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Welcome to 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.

The Room is the Resource

2026 Regulated Utilities Leadership Institute

FRI’s Regulated Utilities Leadership Institute (RULI) is a four-day intensive designed to empower decision-makers and practitioners facing complex challenges in the electricity, natural gas, and water utility sector. At FRI, we believe The Room is the Resource. Our programming is intentionally small and engaging, putting industry experts, utility practitioners, state commissioners, and consumer advocates in one room to facilitate deep-dive discussions where learning comes from the front of the room and the industry professionals sitting next to you. 

This program is designed for individuals who are newer to the regulated utility space, whether in regulatory commissions, consumer advocate offices, or industry to better understand this unique industry and regulatory space. It is also valuable for individuals wanting a refresher on the basic “whys and hows” of utility regulation. 

Learn more about the program, the benefits of attending, and how to register by clicking the Learn More button.

A collaborative group of professionals engages in shared learning and discussion within a sunlit, collegiate seminar room during the Regulated Utilities Leadership Institute.

FRI Spotlight

Save the Dates for FRI in 2026

Don’t miss out on FRI’s programs in 2026! Save these dates and plan now to attend one or all of FRI’s programs in the coming year. Check your email or follow our social media for updates on registration! 

 

  • February 10: NARUC Breakfast | “Stewardship of PFAS Recoveries: Balancing Rate Base Impacts”
  • March 17-19: Advanced Seminar on Transformation Rate Design and Pricing
  • April 10: Hot Topic Hotline | “Affordable Utilities: What does affordability mean and look like?”
  • June 1-4: Regulated Utilities Leadership Institute
  • September 23: 35th Annual Public Utility Symposium