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Water Utility Regulation: Dividends, leakage, and regulatory capture

Water utility regulation plays a crucial role in ensuring the delivery of safe and affordable water services to millions of households and industries. Water utilities, whether publicly or privately owned, operate under a framework of regulations designed to balance the…

AUTHOR: Patna Weekly WORDS: ~5867 VIEWS: N/A INVESTIGATION

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Desalination Deals: Confidential pricing and long-term lock-ins

Desalination, the process of removing salts and other impurities from seawater or brackish water to produce fresh water, has emerged…

By Parliamenter

Electricity

Grid Reliability Spending: Why outages persist after billions

In the face of escalating power outages affecting millions, significant financial resources have been allocated towards grid reliability spending improvements…

By Panaji Today

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Latest Investigations

Bridges and Tunnels: The contract amendments that double budgets

Infrastructure projects like bridges and tunnels form the backbone of modern transportation networks, facilitating the movement of people and goods across regions. These projects often require substantial financial investments and…

InfrastructureAll

Road Toll Concessions: When traffic forecasts become fiction

Road toll concessions have become a pivotal strategy for governments aiming to develop infrastructure without shouldering the financial burden entirely. These concessions involve private entities financing, constructing, and operating toll…

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Rail Privatization Outcomes: Comparing UK, Australia, and EU experiences

Rail privatization, a significant shift in the management and operation of rail services, has been implemented across various regions with varying outcomes. This process involves the transfer of rail services…

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Utility Wildfire Costs: How liabilities shift to customers

In recent years, the financial burden of wildfire management has increasingly shifted from utilities to consumers. This trend can be observed across various regions impacted by wildfires, particularly in areas…

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Renewable Subsidy Allocation: Who wins auctions and who lobbies

Renewable energy subsidies play a crucial role in shaping the future of global energy production. These financial incentives aim to encourage the adoption of sustainable energy sources, reducing reliance on…

AllEnergy

The Auditors: When audit firms that certify also consult

Audit firms have long served as the backbone of financial accountability and transparency. Their role, traditionally circumscribed to examining and verifying the financial statements of companies, has expanded significantly in…

PeopleAll

The Hidden Ownership of Critical Infrastructure Assets

Critical infrastructure assets serve as the backbone of national security, economic stability, and public safety. These assets include energy grids, transportation systems, communication networks, and water supplies. Understanding ownership structures…

AllInfrastructureInvestigations

Commodity Brokers: Traders who never touch the goods

Commodity Brokers trading involves the exchange of goods essential to daily life. These include agricultural products, energy sources, and metals. Traders operate on exchanges to buy and sell these goods,…

PeopleAll

How Mega-Projects Consistently Underestimate Costs

Mega-projects are large-scale infrastructure endeavors that typically require substantial financial investment, extensive planning, and significant human resources. These projects often encompass sectors like transportation, energy, and urban development. The defining…

InfrastructureAllInvestigations

FOI/RTI Appeals Systems: What Actually Improves Your Odds

Freedom of Information (FOI) and Right to Information (RTI) acts are critical tools in the arsenal of transparency and accountability. These laws are designed to grant citizens the right to…

Guides

How to Safely Interview Migrant Workers Under Employer Control

Migrant workers represent a significant portion of the global workforce. The International Labour Organization estimates that 169 million individuals were classified as international migrant workers in 2019. This demographic accounts…

GuidesAll

How to Investigate Political Consulting Media Buys

Political consulting media buys are strategic decisions made by political campaigns to purchase advertising space across various media platforms. These transactions are crucial in shaping public perception and influencing voter…

GuidesAllMedia

Guide: How to Read PPP Contracts for Hidden Public Liabilities

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) represent a collaborative agreement between government entities and private sector companies. This model aims to finance, build, and operate projects that serve public interests. Understanding PPP contracts…

GuidesPublic

Kids’ Online Safety Tools: Effectiveness audits and data risks

Digital technology has revolutionized access to information and entertainment for children. Online safety tools aim to protect young users from various online threats. These tools include parental controls, monitoring software,…

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Critical Infrastructure Cyber Grants: Tracking where the money lands

Critical infrastructure cyber grants are financial allocations aimed at fortifying the cybersecurity of essential sectors. These sectors include energy, water, transportation, and healthcare. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)…

InfrastructureAll

Cybercrime Policing: Why arrests rarely touch organizers

Law enforcement agencies worldwide face increasing challenges due to the rapid expansion of cybercrime. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2023, cyber threats have escalated, with a…

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Religious Freedom Exemptions vs Labor Rights: When exemptions create exploitation

Religious freedom exemptions in labor laws present a complex interplay between the right to practice one’s faith and the rights of employees to fair labor conditions. This section examines how…

ReligionAll

Strikebreaking Firms: The quiet industry behind labor disputes

Strikebreaking firms have a long and controversial history in labor disputes. These entities emerged in the late 19th century, during the industrial revolution, when labor strikes became a common tool…

LeaksAllLabor

Wage Theft: Who is legally responsible when its stolen in franchise labor

Wage theft in franchises refers to the illegal practice where employers fail to pay their workers the wages they are owed. This can occur in various forms including unpaid overtime,…

Labor

Hidden Migrant Recruitment Fees: Comparing India-to-Gulf vs SEA-to-Singapore routes

The practice of charging recruitment fees to migrant workers remains a contentious and complex issue. Two significant migration corridors involve India-to-Gulf and Southeast Asia (SEA)-to-Singapore routes. Each route has unique…

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