Dec. 11, 2024

FRI Receives Sloan Foundation Grant

The Financial Research Institute (FRI) at the University of Missouri is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to connect early-career energy economics researchers with energy industry practitioners through FRI’s Regulated Utilities Leadership Institute (RULI). This three-year grant will allow FRI to recruit four early-career energy economics scholars each year to be FRI Utility Policy Fellows. Selected Fellows will participate in a week-long research workshop in conjunction with FRI’s regular RULI program. In addition to sessions focused on public utility economics, data sources,…

Dec. 9, 2024

FRI Welcomes Ewell Lawson as Program Director

The Financial Research Institute (FRI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Ewell Lawson as our new Program Director. As Program Director, Mr. Lawson will direct the operations and implementation of FRI’s educational programs, including the Annual Public Utility Symposium, the Advanced Seminar on Transformational Pricing and Rate Design, and the Regulated Utilities Leadership Institute (RULI). He will also contribute to FRI’s policy analysis and industry research efforts. Mr. Lawson brings a wealth of experience in utilities, government and association management, and policy leadership. Recognized nationally for his contributions to public power and…

Aug. 21, 2024

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…

June 13, 2024

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…

May 3, 2024

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…

April 18, 2024

Stan Wise Selected for 2024 Crystal Award

April 18, 2024 FRI has selected Stan Wise as recipient of the 2024 Crystal Award for Distinguished Service. Stan Wise was elected statewide four consecutive times, to serve on the Public Service Commission from January 1995 through February 2018. His first elected public office was as a Cobb County Commissioner in 1990. He previously served the county as a member of the Cobb County Planning Commission and also on the Board of Zoning Appeals. Wise was a Board Member of the ten-county Atlanta Regional Commission from 1992 through 1994. Stan served on the National Petroleum Council for the 2016-2017 term…

April 3, 2024

Kaley Bangston Joins FRI Advisory Board

April 3, 2024 FRI is pleased to welcome Kaley Bangston, Director of Regulatory and Political Affairs for NextEra Energy to our Advisory Board. In her current role with NextEra Energy, Kaley serves as lead on PJM region state legislative and regulatory issues and activities across all business activities. Kaley has more than 10 years of policy experience in the policy sector. She previously worked at Chicago-based clean energy company Invenergy and Boston-based environmental management consulting firm, M.J. Bradley and Associates supporting independent power producers and environmental nonprofit organizations in policy strategy.  She received her Bachelor’s degree in finance…

Feb. 19, 2024

New York PSC Chair Rory Christian Joins FRI Advisory Board

February 19, 2024 FRI is pleased to welcome Rory Christian, Chair of the New York Public Service Commission, to FRI’s Advisory Board. Chair Christian was first appointed to the NY PSC in June 2021, and appointed Chair and CEO in September 2021. He joined the PSC after several years experience in and related to the energy industry, having begun his career with Keyspan Energy before stints at National Grid and Constellation NewEnergy. He also served as Director of Energy Finance and Sustainability Management for the New York Housing Authority and as New York Director, Clean Energy for the Environmental…

Feb. 13, 2024

Kristin Munsch Joins FRI Advisory Board

February 13, 2024 FRI is pleased to welcome Kristin Munsch, Senior Associate General Counsel for Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), to our Advisory Board. Her work focuses on regulatory policy and litigation, including the implementation of Illinois’ most recent energy legislation, the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act. Before working with ComEd, Kristin was the Director for Regulatory and Customer Strategy with National Grid where she focused on policies and strategies to advance state and company clean energy goals. She comes from a consumer advocacy background, having served as Deputy Director for the Illinois Citizens Utility Board and Assistant Attorney General for…

Jan. 29, 2024

Rob Daniel Joins FRI Advisory Board

January 29, 2024 FRI is pleased to announce that Rob Daniel, Director of Regulatory for Black Hills Energy, has joined the FRI Advisory Board. In his role with Black Hills, Rob is responsible for overseeing and participating in the development of regulatory strategy, policy, tariffs, regulatory filings, and regulatory relations for Arkansas and Kansas.Rob has 15 years of utility industry experience. He started his career with the Arkansas Public Service Commission and worked with CenterPoint Energy for over five years before joining Black Hills. Prior to his current role, Rob served as Manager of Regulatory and Finance, primarily…