Cities can only exist because of the highly developed systems which underlie them, ensuring that energy, clean water, etcetera are moved efficiently from producer to user, and that waste is removed. This book presents the research and analysis of the intermediaries that underpin the transitions that are taking place within urban infrastructures.

List of Figures and Tables About the Contributors Preface 1. Intermediaries and the Reconfiguration of Urban Infrastructures - An Introduction Part I: Conceptual Framework: Governance, Transitions and Cities Introduction 2. Intermediaries and the Governance of Urban Infrastructures in Transition 3. Systemic Intermediaries and Transition Processes 4. Cities Mediating Technological Transitions Part II: Intermediaries in Network Transitions Introduction 5. Constructing Markets for Green Electricity: the 'Soft Power' of Intermediaries in Transforming Energy Systems 6. An Intermediary and Policy Implementation: Translating the EU Urban Wastewater Directive 7. The Intermediation of Water Expertise in a Post-privatization Context 8. Mobility, Markets and 'Hidden' Intermediation: Aviation and Frequent Flying Part III: Intermediaries and Scalar Transitions Introduction 9. Strategic Intermediation: Between Regional Strategy and Local Practice 10. Re-interpreting Regulations: Architects as Intermediaries for Zero Carbon Buildings 11. Smart Meters as Obligatory Intermediaries: Re-constructing Environmental Action 12. Bridging the Recovery Gap 13. Conclusions: The Transformative Power of Intermediaries

'Indispensable reading for students, policymakers and providers of urban infrastructures.' Roger Keil, Professor and Director, City Institute, York University, Toronto 'An authoritative and, above all, innovative and insightful account of the role of institutions, what they do and how they are governed to make sure that the infrastructures that make cities thrive keep on delivering what we expect them to do.' Erik Swyngedouw, University of Manchester 'In bringing together these rich and stimulating studies of the roles of intermediaries in utility sectors, leading scholars Guy, Marvin, Medd and Moss provide yet another ground-breaking contribution to the study of the governance of change in urban infrastructure networks.' Olivier Coutard, Director, French National Centre for Scientific Research/CNRS and Director of LATTS (Research Centre on Technologies, Territories and Societies), France 'A much welcomed contribution to sustainability transitions research. It successfully tackles two very central challenges: seriously addressing 'agency' and 'place' without loosing sight of systemic interdependencies. The book breaks new ground for future research in both respects.' Bernhard Truffer, Director of Cirus, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology 'This important book casts light on the more and less visible intermediary agents that govern the socio-technical processes of urban life today. It will be indispensable reading for students, policymakers and providers of urban infrastructures alike.' Roger Keil, Professor and Director, City Institute, York University, Toronto