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Pricing Policy Effectiveness is Domestic Water Demand Management

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<strong>Pricing</strong> <strong>Policy</strong> <strong>Effectiveness</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>Domestic</strong> <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Demand</strong><br />

<strong>Management</strong><br />

Estimation of <strong>Domestic</strong> <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Demand</strong> Function in Lahore<br />

Tamkinat Rauf 1 *<br />

and<br />

M.Wasif Siddiqi**<br />

ABSTRACT. Th<strong>is</strong> study examines the management of household water demand through a pricing<br />

policy for achieving the objectives of cost recovery, efficient water use, and equitable allocation<br />

of water resources. To th<strong>is</strong> end, a demand function <strong>is</strong> estimated using household level data about<br />

water consumption and socio-economic character<strong>is</strong>tics of 156 households supplied by WASA,<br />

Lahore, in the period 2004-2006. The results show that domestic water demand <strong>is</strong> highly elastic<br />

to price at the ex<strong>is</strong>ting tariff rates. An average increase of up to 30% in the consumption-based<br />

part of ex<strong>is</strong>ting tariffs as well as an increasing non-volumetric rate based on property value or<br />

the size of dwelling <strong>is</strong> recommended.<br />

1 The writers are, respectively, Economic Analyl<strong>is</strong>t,Research Dept.State Bank of Pak<strong>is</strong>tsn,Karachi and Associate<br />

professor Govt. College University, Lahore. Tamkinat.rauf@gmail.com<br />

1


1. INTRODUCTION<br />

The population of Lahore has roughly doubled over the past twenty years, and an increase of<br />

two million <strong>is</strong> expected by the year 2020 (UN, 2005). Th<strong>is</strong> has important implications for city<br />

planning as demand for housing, electricity, water, sanitation, public health, education, and<br />

infrastructure grows accordingly.<br />

WASA, the city’s official water supplier, has often responded to the growing demand by<br />

offering the supply-side solution: augmenting supply capacity by exploiting new water resources. 2<br />

Such investments are costly, but in view of the public good nature of water, WASA has kept tariffs<br />

well below the cost-recovery level, relying on heavy loans and subsidies. While th<strong>is</strong> arrangement may<br />

have worked in the past, it <strong>is</strong> now becoming increasingly unsustainable, because 1) WASA <strong>is</strong> facing<br />

severe financial constraints and which has led to poor service and underinvestment, and 2) the<br />

environmental cost of extracting water <strong>is</strong> increasing.<br />

With its low tariff rates and continually increasing costs, the WASA Lahore <strong>is</strong> unable to meet<br />

even its O&M costs (WASA, 2007). WASA has been receiving financial ass<strong>is</strong>tance from the<br />

provincial and Lahore d<strong>is</strong>trict governments as well as international donors in the form of grants and<br />

loans with the grant element gradually dimin<strong>is</strong>hing over the passage of time. WASA currently owes<br />

Rs. 5.6 billion to these agencies and <strong>is</strong> in no position to make the repayment (WASA, 2007).<br />

Deteriorating financial situation has also led to short-term planning, reactive operational strategy, and<br />

underinvestment in asset maintenance, future capacity, IT equipment, management and accounting<br />

information system, and training (IFC, 2005). Consequently, WASA has shown suboptimal<br />

performance: low pressure and irregular supply, leakages, poor customer service, etc.<br />

Secondly, ind<strong>is</strong>criminate and unplanned exploitation of water resources may result in severe<br />

water shortages in future. <strong>Water</strong> supply in Lahore depends essentially on groundwater pumped<br />

through privately or publicly-owned tubewells and hand pumps. However, groundwater <strong>is</strong> a limited<br />

resource, recharged only once a year during the monsoon. Reportedly, the groundwater table has been<br />

falling. 3 Falling water tables increase the cost of pumping, as more energy <strong>is</strong> required to pump deep<br />

water. Furthermore, the International <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Management</strong> Institute has predicted severe water shortage<br />

in the country by the year 2025, that will threaten even the sustainability of agriculture (IWMI, 2000).<br />

2 In line with the demands of the growing population, WASA has continuously expanded its supply capacity in<br />

the past. Currently, WASA produces 350 million gallons of water per day with its 400 tubewells. Over 25 more<br />

tubewells have been approved under the 2007-08 budget of the agency (WASA, 2007).<br />

3 Over the year 2002-03, the groundwater table in Punjab fell on average by 0.61 percent (Govt. of the Punjab,<br />

2005). More recent estimates were not available.<br />

2


Relentless extraction of water may also lead to an irreversible decline in the ability of the region to<br />

store water in the ground (Gleick, 1998).<br />

<strong>Water</strong> produced by WASA <strong>is</strong> not being efficiently util<strong>is</strong>ed. The basic water requirement for<br />

drinking, sanitation, bathing, and food preparation <strong>is</strong> 13.2 gallons pcd, while WASA produces 80<br />

gallons pcd – an excess of over 66 gallons pcd (WASA, 2007). 4 Evidently, there <strong>is</strong> an excess demand<br />

– people demand more quantities of water than they would if they were made to pay the true<br />

environmental and supply cost of water. Clearly, the supply solution d<strong>is</strong>cussed earlier <strong>is</strong> not the best<br />

answer to the apparently growing demand.<br />

Instead, WASA should be looking at demand management that involves pricing policies and<br />

rationing – notionally allocating a fixed amount of water to each household, based upon lifeline and<br />

household size considerations. However, though rationing brings a definite change in demand, it <strong>is</strong><br />

difficult to implement and may not be widely acceptable. <strong>Pricing</strong> policies, on the other hand, have<br />

been successfully implemented in countries like Brazil, Canada, France, Spain, the United Kingdom,<br />

and the United States.<br />

Through pricing policies ex<strong>is</strong>ting demand patterns are modified to achieve various objectives,<br />

such as cost recovery, conservation, and equitable allocation of water among different income groups.<br />

To implement such a policy successfully, the value that consumers place on water must be known.<br />

Th<strong>is</strong> value <strong>is</strong> reflected by the price elasticity of water demand – the percentage change in demand that<br />

will be caused by a percentage change in price. If the demand <strong>is</strong> inelastic, it shows that at the ex<strong>is</strong>ting<br />

prices, the consumer highly values water and will be willing to pay a higher price in order to consume<br />

the same amount of water. On the other hand, if elasticity <strong>is</strong> high, the consumer indicates a<br />

willingness to reduce/increase the use of water with changes in its price. And if price <strong>is</strong> increased, he<br />

would shift a part of h<strong>is</strong> expenditures elsewhere. Clearly, th<strong>is</strong> information <strong>is</strong> fundamental in deciding<br />

the manner in which tariff should be structured.<br />

Another important aspect of a pricing policy <strong>is</strong> that households with different socio-economic<br />

settings, especially different income levels, will be affected differently, often giving r<strong>is</strong>e to <strong>is</strong>sues of<br />

equity – fairness in the d<strong>is</strong>tribution of cost and conservation burdens. How water demand varies<br />

across different types of household <strong>is</strong> central in estimating the implications of a pricing policy on<br />

equity.<br />

4 The internationally recommended lifeline supply <strong>is</strong> 50 litres pcd. 1 litre = 0.2642 gallons<br />

3


Th<strong>is</strong> study estimates household water demand in Lahore in order to explore the potential of a<br />

pricing policy to increase revenues and d<strong>is</strong>courage inefficient water use while ensuring a fair<br />

d<strong>is</strong>tribution of water in the community.<br />

The thes<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> organ<strong>is</strong>ed as follows: Section two reviews literature on water demand. Section<br />

three gives a description of the study area. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> followed by the methodology: section four,<br />

sampling framework; section five, theoretical framework; and section six, data description. Results<br />

are presented in section seven, followed by policy recommendations in section eight, the last section.<br />

2. LITERATURE REVIEW<br />

The estimation of urban residential water demand has been an area of wide and growing<br />

interest world-wide for the past three decades. However, most of the ex<strong>is</strong>ting literature pertains to the<br />

developed world: the United States and Europe (Agthe and Billings, 1987, Arbues and Villanua,<br />

