Dilution costs,underinvestment, and utility regulation under asymmetric information

This article addresses the problem faced by a regulated natural monopolist who must raise outside funds to finance socially desirable projects. We demonstrate that fair rate of return utility price regulation will lead to underinvestment incentives in the presence of asymmetric information between the firm and the capital markets regarding the firm's assets and future costs. This problem is especially severe when financing choice is restricted to equity. Underinvestment can be either completely eliminated by adjusting the allowed rate of return above the fair rate or reduced by switching to debt finance.Support from the Center for the Study of Regulated Industry at Georgia State University is gratefully acknowledged. We have benefited from the comments of Victor Andrews, two anonymous reviewers, and the editor, Michael A. Crew. The usual disclaimer applies.