Integral estimation of the competitiveness level of the western Ukrainian gas distribution companies

Innovative policy and regional management leverages should create the foundations for the “impulse” to form the Ukrainian market of natural gas and its distribution. Efficient and desirable economic reforms in the activity of the gas distribution companies of the Western region of Ukraine will contribute to increasing their competitiveness level by implementing innovative activities. The paper aims to make an integral estimation of the competitive positions of the gas distribution companies that function on the Western Ukrainian market of natural gas distribution among consumers and develop practical recommendations directed at forming and implementing the innovative policy of improving their competitiveness. To achieve the aim, the authors have developed the methodology of calculating the competitiveness level for the gas distribution companies that function on a certain natural gas distribution market of any scale. Based on the results of the conducted research, the paper shows that the competitiveness condition of most gas distribution companies of the Western region of Ukraine is either of critical – І or satisfactory – ІІ levels. Meanwhile, it is worth mentioning that only AT “Chernivtsihaz” is characterized by the highest rate of competitiveness integral estimation among all the companies operating on the market of the natural gas distribution among consumers in the Western region of Ukraine. Therefore, it was identified as level ІІІ – “decent” level, which is the average competitive indicator.