2006, Batchelor, 1975, Chicoine and Ramamurthy, 1986, Foster and Beattie, 1979, 1981, Hansen<br />

1996, Headley, 1963, Hewitt and Hanemann, 1995, Nauges and Thomas, 2000, Ne<strong>is</strong>wiadomy and<br />

Molina, 1989, 1991, Renwick and Archibald, 1998, Wong, 1972). So far, no comprehensive study has<br />

been conducted in Pak<strong>is</strong>tan to estimate the urban residential water demand and neither has the<br />

researcher come across any such study of similar-income countries. Therefore, the reviewed literature<br />

has limited usefulness in many aspects. What follows <strong>is</strong> an analytical review of the methodologies and<br />

data types used in previous studies and a brief assessment of the suitability of these methods in the<br />

present context.<br />

<strong>Water</strong> demand estimation studies have used various sorts of data: time-series (Agthe and<br />

Billings, 1987, Hansen, 1996), panel (Arbues and Villanua, 2006, Nauges and Thomas, 2000,<br />

Ne<strong>is</strong>wiadomy and Molina, 1989, 1991, Renwick and Archibald, 1998) and cross-sectional (Chicoine<br />

and Ramamurthy, 1986, Foster and Beattie, 1979, 1981, Headley, 1963, Wong, 1972). Time series<br />

data <strong>is</strong> useful to study the effects of a policy change such as restructuring of block-rates, rationing of<br />

water supply, or the introduction of a new water-related appliance. Time series data also captures the<br />

effect of weather. A drawback of such data <strong>is</strong> that it <strong>is</strong> aggregate: summing or averaging quantities,<br />

such as consumption, income, and prices, for the entire community. For th<strong>is</strong> reason, results derived<br />

from time series data have limited usefulness.<br />

Cross-sectional data on the other hand can be collected for d<strong>is</strong>aggregate units, such as<br />

individuals, households, or localities. Th<strong>is</strong> data holds more information than time-series data, and <strong>is</strong><br />

appropriate for estimating demand across different groups. However, cross-sectional units may have<br />

4


too much variability which can cause heteroscedasticity, in which case the OLS estimators have high<br />

variances. 5<br />

The most useful approach <strong>is</strong> perhaps the panel data, because it combines elements of both<br />

cross-sectional and time-series: more variables can be studied while time effect <strong>is</strong> also captured. Panel<br />

data also increases the number of observations, and hence the accuracy of the model. For these reason,<br />

th<strong>is</strong> study has used panel data.<br />

Urban water <strong>is</strong> usually priced under ‘block-rate’ schedules: a volume-based rate cons<strong>is</strong>ting of<br />

a sequence of marginal prices for different consumption blocks. <strong>Water</strong> use in each billing period <strong>is</strong><br />

divided into successive blocks with use in each ascending block charged at a different price. The<br />

block rate schedules can be progressive or regressive with increased consumption. The schedules are<br />

establ<strong>is</strong>hed to ensure efficient use of resource, as well as to achieve equity, environmental<br />

conservation, cost recovery, and public acceptability. An important point of contention in water<br />

demand studies has been the specification of the price variable in the model (Charney and Woodard,<br />

1984, Chicoine and Ramamurthy, 1986, Foster and Beattie, 1981, Opaluch 1982, 1984). <strong>Water</strong><br />

demand studies use two alternative types of price specifications:<br />

1. Marginal price of the block under which the consumer falls plus a ‘difference variable’ (following<br />

Taylor, 1975 and Nordin, 1976). The difference variable <strong>is</strong> calculated as the difference between what<br />

the consumer actually pays and what he would have been charged if all consumption units were<br />

charged at the marginal price of the last unit of consumption. The difference variable <strong>is</strong> used along<br />

with the marginal price.<br />

2. Average price – the total water expenditure by the consumer in a billing period divided by the total<br />

water consumed in that period.<br />

Proponents of the difference variable specification (Agthe and Billings, 1987, Renwick and<br />

Archibald, 1998) argue that the consumer <strong>is</strong> well-informed and therefore responds to the marginal<br />

price and difference variable. On the other hand, those who favour average pricing argue that the<br />

consumer does not devote time to studying the tariff structure and only has a rough idea of what he<br />

pays for h<strong>is</strong> consumption (Foster and Beattie, 1981).<br />

Nieswiadomy and Molina (1991) and Opaluch (1982) have suggested stat<strong>is</strong>tical tests to<br />

determine the price to which the consumers actually respond. The advantage of one test over the other<br />

5 Heteroscedasticity <strong>is</strong> defined as non-constant variances of residuals. In the presence of heteroscedasticity, OLS<br />

estimators remain unbiased and cons<strong>is</strong>tent but they no longer have minimum variance.<br />

5


was not readily apparent. Th<strong>is</strong> study has used the more recent Nieswiadomy and Molina (1991) price<br />

specification test to determine the correct price specification.<br />

It has been further argued that ill-informed consumers react to past rather than current prices<br />

(Charney and Woodard, 1984), and hence the appropriate specification of price would be the lagged<br />

(average) price. The lagged-price specification has not been used in the present study because the<br />

WASA tariff schedule <strong>is</strong> rather uncomplicated (only three blocks) and has been rev<strong>is</strong>ed only once<br />

since 1998. However, past bills may have some impact on the consumers’ dec<strong>is</strong>ion-making; a lagged<br />

consumption variable has therefore been added as a regressor.<br />

With multi-part block rates, prices are endogenously determined by the quantity demanded,<br />

and hence a the model <strong>is</strong> based on simultaneous equations. Under simultaneity, the OLS method<br />

yields biased and incons<strong>is</strong>tent estimates. Most water demand studies have used either instrumental<br />

variables (Nauges and Thomas, 2000, Ne<strong>is</strong>wiadomy and Molina, 1989, 1991) or two-stage least<br />

squares (Agthe and Billings, 1987, Renwick and Archibald, 1998) to remove the ‘simultaneity bias’.<br />

Arbues and Villanua (2006) have used a ‘dynamic panel model’ which <strong>is</strong> applicable to cases where<br />

the price <strong>is</strong> lagged to a degree such that it <strong>is</strong> no longer correlated with the error term in the current<br />

period. Hewitt and Hanemann (1995) have used a complex d<strong>is</strong>crete/continuous model that builds on<br />

the d<strong>is</strong>continuous nature of the budget constraint faced by the consumer under block-pricing. The<br />

OLS method has been used in studies where uniform rates were charged (Hansen, 1996) or the<br />

demand function was formulated under restrictive assumptions (Chicoine and Ramamurthy, 1986,<br />

Foster and Beattie, 1979, Headley, 1963, Wong, 1972). Th<strong>is</strong> study has used two-stage least squares<br />

method of estimation.<br />

Different functional forms have been used in domestic water demand studies, including linear<br />

(Agthe and Billings, 1987, Batchelor, 1975, Renwick and Archibald, 1998, Nauges and Thomas,<br />

2000, Ne<strong>is</strong>wiadomy and Molina, 1989), double-log (Foster and Beattie, 1979, 1981, Hewitt and<br />

Hanemann, 1995, Ne<strong>is</strong>wiadomy and Molina, 1991, Wong, 1972) and semi-log models (Hansen,<br />

1996). However, there <strong>is</strong> no evidence to indicate which <strong>is</strong> the most appropriate form. Linear models<br />

are easy to estimate while double-log models are useful because the coefficients give estimates of<br />

elasticities. Following Arbues and Villanua (2006), in order to establ<strong>is</strong>h the most adequate functional<br />

form, th<strong>is</strong> study has estimated all three types of specifications: linear, double-log, and semi-log. The<br />

most stat<strong>is</strong>tically and theoretically sound model has been selected for drawing conclusions.<br />

