the reform programme called for increased investment by the private sector but the firms in question did not always expand capacity at the expected rate and in many cases in later years there was a reduction in total investment in energy infrastructure the public enterprises which all countries have preserved to a greater or lesser extent with the single exception of chile have become a tool of energy policy that is very useful on several fronts in some countries these firms play a social role by distributing electricity in rural and remote areas that are of no interest to private investors