utility services poverty (basic utility services deprivation) based on the theoretical capabilities framework of Sen and Nussbaum. Using a latent class model, we identify households that are poor in utility services and characterize four household profiles. One main advantage of this methodology is replicability in many Low and Middle Income Countries’ (LMICs). We demonstrate that access to water is more discriminatory than access to electricity in Mayotte. The top priority in fighting utility services poverty should be access to water and sanitary facilities. Public policies should be implemented not according to income but to facilitate water and energy access and improve basic hygiene conditions notably through social housing.

Household electricity consumption prediction using database combinations, ensemble and hybrid modeling techniques

Household electricity consumption (HEC) is changing over time, depends on multiple factors, and leads to effects on the prediction accuracy of the model. The objective of this work is to propose a novel methodology for improving HEC prediction accuracy. This study uses two original datasets, namely questionnaire survey (QS) and monthly consumption (MC), which contain data from 225 consumers from Maharashtra, India. The original datasets are combined to create three additional datasets, namely QS + MC, QS equation (QsEq) + next month’s consumptions, and QsEq + MC. Furthermore, the HEC prediction accuracy is boosted by applying different approaches, like correlation methods, feature engineering techniques, data quality assessment, heterogeneous ensemble prediction (HEP), and the hybrid model. Five HEP models are created using dataset combinations and machine learning algorithms. Based on the MC dataset, the random forest provides the best prediction of RMSE (36.18 kWh), MAE (25.73 kWh), and R2 (0.76). Similarly, QsEq + MC dataset adaptive boosting provides a better prediction of RMSE (36.77 kWh), MAE (26.18 kWh), and R2 (0.76). This prediction accuracy is further increased using the proposed hybrid model to RMSE (22.02 kWh), MAE (13.04 kWh), and R2 (0.92). This research work benefits researchers, policymakers, and utility companies in obtaining accurate prediction models and understanding HEC.

Monachophobia in Russia: Peter the Great and His Influence

The reforms of Russian Tsar Peter I (1682–1725) touched all spheres of life, including the Church. The purpose of this paper is to bring into focus his approach to the reform of monasticism. It reflects on Peter’s personal remarks as reported both by his Russian and his foreign interlocutors, his legislation, including law drafts, and practical measures such as the All-Joking, All-Drunken Synod. The principal conclusion is that it was this Russian ruler who was the first to call into question the very existence of monasticism and who came close to the ultimate dissolution of monasteries. He did not abolish monasticism not because it was a too radical step but because he devised measures of reform to raise its standards and improve its public utility. His treatment of the monastic tradition should be interpretated not as secularization but rather as modernization. Peter’s personal “monachophobia” is best understood as a modernizing impulse. His objective was the creation of a “modern” state whose Church and clergy represented contemporary values. Traditional, unreformed monasticism presented an obstacle in his progress towards this goal. The legacy of Peter’s policy was an increasing monachophobia in Russia apparent from the 18th century onwards.

Investigating the Public Awareness and Utilization of Health Screening Services Offered by Community Pharmacies

Background: Community pharmacies are the integral part of the healthcare system offering healthcare services for patients. Pharmacists are expanding their roles by providing pharmaceutical services and comprehensive pharmaceutical care. Health screenings played an important role in early detection of diseases and potential risk factors. Objectives: To assess the extent of awareness, utilization and impact of using health screening services offered by community pharmacy among public and to identify the barriers to access these services. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in different cities of Punjab, Pakistan. Data was collected using validated questionnaire after getting consent from general public. The sample size for this study was 151. SPSS version 26th was used as a statistical tool to analyze data. P-value < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: Health screening services were more used by middle age individuals and adults. Individuals holding bachelor’s degree (41.2%) and female respondents (42.9%) showed more satisfactory response than male respondents. Blood pressure screenings (53.6%), diabetes screenings (28.5%) and other services (34.4%) were mostly used by the participants Barriers to health screening services include lack of awareness, lack of time and preference to visit doctor. Conclusion: Screening services offered at community pharmacies are found satisfactory, convenient and economical by most people. However utilization of these services is less frequent indicating a need for improved awareness and public education about the services offered by community pharmacy. Attention should be given to reduce barriers to the use of health screening services.