6


3. WATER SUPPLY IN LAHORE<br />

Lahore <strong>is</strong> one of the oldest cities of South Asia and <strong>is</strong> the provincial capital of Punjab. The<br />

Lahore d<strong>is</strong>trict spreads over an area of 1,772 square kilometres with a population density of over<br />

3,566 persons per thousand square kilometres (Govt. of the Punjab, 2005). Population-w<strong>is</strong>e, Lahore <strong>is</strong><br />

the second largest city in Pak<strong>is</strong>tan, fifth-largest in South Asia, and 23rd in the world (World<br />

Gazetteer, 2007). The current urban population <strong>is</strong> over 6.6 million and <strong>is</strong> expected to exceed eight<br />

million by the year 2020 (UN, 2004).<br />

The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) <strong>is</strong> the chief municipal body responsible for<br />

preparation and implementation of schemes for environmental improvements, housing, slum<br />

improvement, solid waste d<strong>is</strong>posal, transportation and traffic, health and education facilities, and<br />

water supply and sewerage in Lahore City area under the LDA Act, 1975. The chief water supplier in<br />

urban Lahore <strong>is</strong> WASA, formed under the Act.<br />

The WASA service area extends to 350 square kilometres, supplying water and sewerage<br />

services to a population of over five million (IFC, 2005). Other private water suppliers also ex<strong>is</strong>t in<br />

Lahore City, but there <strong>is</strong> no official record of their number and coverage. For admin<strong>is</strong>trative purposes,<br />

the area covered by WASA <strong>is</strong> divided into six blocks called ‘towns’: Allama Iqbal Town, Aziz Bhatti<br />

Town, Ravi Town, Shalimar Town, Ganj Baksh Town, and N<strong>is</strong>htar Town. Each town <strong>is</strong> further<br />

divided into O&M sub-div<strong>is</strong>ions.<br />

Though located along the bank of River Ravi, water supply in Lahore depends on<br />

groundwater, the river being the most polluted in the entire country. 6 For Lahore, groundwater <strong>is</strong> an<br />

ideal source of water because it <strong>is</strong> relatively free of impurities and therefore little or no treatment of<br />

the water <strong>is</strong> needed before it <strong>is</strong> put to household use.<br />

Table 3.1: WASA Admin<strong>is</strong>trative Div<strong>is</strong>ion<br />

Town<br />

Allama Iqbal Town<br />

Aziz Bhatti Town<br />

Ganj Baksh Town<br />

O&M Sub-div<strong>is</strong>ions<br />

Allama Iqbal Town, Samanabad, Johar Town, Ichhra<br />

Taj Pura, Mustafabad<br />

Ravi Road, Kr<strong>is</strong>han Nagar, Shimla Hill, Mozang, Gulberg<br />

6 River Ravi <strong>is</strong> the most polluted river in Pak<strong>is</strong>tan, receiving 47 percent of the total municipal and industrial<br />

pollution d<strong>is</strong>charged into all rivers in the country. According to the World Wildlife Fund, extreme pollution has<br />

destroyed around 42 f<strong>is</strong>h species that the river was home to. Even contact with the river water has been reported<br />

to cause severe skin d<strong>is</strong>eases. The water <strong>is</strong> certainly unfit for drinking. (EDC News:<br />

http://www.edcnews.se/Cases/PakRaviriver.html)<br />

7


N<strong>is</strong>htar Town<br />

Ravi Town<br />

Shalimar Town<br />

Green Town, Industrial Area, Township, Garden Town<br />

Shahdara, Data Nagar, City, Farkhabad, M<strong>is</strong>ri Shah,<br />

Shadbagh<br />

Baghbanpura, Mughalpura<br />

<strong>Water</strong> <strong>Pricing</strong> under WASA<br />

WASA water tariffs are apparently based on cost-considerations, but are well below the cost<br />

recovery level. The objective <strong>is</strong> seemingly to recover an acceptable portion of the cost rather than the<br />

full costs, that being a compulsion due to political considerations. 7<br />

Table 3.2: ARV-based Billing Structure for <strong>Domestic</strong> Unmetered Connections<br />

ARV (Rs.)<br />

Rate (Rs. per month)<br />

January 1998 May 2004<br />

Up to 400 70.55 98.77<br />

401-500 108.80 152.32<br />

501-720 185.30 259.42<br />

721-1000 323.00 452.20<br />

10001-1500 455.00 637.84<br />

1501-2388 479.40 671.16<br />

2389-4370 510.00 714.00<br />

4371-4499 533.00 747.32<br />

4500 and above 84% of ARV 84% of ARV<br />

Table 3.3: <strong>Water</strong> Tariff Structure for <strong>Domestic</strong> Metered Connections<br />

Consumption (gallons)<br />

Rate (Rs. per 1,000 gallons per month)<br />

January 1998 May 2004<br />

Up to 5,000 9.20 12.88<br />

5,001-20,000 14.90 20.86<br />

20,001 and above 19.50 27.30<br />

Source: WASA, Lahore.<br />

7 The City D<strong>is</strong>trict Govt. has not allowed WASA to ra<strong>is</strong>e tariffs for the past three years in spite a 10 percent<br />

increase in the electricity rates (WASA, 2007).<br />

8


Tariffs for both metered and unmetered connections have been rev<strong>is</strong>ed thrice over the past<br />

decade: in July 1997, in January 1998, and then in May 2004. No annual inflation adjustments are<br />

made.<br />

<strong>Water</strong> <strong>is</strong> charged volumetrically where the connection <strong>is</strong> metered, while unmetered<br />

connections are charged on the bas<strong>is</strong> of the annual rental value (ARV) of the house. 8 The ARV <strong>is</strong><br />

divided into nine bands ranging from Rs.400 to Rs.4, 500 and above. However, since ARV-based<br />

charges do not directly affect consumption, we have selected only metered households for th<strong>is</strong> study.<br />

Currently only 30 percent of WASA connections are metered but WASA <strong>is</strong> making<br />

substantial efforts to meter all ex<strong>is</strong>ting connections (WASA, 2007). 9 No new unmetered connections<br />

have been <strong>is</strong>sued since January 1997. Metered connections are charged with a two-part tariff: a<br />

variable volume-based part and a fixed part. The fixed part includes monthly connection fee of Rs.12<br />

plus a flat charge of Rs.3 per month. The volume-based charges are divided into three ascending<br />

volumetric blocks, that <strong>is</strong>, consumption in each succeeding block <strong>is</strong> charged higher than the previous<br />

block.<br />

4. A MODEL FOR WATER DEMAND<br />

The domestic demand for water ar<strong>is</strong>es from its use for sanitation, bathing, washing clothes,<br />

cleaning homes and cars, cooking and drinking, watering lawns, cooling, and recreational activities.<br />

Like other commodities, the demand for water <strong>is</strong> expected to fall with price and increase with income.<br />

Some other factors, such as the prices of water-related appliances, household size, house size, and<br />

weather, etc. are also expected to have some influence on water demand. Based on these<br />

considerations, a model for domestic water demand <strong>is</strong> presented below.<br />

As d<strong>is</strong>cussed in chapter two, the price effect under block-rate pricing enters the demand<br />

equation indirectly. If consumers are well-informed of the price structure, they respond to the<br />

marginal price (MP), that <strong>is</strong>, the price of their final consumption block. But fully informed consumers<br />

are also aware of the benefit that they gain by having paid less on the initial blocks. Th<strong>is</strong> benefit<br />

enters the demand equation as the ‘difference variable’ – the difference between what the consumers<br />

actually pay and what they would have paid had all units been priced at the marginal price. The<br />

difference variable (DV) <strong>is</strong> computed as follows:<br />

8 Annual Rental Value (ARV) <strong>is</strong> defined as the gross annual rent at which a land or a building might be expected<br />

to be let from year to year, less deductions for repair and maintenance. (World Bank and The Urban Unit,<br />

