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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.

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
View the recording

FRI Spotlight

FRI Recognized as a “Program of Distinction”

May 3, 2024 We are excited to announce that FRI has been named a Program of Distinction by the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.Since its founding in 1988, FRI has been bringing together state utility regulators, utility executives, and consumer advocates across the United States to learn about, discuss, and debate issues affecting regulated utility industries and how those utilities should be regulated. By providing a neutral environment to engage in these conversations, FRI contributes to more efficient and effective utility regulation that supports economic, environmental, and human health.This Program of Distinction designation…

Missouri PSC Chair Kayla Hahn Joins FRI Advisory Board

May 28, 2024 FRI is pleased to welcome Chair Kayla Hahn of the Missouri Public Service Commission to our Advisory Board. Chair Kayla Hahn was first appointed to the Missouri Public Service Commission on June 1, 2023, and was appointed to a new six year term on January 2, 2024. On February 6, 2024, she was named Chair of the Public Service Commission. Prior to her appointment, Chair Hahn was on the Governor’s senior staff team as Policy Director and had served as Senior Advisor and Policy Director for Governor Parson since August 2018. As Policy Director, Chair Hahn…

WUTC’s Ann Rendahl Joins FRI Advisory Board

FRI is pleased to welcome Commissioner Ann Rendahl of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to our Advisory Board. Ann Rendahl was first appointed to serve as a commissioner of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission in December 2014 for a six-year term that ended Jan. 1, 2021. Ann has been reappointed and confirmed to a second six-year term ending Jan. 1, 2027. Ann serves as the Second Vice President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, or NARUC, and serves as a member of the Committees on Electricity and Critical Infrastructure, prior chair of the Committee on…