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Raising consumers’ interest in their water invoices: Challenges and opportunities

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  • Martins, Rita
  • Moura E Sá, Patrícia

Abstract

Given the importance of invoices in conveying key information to consumers, regulatory authorities worldwide have been issuing recommendations on their content and format. The aim of the current paper is to assess a detailed invoice model, which stresses accuracy and exhaustiveness concerns. The study is based on the perceptions of domestic consumers collected through the administration of a survey questionnaire. Findings reveal that the detailed invoice model proposed is regarded as complex, including unnecessary information and making use of a language that is not easy to understand. Some recommendations to make their content more intuitive and appealing are derived.

Suggested Citation

  • Martins, Rita & Moura E Sá, Patrícia, 2020. "Raising consumers’ interest in their water invoices: Challenges and opportunities," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juipol:v:63:y:2020:i:c:s0957178719303571
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2019.101004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. S. Gaudin, 2006. "Effect of price information on residential water demand," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(4), pages 383-393.
    2. Margaret Hogg & Geraint Howells & David Milman, 2007. "Consumers in the Knowledge-Based Economy (KBE): What creates and/or constitutes consumer vulnerability in the KBE?," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 30(2), pages 151-158, June.
    3. Andrew C. Worthington & Mark Hoffman, 2008. "An Empirical Survey Of Residential Water Demand Modelling," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(5), pages 842-871, December.
    4. Paul J. Ferraro & Michael K. Price, 2013. "Using Nonpecuniary Strategies to Influence Behavior: Evidence from a Large-Scale Field Experiment," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 95(1), pages 64-73, March.
    5. David W. Carter & J. Walter Milon, 2005. "Price Knowledge in Household Demand for Utility Services," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 81(2).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Belton, Cameron A. & Robertson, Deirdre A. & Lunn, Peter D., 2022. "An experimental approach to measuring consumer preferences for water charges," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Water services; Invoices; Domestic consumers; Survey; Communication; Awareness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L95 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Gas Utilities; Pipelines; Water Utilities
    • Q25 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Water
    • K23 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Regulated Industries and Administrative Law

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