Lahore, 2006.)<br />

9 WASA allocated Rs.29 million for the procurement of domestic water meters in 2007-08. (WASA budget<br />

document, 2007.)<br />

9


DV = [P1Q1 + P2Q2 + P3 (Q-Q1-Q2)] – [P3Q] [1]<br />

Where P1, P2, and P3 are the respective prices charged under the successive blocks. Q1 and Q2 are<br />

the respective consumption limits for the first two blocks.<br />

Alternatively, if the consumers are not fully aware of the water charges, they approximate the<br />

average price of water by dividing the total water expenditure in a billing period by the quantity of<br />

water consumed in that period. The average price (AP) <strong>is</strong> computed as:<br />

AP = [P1Q1 + P2Q2 + P3 (Q-Q1-Q2)] / Q [2]<br />

The correct specification of price <strong>is</strong> largely a circumstantial question. For example, in<br />

Zaragoza, Spain, where the tariff rate cons<strong>is</strong>ts of 205 consumption blocks, it <strong>is</strong> reasonable to assume<br />

that consumers cannot be fully aware of such a complex tariff structure, and therefore AP<br />

specification can be used. 10 In the present case there are only three blocks and, analogously, it can be<br />

argued that the marginal price specification <strong>is</strong> correct. However, a more rigorous approach can also be<br />

adopted.<br />

Under increasing block rates, the perceived price (P*) must lie somewhere between the<br />

average and marginal prices. Let ‘k’ be a parameter that measures price perception. We may write,<br />

P* = MP (AP/MP) k<br />

The value of ‘k’ will lie somewhere between zero and one. If ‘k’ <strong>is</strong> found to be zero, then MP <strong>is</strong> the<br />

perceived price. If it <strong>is</strong> equal to one, the perceived price <strong>is</strong> AP. If neither of these cases holds, then the<br />

perceived price lies between AP and MP.<br />

To test the value of ‘k’, the following equation <strong>is</strong> estimated:<br />

lnQ = a 0 + a 1 lnMP + a 1 kln(AP/MP)+ ΣaiXi + µ [3]<br />

Where Xi denotes predetermined variables.<br />

Standard t-test can be applied to test the value of ‘k’.<br />

Household water use <strong>is</strong> expected to increase with increase in income. More affluent<br />

households are likely to use water less vigilantly than low income households. They are also more<br />

likely to use water for washing cars, watering lawns, and swimming pools. A strong relationship has<br />

also been found between use of water-based appliances and household water demand (Batchelor,<br />

1975). However, reliable data of these indicators can be difficult to obtain. Therefore, information<br />

10 Arbues, Fernando and Villanua Inmaculada (2006). Potential for <strong>Pricing</strong> Policies in <strong>Water</strong> Resource<br />

<strong>Management</strong>: Estimation of Urban Residential <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Demand</strong> in Zaragoza, Spain.<br />

10


about the house value was used as an indicator of wealth, a proxy for income, hoping that it would<br />

also take into account some of the other water-related variables. 11<br />

The size of the dwelling and the number of residents <strong>is</strong> also expected to influence water use.<br />

Larger houses use more water for cleaning and irrigation of lawns, thus water use should increase<br />

with the house size. The relationship of demand with the number of residents <strong>is</strong>, however, not so<br />

direct. Generally, high income families are smaller than low income families. Per capita water<br />

consumption may, therefore, be lower in low income families, in which case there may be a negative<br />

effect of household size on consumption.<br />

Three water-related activities are predominantly influenced by weather: watering lawns, using<br />

room-coolers, and bathing. As temperatures r<strong>is</strong>e, these activities become more frequent. A weather<br />

variable has been included in the demand model to capture th<strong>is</strong> effect.<br />

Past bills, and therefore consumption patterns, are likely to have some influence a consumer’s<br />

dec<strong>is</strong>ion-making in the future. Moreover, th<strong>is</strong> effect <strong>is</strong> likely to decline with time: older bills wielding<br />

lesser influence than the ones that follow. In such a situation, Koyck (1954) has proposed substituting<br />

the lagged explanatory variables by one single lagged dependent variable that appears among the<br />

regressors. 12 Following th<strong>is</strong> proposition, a lagged consumption term has been included. The<br />

coefficient of th<strong>is</strong> variable must be positive and must not exceed one.<br />

<strong>Domestic</strong> water-meters are owned by either WASA or the consumers. Entitlement to the<br />

meter does not directly influence demand but it may influence the quality and accuracy of the meter:<br />

if the meter overestimates consumption, the consumer would make sure that the fault <strong>is</strong> fixed. If, on<br />

the other hand, WASA meters under-read consumption, WASA will ensure accuracy. A dummy<br />

variable has been used to capture th<strong>is</strong> affect. The dummy takes a unit value if meter <strong>is</strong> owned by<br />

consumer, and a zero value if owned by WASA. Possibly, th<strong>is</strong> dummy will be negatively related with<br />

the recorded consumption.<br />

Fixed Effects<br />

As d<strong>is</strong>cussed above, many factors cause variability in demand patterns across households:<br />

household income, per capita income, ages of residents, lawn size, car ownership, and use of waterrelated<br />

appliances. However, not all these variable could be included in the demand model. The effect<br />

of m<strong>is</strong>sing variables <strong>is</strong> reflected in the intercept term.<br />

11 Following Batchelor (1975), and Nieswiadomy and Molina (1989, 1991).<br />

12 See: Koutsoyiann<strong>is</strong>, A. (1972). Theory of Econometrics (2 nd ed.). pp.304-6.<br />

11


When m<strong>is</strong>sing variables differ significantly across areas or communities, th<strong>is</strong> may give r<strong>is</strong>e to<br />

a ‘differential intercept model’ – a model in which the regression line has varying intercepts for<br />

different population groups. To estimate these differences across groups, a ‘fixed effects model’ <strong>is</strong><br />

used, based upon dummy variables assigned on the bas<strong>is</strong> of geographical location. 13 Five intercept<br />

dummies have been introduced for Aziz Bhatti, Allama Iqbal, Ganj Baksh, Ravi, and Shalimar towns.<br />

N<strong>is</strong>htar town <strong>is</strong> the benchmark category.<br />

Table 4.1: Notation and Variable Description<br />

Variable Indicator<br />

Qt<br />

AP<br />

MP<br />

DV<br />

W<br />

NR<br />

L<br />

T<br />

Dmo<br />

Dait<br />

Dabt<br />

Dgbt<br />

Drt<br />

Dst<br />

Description<br />

Quantity of water consumed in billing period t<br />

Average price<br />

Marginal price<br />

Difference variable<br />

Wealth<br />

Number of residents<br />

Plot size<br />

Average temperature in period t<br />

Meter ownership dummy<br />

Dummy for residence in Allama Iqbal Town<br />

Dummy for residence in Aziz Bhatti Town<br />

Dummy for residence in Ganj Baksh Town<br />

Dummy for residence in Ravi Town<br />

Dummy for residence in Shalimar Town<br />

Functional Form<br />

As d<strong>is</strong>cussed in chapter two, there <strong>is</strong> no theoretical bas<strong>is</strong> for adopting any specific functional<br />

form. Past studies have typically used linear, semi-log, and double-log forms.<br />

The MacKinnon, White, and Davidson test (MWD test) was used to choose between linear<br />

and double-log forms. The results recommend a double-log functional form. However, there were no<br />

a priori grounds for choosing between semi-log and double-log functions, and therefore, both<br />

functions were estimated. Double-log models have the advantage that their estimators give the<br />

13 Fixed Effect Model (FEM): A model in which the intercept term varies over sampling units but <strong>is</strong> constant<br />

over time.<br />

12


elasticities of the variables, thus simplifying interpretation. Semi-log models are useful to estimate<br />

elasticity across different population groups, as the coefficients give ‘semi-elasticity’: elasticity of the<br />

dependent variable with respect to varying values of the regressors.<br />

The Estimated Models<br />

The following demand models were estimated:<br />

1. MP Models<br />

DV = [P 1 Q 1 + P 2 Q 2 + P 3 (Q – Q 1 – Q 2 )] – P 3 Q [1]<br />

Semi-log:<br />

lnQ = β 0 + β 1 MP + β 2 T + β 3 W + β 4 NR + β 5 L + β 6 Dmo + β 7 Dabt + β 8 Dait + β 9 Dgbt + β 10 Drt + β 11 Dst<br />

