March 27, 2026
Seminar Explores the Intersection of Policy and Rate Design
COLUMBIA, Mo. — “Real rate design is learned where the formula ends – in a room of differing perspectives tackling the same big questions together.” This sentiment anchored the Financial Research Institute’s (FRI) latest Advanced Seminar on Transformational Pricing and Rate Design, held March 17–19 at the University of Missouri. The three-day intensive program brought together more than 20 professionals from across the nation to move beyond mathematical models and delve into the complex societal impacts of utility regulation. The seminar attracted a diverse cohort of utility professionals, state regulators, consumer advocates, attorneys, and policy analysts. Traveling from as far…
Feb. 25, 2022
FRI Joins Engaging 4 MO Series
FRI’s Executive Director, Dr. Michael Sykuta, joined the Engaging 4 MO webinar series to tackle the question, “Who Sets My Utility Bill?” The topic was sparked by a social media post complaining about the rates energy companies are allowed to charge “with no concern for the public.” The 30-minute video debunks this notion and dives a little deeper into just how many groups are involved in making sure that these rates serve the greater good (including keeping the lights on at the energy companies themselves). Presented by the MU Division of Applied Social Sciences,…