Utilities and services of New Ingrea
The provision of basic utility supply is a major function of the government. The production, distribution and supply of New Ingrea's electricity and water needs are the exclusive remit of the state. Similarly, postal and telecommunication services are provided on a government owned network, and see a major influence from the government in their day to day operations. While competition is strong in the retail markets of most utilities (the Post Office of New Ingrea is a monopoly), none of these companies have an interest in the generation and distribution of the utility they sell.
Public utilities
Energy (electricity and gas)
Electricity and gas is generated by a number of sources in New Ingrea. A lack of natural resources has dictated a move away from fossil fuels and toward a preference for clean energy sources such as hydro, geothermal, and to a lesser extent, solar. New Ingrea is unique in that all electricity is supplied by underground cable, instead of conventional power lines.
Postal services in New Ingrea
The distribution and sale of domestic postal services in New Ingrea is the exclusive function of the Post Office of New Ingrea (PONI). The commission has offices in almost every community across the country, and functions a major hub for the transaction of business and mail between businesses and individuals alike. The cost of mail distribution is funded in part by stamp sales, which for small packages start at fifty shillings.
Telecommunications
New Ingreans are lucky in having one of the most modern phone and internet networks in the world. This is fortunate, as New Ingrea is among the highest per capita users of the internet services on the face of the planet. A number of companies compete to provide phone and internet services to customers across the nation.
Transportation
New Ingrea has a high quality system of roads and railways that are considered the best in the south pacific. As with all modern nations, there are also good airport and seaport facilities that has allowed New Ingrea's economy to grow at a modest and consistent rate. Despite this, the majority of New Ingerish travel by train or car. Flying is very expensive and generally only undertaken by businesses and in emergencies. The use of passenger ferries also occurs, with people able to move between Brunswich Island and the Lunen Island, as well as the smaller islands of the New Ingrean archipelago.
Water supply
In the years after Second World War, the availability of the water supply to urban centres steadily dwindled as the population grew. Alternative supplies were sought out, with recycling of water two or three times not uncommon. Today, large sections of the country are joined to an interconnected water grid, allowing for supply to areas with low water supplies during drought.
Regulation
All of New Ingrea's utility sectors are subject to regulation. The utility distributors are kept in check by the Chief Ombudsman of New Ingrea, with an appeals process regulated by the Civil Administration Court. The regulation of prices is decided by the government, with the Utility Pricing Commission settings prices for electricity, water, phone, internet and postage stamps.
The retail sector is regulated a series of statutory authorities, with an appeals process set by the judiciary. The retail regulators include the Communications Regulations Commission and the Electricity Regulation Commission. The commissions ensure that consumers are receiving what they paid for at a fair price and within the industry agreed standards for product installation or repair.