+ β 12 DVµ 3 [3]<br />

Double-log:<br />

lnQ = β 0 + β 1 lnAP + β 2 lnT + β 3 lnW + β 4 lnNR + β 5 lnL + β 6 Dmo + β 7 Dabt + β 8 Dait + β 9 Dgbt + β 10 Drt<br />

+ β 11 Dst + β 11 D β 11 DV + µ 2 [4]<br />

2. AP Models<br />

AP = [P 1 Q 1 + P 2 Q 2 + P 3 (Q – Q 1 – Q 2 )] / Q [2]<br />

Semi-log:<br />

lnQ = β 0 + β 1 AP + β 2 T + β 3 W + β 4 NR + β 5 L + β 6 Dmo + β 7 Dabt + β 8 Dait + β 9 Dgbt + β 10 Drt + β 11 Dst +<br />

µ 3 [5]<br />

Double-log:<br />

lnQ = β 0 + β 1 lnAP + β 2 lnT + β 3 lnW + β 4 lnNR + β 5 lnL + β 6 Dmo + β 7 Dabt + β 8 Dait + β 9 Dgbt + β 10 Drt<br />

+ β 11 Dst + µ 2 [6]<br />

Estimation Technique<br />

Since price <strong>is</strong> endogenously determined by the model a ‘simultaneous equation bias’ <strong>is</strong> likely<br />

to ar<strong>is</strong>e. 14 Hausman test was used to check for if the simultaneity problem ex<strong>is</strong>ted. The results showed<br />

that both price variables, as well as the difference variable created a simultaneous equation bias under<br />

OLS.<br />

14 Simultaneous equations bias: Incons<strong>is</strong>tency of OLS estimators in a simultaneous equations system.<br />

13


The 2SLS technique was used to eliminate th<strong>is</strong> bias. In the first stage, instrumental variables<br />

were created for all the three variables, by separately regressing them on all pre-determined variables<br />

as well as the three block prices. In the second stage, OLS was used to estimate equations 3, 4, 5, and<br />

6, replacing AP, MP, and DV by their respective instrumental variables.<br />

5. DATA DESCRIPTION<br />

Three sets of information were collected: household level data about consumption and<br />

household character<strong>is</strong>tics, tariff structures, and weather.<br />

Household-level information: Primary data for the study was obtained from WASA, Lahore. The data<br />

set contained the following information about 156 households:<br />

Location: Information about the town in which the connection <strong>is</strong> located.<br />

Consumption: <strong>Water</strong> consumption in gallons from January 2004 to December 2006. Meter reading <strong>is</strong><br />

carried out by WASA with a back-lag of two months: that <strong>is</strong>, for the billing cycle March-April, the<br />

meter <strong>is</strong> read in the last week of February. For the subsequent cycle, May-June, the meter <strong>is</strong> read in<br />

the last week of April. In th<strong>is</strong> way, the March-April bill <strong>is</strong> based on January-February consumption,<br />

and May-June bill <strong>is</strong> based on March-April consumption.<br />

The variable used in th<strong>is</strong> study <strong>is</strong> the consumption during the billing period, the previous<br />

month’s meter-reading, rather than the meter-reading recorded in the billing period. Eighteen meter<br />

readings were recorded per household.<br />

Plot size: The plot size in marlas.<br />

Property Value: Property value in Rupees.<br />

Number of Residents: The number of residents living in a house.<br />

Meter-ownership: Information about whether the meter <strong>is</strong> owned by WASA or the consumer.<br />

Tariff Structure: The tariff structures for domestic metered connections since January 2004 were<br />

provided by WASA.<br />

Table 6.1: Descriptive Stat<strong>is</strong>tics<br />

Variable Mean Std. Deviation Minimum Maximum<br />

Consumption (1,000 gallons<br />

per billing period)<br />

17.9 14.9 2.00 155.12<br />

Average Price (Rs.) 17.7 2.4 9.2 26.0<br />

Marginal PriceP (Rs.) 21.8 3.5 9.2 27.3<br />

14


Household Size 6.3 1.8 2.0 11.0<br />

Plot Size (marlas) 8.7 13.9 1 160<br />

Property Value (Rs. lacs) 29.4 35.5 2.0 250.0<br />

<strong>Water</strong> Expenditure (Rs) 340.1 373.6 18.4 4033.9<br />

Temperature (Celsius) 30.4 6.2 18.5 38.6<br />

Weather: Information about the weather in Lahore was provided by the Pak<strong>is</strong>tan Meteorological<br />

Department. The data-set contained the maximum average monthly temperature recorded in degree<br />

Celsius from January 2004 to December 2006. The temperature values were averaged over two-month<br />

periods in line with WASA billing cycles.<br />

6. RESULTS<br />

The estimated demand model explains 60 percent of the variation in water consumption and <strong>is</strong><br />

stat<strong>is</strong>tically significant. 15 Price, plot size, household size, meter ownership, past water consumption,<br />

and the difference variable that captures the income effect have been found to significantly influence<br />

the household demand for water. The effect of weather <strong>is</strong> moderate while that of wealth, as measured<br />

by property value, <strong>is</strong> negligible.<br />

Whether water demand <strong>is</strong> more responsive to marginal or average price could not be<br />

establ<strong>is</strong>hed from the data. Therefore, both AP and MP models were estimated. The AP models<br />

showed a significant positive price-demand relationship, which <strong>is</strong> contrary to economic theory. Such<br />

contradiction <strong>is</strong> often attributed to stat<strong>is</strong>tical errors, such as multicollinearity or weak instrumental<br />

variables. However, no such error could be identified. Regardless of the reason for the d<strong>is</strong>crepancy,<br />

the AP models were not suited for drawing inferences. All following d<strong>is</strong>cussions and conclusions are<br />

based on MP models.<br />

The results show that the marginal price of water has a significant impact on water use: a<br />

percentage increase in the marginal price brings a 2.33 percent decline in average water use. A 10<br />

percent increase in the marginal price will bring down average water consumption by 23 percent.<br />

Table 7.1: Model Summary<br />

Stat<strong>is</strong>tic<br />

Value<br />

15 Though th<strong>is</strong> R 2 value <strong>is</strong> not very high, it <strong>is</strong> acceptable for panel data models with a large cross-sectional<br />

element. Cross-sectional data has high variance due to the diversity of the sampling units, and it <strong>is</strong> therefore<br />

difficult to fit a regression line that explains all the variation.<br />

15


R 2 0.600<br />

F-Stat<strong>is</strong>tic 304.163*<br />

Variable Coefficient t-ratio<br />

Intercept 0.54 (1.725)**<br />

Meter-ownership (Dummy) -0.06 (-2.180)*<br />

Difference Variable 2.89 (8.292)*<br />

Plot Size 0.04 (3.297)*<br />

Marginal Price -2.33 (-5.473)*<br />

Household Size -0.14 (-4.380)*<br />

Lagged Consumption 0.38 (10.402)*<br />

Temperature 0.05 (1.457)***<br />

Property Value -0.01 (-1.066)<br />

Location Dummies<br />

Aziz Bhatti Town -0.064 (-2.510)*<br />

Allama Iqbal Town -0.128 (-3.901)*<br />

Ganj Baksh Town 0.023 (0.942)<br />

Ravi Town -0.070 (-2.751)*<br />

Shalimar Town 0.010 (0.442)<br />

* = significant at 5% level.<br />

** = significant at 10% level.<br />

*** = significant at 15% level.<br />

The size of the plot, which presumably affects water use because of higher cleaning and lawn<br />

watering requirements, has a small but significant impact on domestic water use. For every percentage<br />

increase in the size of the plot, water consumption goes up by 0.041 percent. However, th<strong>is</strong><br />

information does not tell us about the individual impact of lawn size and house size and water use<br />

separately attributed to each variable. Possibly, water demand for one of the purposes may be more<br />

elastic than the other.<br />

The relationship of water demand and the number of residents living in a household was<br />

found negative, contrary to what was expected. As household size increases by one percent,<br />

consumption falls by 0.14 percent. Apparently small, th<strong>is</strong> connection <strong>is</strong> stat<strong>is</strong>tically significant and<br />

also has important implications for policymaking.<br />

Commonly, low income families are larger as compared to high income families. If large<br />

families consume less than small families, then there must be some underlying income connection.<br />

