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Welcome to the FRI

The Financial Research Institute (FRI) was established in 1988 at the University of Missouri to promote education, research and service across various areas of finance. Today, through its public utility division, the FRI provides a neutral environment for stakeholders in regulated public utility industries to come together to examine, understand, and debate current issues relating to public utility policy.

The FRI Public Utility Symposium, held in the fall, examines issues that impact consumers, industry, and regulators. Held on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, MO, this one-day symposium brings together regulators and commission staff, legislators, utility managers, policy analysts, attorneys, consumer advocates and academics. The FRI Advanced Pricing Seminar, held in late spring, brings together a range of industry experts to discuss issues around industry innovation, dynamics, and pricing in the electric industry. We also host a series of Hot Topic Hotline webinars throughout the year.

The FRI is housed within and under the academic leadership of the University’s Division of Applied Social Sciences. Working in cooperation with MU Extension, the FRI shares in the University’s mission of engagement and economic development. Learn more about FRI, our staff, and programs from the About FRI page.

2024 Public Utility Symposium

This year’s annual Public Utility Symposium will be held Wednesday, Sept 18, at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel in St. Louis, MO. The conference theme is Fearless: Planning Processes and Resilience to Deal with Extreme Weather Events. In addition to an outstanding lineup of speakers to address topics such as building resilience into a growing utility load, striking a balance between intermittent and dispatchable energy resources while maintaining a resilient grid, acquiring financing with environmental and regulatory uncertainty, and a view from the C-Suite, the program will also include presentation of the 2024 Crystal Award for Distinguished Contribution.

 

Hot Topic Hotline: FERC Order 1920 - Opportunities and Challenges

This spring, FERC issued its historic Order 1920, focused on Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation. The Order aims to ensure that regional grid operators undertake long-term regional planning using a common baseline of standards, consider new technology in their planning efforts, and engage states in the determination of cost allocation methodologies. Accordingly, the Order will require significant action on behalf of regional planners, transmission owners, load-responsible entities and state regulators. During this panel, leaders from industry, state and federal regulators, and state consumer advocates will discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by Order 1920, as well as the various constructs for compliance being considered by stakeholders.

FERC Order 1920 Overview:

  • Karin Herzfeld, Senior Transmission Counsel to FERC Chair Willie Phillips

Panelists:

  • Vice-Chair Kim David, Oklahoma Corporation Commission (Moderator)
  • Chair Andrew French, Kansas Corporation Commission
  • Purvi Patel, VP of Regulatory Strategy, ITC Holdings Corp.
  • David Springe, Executive Director, NASUCA

FRI Spotlight