UTILITATIS Research Institute - originally denominated PROAQUA - was founded in 1994 by Federgasacqua (currently FederUtility) and by the main Italian water distribution companies. Since then it has tackled some of the most important research issues relating to water service reorganisation provided for in Italian Law 36/94.
In 1999, the Institute broadened its activity, with the participation of other utility companies, to cover all local utilities (water services, waste management, local public transport), and changed its name to Centro Ricerche sui Servizi Pubblici (CRS-PROAQUA).
In 2006  new members were added to previous the  and the Institute name changed in UTILITATIS.

Our research centre presently carries out study and research activities on the major transformations affecting the local utility industry which were introduced by new regulatory provisions: industrial reorganisation, modernisation, market liberalisation and regulation.

UTILITATIS is a non-profit consortium aiming to meet the research needs of the utility community.

The main study and research activities that the Institute is carrying out are the following:

• Blue Book, supported by ANEA, which includes data about the integrated water service in Italy, and analyzes the main figures  (volumes, tariffs, investments, costs) taken from the 61 Industrial Strategic Plans - which are drawn up by the respective Authorities - and by the year some accounting data of the management companies;
• Green Book, in collaboration with Federambiente, includes data about solid urban waste management, and present the main technical and economical features, taken from different sources of information and represented in order to delineate the relevant aspects of the industry, its peculiarities and its predictable development;
• Yellow Book, a study on the evolution of the industrial structure of natural gas distribution, realized on the documents issued by public bodies and on the results of the tender procedures. The research provides a framework of the main peculiarities related to the enterprises acting in the natural gas market.