16


We may infer that low-income households consume less water per capita. However, more information<br />

<strong>is</strong> needed to substantiate th<strong>is</strong> inference.<br />

The difference variable has an effect of increasing demand by 2.89 percent with every<br />

percentage increase. In essence, the difference variable reflects the apparent increase in income from<br />

having paid less for some units of a commodity under increasing block rates – what <strong>is</strong> known in<br />

microeconomic theory as the ‘income effect’. As expected, th<strong>is</strong> income effect <strong>is</strong> positive. 16 Th<strong>is</strong><br />

means that as more d<strong>is</strong>criminatory tariffs are charged for consumption in successive blocks, the<br />

income effect induces consumers to increase water expenditure. However, as a policy variable, DV<br />

has limited value as it cannot be directly manipulated.<br />

Weather has a modest influence on domestic water consumption. A one percent r<strong>is</strong>e in<br />

temperature increases water demand by 0.05 percent. Th<strong>is</strong> means that water demand <strong>is</strong> higher in<br />

summer than in winter. 17<br />

The intercept term reflects the average water consumption for N<strong>is</strong>htar Town when all other<br />

variables are set to zero <strong>is</strong> 860.6 gallons per household per month if the meter <strong>is</strong> owned by WASA<br />

and 813.7 gallons if the meter <strong>is</strong> owned by the consumer. That means on average meter-ownership<br />

reduces water consumption by 46 gallons per month.<br />

According to the model, average household consumption of N<strong>is</strong>htar Towm <strong>is</strong> stat<strong>is</strong>tically<br />

similar to that of Ganj Baksh and Shalimar towns. Consumption in Aziz Bhatti and Ravi towns differ<br />

from N<strong>is</strong>htar Town by about 50 gallons per month, while Allama Iqbal Town households consume<br />

around 100 gallons less water than households in N<strong>is</strong>htar Town.<br />

7. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS<br />

The results of th<strong>is</strong> study show that there <strong>is</strong> considerable potential to use demand management<br />

pricing policies. Therefore, a calculated re-arrangement of the tariff structure can be instrumental in<br />

encouraging efficient use of water, improving revenues, and ensuring universal lifeline supply.<br />

Conservation: Tariffs can be effectively used to induce efficient water use. At the current rate,<br />

household water use <strong>is</strong> extremely elastic to changes in prices. A small ten percent increase in the<br />

overall tariffs will cause an average household to conserve 2,000 gallons of water per month. A 30<br />

16 Note that the difference variable was originally negative. Natural log of the absolute values was included in<br />

the computations. However, the positive relationship of the variable consumption was also found in linear and<br />

log-linear models (See Appendix). We have therefore interpreted the coefficient as positive.<br />

17 The weather coefficient was significant at 15 percent level. If one adheres to the conventional five percent<br />

level, then the coefficient <strong>is</strong> stat<strong>is</strong>tically zero.<br />

17


percent increase will bring down water use to 2,700 gallons – close to the level of lifeline<br />

consumption. (See table 8.1). 18<br />

A drawback of these computations <strong>is</strong> that they are based on average consumption patterns,<br />

and do not give any indication of how the tariff increase will affect households with varying<br />

socioeconomic settings, particularly income levels. Taking into account these considerations may<br />

make an overall equal increase in tariffs undesirable.<br />

If an overall increase <strong>is</strong> not desirable, effective conservation can still be achieved by<br />

increasing the tariff of the final block – monthly consumption of over 20,000 gallons. Currently,<br />

average consumption in th<strong>is</strong> block <strong>is</strong> over 1,800 gallons. A 30 percent increase in the price of th<strong>is</strong><br />

block will induce average households to cut down over 1,000 gallons of monthly consumption. A<br />

larger increase can virtually eliminate per household water consumption beyond 20,000 gallons. (See<br />

table 8.2)<br />

Table 8.1: Impact of Price Increase on Monthly <strong>Water</strong> Use<br />

Current<br />

Tariff Increase<br />

10% 20% 30%<br />

Avg. MP (Rs.) 21.8 23.98 26.16 28.34<br />

Avg. Monthly Use (gallons) 8,900 6,900 4,800 2,700<br />

Table 8.2: Impact of Price Increase on <strong>Water</strong> Use in Block 3<br />

Current<br />

Tariff Increase<br />

30% 40% 50%<br />

Block 3 Price (Rs.) 27.30 35.49 38.22 40.95<br />

Avg. Monthly Use in Block 3<br />

(gallons)<br />

1,820 545 125 -300<br />

Cost Recovery: Typically, a tariff structure that <strong>is</strong> meant for budget balancing cons<strong>is</strong>ts of a large fixed<br />

part coupled with declining block rates (Montginoul, 2006). Declining block rates promote<br />

consumption leading to higher revenues and faster cost recovery on investments, while the fixed part<br />

increases the certainty of revenue projections.<br />

Though leading to immediate cost recovery, decreasing block rates are not compatible with<br />

promoting efficient water use, and assuming that conservation <strong>is</strong> more important of the two<br />

objectives, declining blocks rate are not adv<strong>is</strong>ed. Moreover, though increasing block rates do not<br />

18 Daily per capita lifeline <strong>is</strong> 13.21 gallons. The average household size <strong>is</strong> taken to be 7 (see Chapter 6 for<br />

descriptive stat<strong>is</strong>tics on household size). Lifeline water supply <strong>is</strong> calculated as: 13.21*7*30= 2,800 gpm.<br />

18


generate equally high revenue, they do lead to a cut-down in O&M costs while at the same time<br />

easing the need for new investments to increase supply capacity. Therefore, the management will not<br />

be ill-adv<strong>is</strong>ed to continue following increasing block rates.<br />

The non-volumetric part can also be effectively used to increase revenues. Currently the<br />

monthly non-volumetric charge cons<strong>is</strong>ts of a connection fee of Rs.3 and meter charge of Rs.12, that<br />

<strong>is</strong>, all households ind<strong>is</strong>criminately pay fixed charges of Rs.15 per month. The connection fee can be<br />

increased, uniformly or d<strong>is</strong>criminately, varying increasingly with the household’s ability to pay. The<br />

best measure of ability-to-pay <strong>is</strong> household income, but it <strong>is</strong> difficult to oblige people to provide<br />

correct information about their incomes. Alternatively, non-volumetric charges can be based on<br />

property value, ARV, or plot size.<br />

Allocation: The effect of a pricing policy may not be uniformly felt across all income groups. Past<br />

studies have found that ind<strong>is</strong>criminate tariff increase causes greater reduction in water use in lower<br />

income households than in higher income households (Agthe and Billings, 1987, Renwick and<br />

Archibald, 1998). If th<strong>is</strong> d<strong>is</strong>parity gets large enough, it can threaten the lifeline supply of vulnerable<br />

households.<br />

As a rule, water expenditure should not exceed five percent of the household income (WASA,<br />

2005). The lifeline water requirement for a seven-member household (2, 800 gallons per month) costs<br />

Rs.36.06. If the monthly income <strong>is</strong> Rs.5, 000, th<strong>is</strong> expenditure amounts to a bare 0.72 percent. If the<br />

tariff in the first block <strong>is</strong> increased by 50 percent, the lifeline consumption cost will amount to only<br />

1.1 percent of the expenditures of a household with above-mentioned features.<br />

