DECISION-MAKING MECHANISMS REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FINANCING SOURCES OF THE INVESTMENT PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES

This paper is an empirical study that addresses a topical issue in terms of decision-making methods for setting up sources of funding for investment programs in public utilities in Romania. In order to ensure a high level of security and accessibility, equal treatment, promotion of universal access and users’ rights, public utilities are subject to specific public service obligations. Considering that in the utilities services there is still a process of implementation of the European requirements regarding the satisfaction of the quantitative and qualitative requirements of the users; consumer protection and quality of life, environmental conservation in accordance with specific regulations in force, sustainable development, protection and capitalization of the public and private domain of territorial administrative units, it is necessary to introduce modern management methods to achieve these desired. The deepening of the notions, of the particularities in the field, creates the premises for finding optimal and viable solutions regarding the improvement of the legal framework of functioning and operation in the public utilities services, so that the decisional and financial mechanisms are the optimal ones in the concrete socio-economic conditions. Considering the public and permanent functioning of the public utility services, the approached topic is of a real interest for any entity in the field concerned with the efficient, economic and effective management of the public utility system. In this regard, the establishment of the maintenance, replacement, development fund for all entities in the field of public utility services (and not only for those receiving external funds) is a real opportunity, highlighted and supported by existing investment programs in the field of water, sewerage, wastewater treatment and rainwater collection.