UIS Professor Karl McDermott to keynote Public Utility Research Center Conference

Karl McDermott, the Ameren Distinguished Professor of Government and Business at the University of Illinois Springfield, has been invited to deliver the keynote address at the 41st Annual Public Utility Research Center (PURC) Conference at the University of Florida on February 19, 2014.

This year’s conference theme is “Politics & Policy: What is Next for Utilities?” McDermott will be speaking about the role of utilities in the country’s energy future along with Professor Emeritus Roger Noll of Stanford University.

McDermott will also be honored with PURC’s Distinguished Service Award. Each year PURC recognize an individual who has contributed to the understanding of regulatory economics and finance, recognizing the cumulative impact of the individual’s work on both the academic community and regulatory policymakers.

Since 1974, the PURC Conference has served as a neutral forum for dialogue about issues facing utility service providers, policymakers and regulatory agencies. Nearly 150 key leaders are expected to attend.