Table#: Impact of Block 1 Price Increase on Lifeline Consumption<br />

Current<br />

Tariff Increase<br />

10% 20% 50%<br />

Price in Block 1 (Rs.) 12.88 14.17 15.46 19.32<br />

Cost of Avg. Household Lifeline<br />

Supply (Rs.)<br />

36.06 39.68 43.29 54.10<br />

Summing the d<strong>is</strong>cussion on pricing policies, one can see that there <strong>is</strong> significant room for<br />

increasing tariffs to achieve conservation and cost recovery objectives without r<strong>is</strong>king lifeline supply.<br />

19


APPENDIX<br />

I. Sampling Framework<br />

The sampling frame cons<strong>is</strong>ts of all domestic households that were metered prior to the beginning of the<br />

study period, i.e., January 2004. The correct number of such households was not available, but an estimate was<br />

made using the available information. Currently, WASA provides 480,000 domestic water connections of which<br />

only 30 percent are metered. Therefore, the sampling frame compr<strong>is</strong>es of 144,000 sampling units.<br />

Sample Size: WASA Lahore covers 90 percent of the households under its official jur<strong>is</strong>diction while the<br />

remaining 10 percent being provided by other (private) sources (WASA, 2007). In a randomly selected sample,<br />

the probability of a household having a WASA connection <strong>is</strong>, therefore, 90 percent. The sample size (n) was<br />

computed in the following way:<br />

n = PQ/SE(P) = 150<br />

where P <strong>is</strong> the percentage of households having a WASA connection and Q the percentage of households<br />

provided by others. If a six percent standard error <strong>is</strong> acceptable, a sample of 150 households <strong>is</strong> likely to contain<br />

90 percent households with a WASA connection. For th<strong>is</strong> study, the sample size was increased to 156<br />

households in order to achieve a better allocation of sampling units.<br />

Allocation of Sampling Units: The sampling frame was stratified on the bas<strong>is</strong> of WASA’s admin<strong>is</strong>trative<br />

div<strong>is</strong>ion. As d<strong>is</strong>cussed earlier, the WASA area <strong>is</strong> divided into six towns which are further divided into O&M<br />

units. Information about the exact population of these div<strong>is</strong>ions was not available; therefore sampling units were<br />

allocated proportionately according to a rough estimate of the population density under each subdiv<strong>is</strong>ion.<br />

Finally, the units were selected randomly using a random number table.<br />

Time Frame: It was intended that the time frame should include at least one tariff change, in order to better<br />

capture the effect of price on consumption. However, as mentioned earlier, tariffs have remained unchanged<br />

since May 2004. Before that, tariffs were last increased in January 1998. In order to include both (or more) tariff<br />

changes, the initial timing would have to be set at (or before) 1998. However, it was not practical to stretch the<br />

study period that long.<br />

As we go back in time, the number of metered connections, and hence the sampling frame, becomes<br />

smaller. Moreover, socio-economic and demographic character<strong>is</strong>tics, such as household size and income, would<br />

have significantly changed for each sampling unit over such a long time frame. Variations in these variables are<br />

difficult to measure and would have created considerable errors in the data.<br />

Because of these considerations, the time frame of the study was limited to the last three years, 2004 to<br />

2006, to include one tariff change while allowing for cons<strong>is</strong>tency of socioeconomic and demographic variables<br />

of each unit over th<strong>is</strong> period.<br />

20


Table 5.1: Allocation of Sampling Units<br />

Town Sampling Units O&M Sub-div<strong>is</strong>ion Sampling Units<br />

Allama Iqbal Town 25<br />

Allama Iqbal Town 5<br />

Ichhra 5<br />

Johar Town 5<br />

Sabzazar 5<br />

Samanabad 5<br />

Aziz Bhatti Town 25<br />

Taj Pura 13<br />

Mustafabad 12<br />

Ganj Baksh Town 25<br />

Gulberg 5<br />

Kr<strong>is</strong>han Nagar 5<br />

Mozang 5<br />

Ravi Road 5<br />

Shimla Hill 5<br />

N<strong>is</strong>htar Town 26<br />

Garden Town 6<br />

Green Town 6<br />

Industrial Area 7<br />

Township 7<br />

Ravi Town 44 30<br />

City 5<br />

Data Nagar 5<br />

Farkhabad 5<br />

M<strong>is</strong>ri Shah 5<br />

Shadbagh 5<br />

Shahdara 5<br />

Shalimar Town 25<br />

Baghbanpura 13<br />

Mughalpura 12<br />

Total 156 156<br />

II. Hausman Test<br />

Ho: Coefficient of residuals <strong>is</strong> stat<strong>is</strong>tically zero; no simultaneity problem<br />

H1: Coefficient of residuals <strong>is</strong> not stat<strong>is</strong>tically zero; simultaneity problem ex<strong>is</strong>ts<br />

