Abstract

The article explores the topic of private interests in Italian local public services including water, energy, waste and local public transportations. Given the lack of previous analyses on the topic, the article is focused on the actors: the utilities, the think tanks or research organizations, and the more traditional interests groups. Following an overview on the recent reforms of the sector, both the organizational dimension of the private interests and the political activities and patterns of relationship with policy-makers are described. Finally, the inclusion of private interests in the policymaking of the sector is discussed as a likely approach to the topic, given the utilities' growing involvement in the design and execution of the relevant policies.