ABOUT IPU
IPU was founded in 1965 on the beautiful campus of Michigan State University, a big-ten, world-grant institution and 501(c)(3) organization. IPU operates as an independent nonprofit educational and research unit of the university and is affiliated with several academic colleges. IPU is entirely self-supporting and contributions help us sustain operations and keep programs affordable.
Our expertise includes:
The Institute of Public Utilities supports informed, effective, and efficient regulation of the industries providing essential utility services - electricity, natural gas, water, and telecommunications. We fulfill our mission by providing to the regulatory policy community integrative, interdisciplinary, and balanced educational programs and applied research on the institutions, theory, and practice of modern economic regulation.
IPU's analytical approach is objective, broad-based, and informed by traditional and applied academic disciplines including the social sciences, law, business, engineering, and communications. IPU's diverse and nationally recognized program faculty members are drawn from the academic, public, and private sectors and well known for their experience, expertise, and teaching ability.
The Institute takes great pride in its tradition of service and responsiveness to the changing and challenging needs of regulatory professionals at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as our international colleagues. We specialize in adult learning and cater to the education needs of regulatory professionals and provide continuing-education credits.
Institute programs are recognized by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). The Annual Regulatory Studies program benefits from the insight of a NARUC Advisory Committee consisting of all committee and subcommittee chairs; commission senior staff members also participate as program faculty. IPU also serves as the university host of the NARUC Utility Rate Schools, sponsored by the NARUC Committee on Water.
IPU provides forums that address today's most challenging and controversial issues. IPU welcomes and respects alternative viewpoints, while remaining entirely independent and neutral. IPU takes a principled approach to regulation, an empirical approach to regulatory research, and a reasoned approach to structural and regulatory change. We are committed to providing all program participants with the knowledge and tools they need for success.
Through the Years: A photographic history of the Institute
IPU Core Programs
Annual Regulatory Studies Program: "Camp." The Annual Regulatory Studies Program offers the most current, comprehensive, and intensive educational opportunity for commissioners and regulatory professionals from any background or discipline; about 10,000 regulators have attended this program. The course's two-week immersion format provides coverage for both regulatory foundations and fundamentals (Week One) and emerging issues and methods (Week Two). The program is provided exclusively to regulatory commissioners, staff members, and other governmental policy makers. Week One is especially suited to the needs of new regulatory professionals. Week Two is for both new and seasoned practitioners. Concurrent and bonus sessions allow attendees to customize the course with respect to areas of interest and responsibility. Attendees receive a certificate of completion for more than 180 hours of instruction.
Advanced Regulatory Studies Program: Accounting, Ratemaking, and Market Analysis. The IPU Advanced Regulatory Studies Program is a series of specialized half-day and all-day workshops designed to provide public and private-sector regulatory professionals a unique opportunity to interact and exchange ideas on advanced technical and policy issues. Each half-day or whole-day workshop provides a unique and intensive immersion experience. The workshop emphasizes both discipline-based and sector-specific learning opportunities, interactive instruction and peer-to-peer dialog, advanced analytical methodologies, and theoretical rigor coupled with practical hands-on problems and exercises. The program faculty for the Advanced Program includes nationally known experts that draw from both academic and applied perspectives. A synthesizing theme underlying the program is the complex co-existence of markets and regulation.
Annual Regulatory Policy Conference. The IPU Annual Regulatory Policy Conference focuses on contemporary issues of special importance to the regulatory policy community and provides a unique opportunity for high-level interaction among experts to exchange information and ideas. Pre-conference workshops and integrative panels enhance the educational value of the program. Regulatory commissioners and staff members, federal and state governmental policy makers, utility industry professionals, and academic educators are welcome to attend.
MSU Affiliate Centers
For More Information
Janice A. Beecher, Director INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC UTILITIES MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY W157 Owen Graduate Hall East Lansing, Michigan 48825-1109 ipu.msu.edu | ipu@msu.edu [mailto] 517.355.1876 phone | 517.355.1854 fax