Level of Significance: α = 0.05<br />

Test Stat<strong>is</strong>tic: t-ratio<br />

Computations and Conclusions:<br />

21


Variable<br />

Regression 1 Regression 2<br />

Residual<br />

Conclusion<br />

Dependent Independent Dependent Independent<br />

Coefficient<br />

1. AP AP Q_lag, P3, Dst, T,<br />

Q<br />

RES, PRE, T, Dabt,<br />

5.953<br />

Reject Ho.<br />

W, Dmo, Drt, L,<br />

Dmo, Dgbt, NR, L,<br />

(76.009)<br />

Conclude that<br />

Dabt, NR, Dgbt,<br />

Dst, Dait, W, Q_lag,<br />

simultaneity<br />

Dait<br />

Drt<br />

problem ex<strong>is</strong>ts.<br />

2. MP MP Q_lag, P3, Dst, T,<br />

Q RES, PRE, Dst, T,<br />

1.727<br />

Reject Ho.<br />

W, Dmo, Drt, L,<br />

Dmo, Dgbt, L, Dabt,<br />

(28.804)<br />

Conclude that<br />

Dabt, NR, Dgbt,<br />

NR, Dait, W, Q_lag,<br />

simultaneity<br />

Dait<br />

Drt<br />

problem ex<strong>is</strong>ts.<br />

3. DV DV Q_lag, P3, Dst, T,<br />

Q RES, PRE, Dst, T,<br />

-0.077<br />

Reject Ho.<br />

W, Dmo, Drt, L,<br />

Dabt, P2, Dmo, Dgbt,<br />

(- 30.451)<br />

Conclude that<br />

Dabt, NR, Dgbt,<br />

L, NR, W, Drt, Dait<br />

simultaneity<br />

Dait<br />

problem ex<strong>is</strong>ts.<br />

Details<br />

1. AP<br />

Regression 1 Residual Stat<strong>is</strong>tics<br />

Min Max Mean SD N<br />

PRE 11.7150 29.1553 17.9508 1.80555 2652<br />

RES -8.19803 8.07184 .00000 1.13266 2652<br />

Regression 2 Coefficients<br />

Predictors B SE t Sig.<br />

(Constant) -3.347 1.420 -2.357 .018<br />

T .101 .015 6.752 .000<br />

NR .205 .255 .803 .422<br />

Dmo -1.605 .365 -4.393 .000<br />

L .051 .007 7.005 .000<br />

W 6.39E-009 .000 .191 .848<br />

Dgbt 1.197 .378 3.166 .002<br />

Drt .003 .742 .003 .997<br />

Dst .617 .413 1.495 .135<br />

Dabt .503 1.086 .464 .643<br />

Dait .496 .414 1.199 .230<br />

Q_lag .791 .009 90.491 .000<br />

PRE .201 .071 2.841 .005<br />

RES 5.953 .078 76.009 .000<br />

2. MP<br />

Regression 1 Residuals Stat<strong>is</strong>tics<br />

Min Max Mean SD N<br />

PRE 13.8864 33.3924 22.1529 2.22821 2652<br />

RES -13.73344 6.95036 .00000 2.30573 2652<br />

Regression 2 Coefficients<br />

Predictors B SE t Sig.<br />

(Constant) -3.110 2.113 -1.472 .141<br />

22


T .101 .023 4.324 .000<br />

NR .177 .399 .444 .657<br />

Dmo -1.628 .570 -2.856 .004<br />

L .051 .011 4.509 .000<br />

W 1.07E-009 .000 .021 .984<br />

Dgbt 1.182 .589 2.007 .045<br />

Drt -.059 1.157 -.051 .960<br />

Dst .590 .644 .916 .360<br />

Dabt .432 1.692 .255 .799<br />

Dait .358 .656 .546 .585<br />

Q_lag .793 .013 62.615 .000<br />

PRE<br />

.160 .088 1.823 .068<br />

RES 1.727 .060 28.804 .000<br />

3. DV<br />

Regression 1 Residuals Stat<strong>is</strong>tics<br />

Min Max Mean SD N<br />

PRE -351.0884 -2.2660 -78.4510 39.70316 2652<br />

RES -175.04536 186.92253 .00000 53.85123 2652<br />

Regression 2 Coefficients<br />

Predictors B SE t Sig.<br />

(Constant) 53.504 2.567 20.845 .000<br />

T -.148 .023 -6.287 .000<br />

NR -2.745 .395 -6.956 .000<br />

Dmo -4.854 .557 -8.720 .000<br />

L -.028 .011 -2.457 .014<br />

W -3.68E-007 .000 -7.136 .000<br />

P2 -1.742 .101 -17.265 .000<br />

Dgbt 2.117 .580 3.650 .000<br />

Drt -5.569 1.143 -4.873 .000<br />

Dst -3.566 .636 -5.606 .000<br />

Dabt -5.237 1.670 -3.136 .002<br />

Dait -13.675 .663 -20.616 .000<br />

PRE -.383 .005 -79.960 .000<br />

RES -.077 .003 -30.451 .000<br />

III. Price Perception Test<br />

Ho: k=1; consumers respond only to average price.<br />

H1: k≠1; consumers do not respond only to average price.<br />

Level of Significance: α= 0.05<br />

Test Stat<strong>is</strong>tic: t* = (β1 – β2)/ S.D β1-β2<br />

Critical Region: t*> 2 19<br />

19 The degrees of freedom of the β population <strong>is</strong> unknown, therefore the rule of thumb <strong>is</strong> used.<br />

23


Computations:<br />

Regression<br />

Dependent Variable: lnQ<br />

Independent Variables: lnQ_lag, Dgbt, lnT, ln_MP_IV, ln(AP/MP), Dmo, Dabt, lnNR, Dst, lnL, Dait, , Drt, lnW<br />

Variable Tested Coefficient S.E. Variance<br />

0.756<br />

MP 20 (3.514)<br />

-0.576<br />

AP/MP<br />

(-6.677)<br />

0.215 0.046225<br />

0.086 0.000740<br />

β1 – β2 = 0.756 – (-0.576)<br />

= 1.332<br />

S.D β1-β2 = (Var β1 + Var β2 – 2Cov β1, β2 )½<br />

= 0.230913 21<br />

t* = 1.332/0.230913<br />

t* = 5.768<br />

Conclusion: t* > 2 ; reject Ho.<br />

Conclude that k≠1. Consumers do not respond only to average price.<br />

[Note that a similar test cannot be used for the hypothes<strong>is</strong> that consumers respond only to MP (k=0). If the<br />

alternate hypothes<strong>is</strong> (k≠0) <strong>is</strong> false, it would not imply that consumers do not respond to AP. Average price has<br />

been introduced in the regression equation as a ratio of AP and MP. If the alternate hypothes<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> false, we can<br />

only conclude that consumers do not respond to th<strong>is</strong> ratio: a conclusion with little practical significance.]<br />

Details<br />

Coefficients<br />

B SE t Sig.<br />

(Constant) -.588 .287 -2.050 .040<br />

Dmo -.031 .025 -1.235 .217<br />

Dgbt .042 .025 1.719 .086<br />

Drt .002 .024 .090 .929<br />

Dst .047 .023 2.085 .037<br />

Dabt .010 .023 .407 .684<br />

Dait .036 .024 1.457 .145<br />

lnT .156 .030 5.278 .000<br />

lnNR .020 .024 .850 .396<br />

lnW -.010 .011 -.907 .365<br />

lnL .087 .012 7.446 .000<br />

ln_MP_IV .756 .215 3.514 .000<br />

lnAP_MP -.576 .086 -6.677 .000<br />

20 The positive sign of MP coefficient <strong>is</strong> possibly due to multicollinearity between MP and AP/MP variables.<br />

21<br />

Cov β1, β2 = -rσ 2 /[(1-r 2 )√(Σx 1 2 Σx 2 2 )]<br />

24


ln_Q_lag .649 .016 41.784 .000<br />

IV. Summary of Estimated Models<br />

Stat<strong>is</strong>tic<br />

AP Models<br />

MP Models<br />

Semi-log Double-log Semi-log Double-log<br />

R 2 0.569 0.590 0.569 0.600<br />

F-Stat<strong>is</strong>tic 290.669 315.841 290.669 304.163<br />

D-W Stat<strong>is</strong>tic 1.911 2.315 1.911 2.289<br />

Variables<br />

Constant<br />

1.658<br />

(17.415)*<br />

0.010<br />

AP<br />

(1.901)**<br />

Dmo 0.017<br />

(0.644)<br />

DV<br />

Dabt<br />

Dait<br />

Dgbt<br />

Drt<br />

Dst<br />

L<br />

MP<br />

NR<br />

Qt-1<br />

T<br />

W<br />

--<br />

0.082<br />

(3.504)*<br />

0.170<br />

(6.755)*<br />

-0.036<br />

(-1.504)***<br />

0.069<br />

(2.903)*<br />

0.122<br />

(5.263)*<br />

0.002<br />

(4.218)*<br />

--<br />

0.034<br />

(8.451)*<br />

0.022<br />

(35.285)*<br />

0.005<br />

(5.049)*<br />

5.57E-009<br />

(2.331)*<br />

* = significant at 5% level.<br />

** = significant at 10% level.<br />

*** = significant at 15% level.<br />

-0.494<br />

(-1.826)**<br />

.255<br />

(3.431)*<br />

-.026<br />

(-1.006)<br />

--<br />

0.033<br />

(1.411)<br />

0.066<br />

(2.721)*<br />

0.049<br />

(1.986)*<br />

0.018<br />

(0.760)<br />

0.054<br />

(2.365)*<br />

0.079<br />

(6.697)*<br />

--<br />

0.044<br />

(1.876)**<br />

0.648<br />

(39.479)*<br />

0.155<br />

(5.206)*<br />

-0.003<br />

(-0.270)<br />

2.331<br />

(9.550)*<br />

-- --<br />

-.069<br />

(-2.643)*<br />

1.292<br />

(40.825)*<br />

-0.128<br />

(-5.379)*<br />

-0.251<br />

(-9.373)*<br />

-0.023<br />

(-0.932)<br />

-0.126<br />

(-5.247)*<br />

-0.010<br />

(-0.431)<br />

-3.69E-005<br />

(-0.069)<br />

-1.428<br />

(-13.914)*<br />

-0.042<br />

(-9.374)*<br />

--<br />

(excluded)<br />

-.001<br />

(-1.037)<br />

-5.33E-009<br />

(-2.222)*<br />

.543<br />

(1.725)**<br />

-.056<br />

(-2.180)*<br />

2.886<br />

(8.292)*<br />

-.064<br />

(-2.510)*<br />

-0.128<br />

(-3.901)*<br />

.023<br />

(0.942)<br />

-0.070<br />

(-2.751)*<br />

0.010<br />

(0.442)<br />

0.041<br />

(3.297)*<br />

-2.327<br />

(-5.473)*<br />

-.139<br />

(-4.380)*<br />

0.380<br />

(10.402)*<br />

.047<br />

(1.457)***<br />

-0.012<br />

(-1.066)<br />

25


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