Institute of Public Utilities

Staff

Janice Beecher

Professor, Resident Fellow--Institute of Public Utilities and Political Science, Michigan State University
Ph.D., Political Science, Northwestern University
beecher@msu.edu | Resume

ORCID Profile Google Scholar Profile
Dr. Janice Beecher was appointed as Director of the Institute of Public Utilities at Michigan State University in 2002 and now brings more than thirty years of applied research experience to the position. Her areas of interest include regulatory institutions theory and principles and utility pricing and she specializes in the water sector. She is a frequent author lecturer and participant in professional forums. She is Editor of the journal Utilities Policy (Elsevier) and a book series for MSU Press. She co-authored the book Risk Principles for Public Utility Regulators (2016) and has several works in progress. Dr. Beecher is presently serving on the U.S. EPA's Environmental Finance Advisory Board and has served as an appointed advisor to the State of Michigan on infrastructure and water policy. She previously held positions at The Ohio State and Indiana Universities and the Illinois Commerce Commission and is a faculty member of MSU's Department of Political Science (College of Social Science) where she has taught graduate courses in public policy and regulation. She holds a B.A. in Economics Political Science and History from Elmhurst College and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from Northwestern University. 

Erin West

Operations Manager
Institute of Public Utilities
B.S. Michigan State University

Senior Fellows

Kenneth Rose

Senior Fellow Economics
Independent Consultant Michigan State University
Ph.D. Economics University of Illinois at Chicago
ken@kenrose.us

Steven Kihm

Senior Fellow Finance
Narrative 804 LCC and Slipstream Group
DBA University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
narrative804@gmail.com

Danny Kermode

Senior Fellow
Independent Consultant Michigan State University
Certified Public Accountant
B.S. Accounting Arizona State University
dpkermode@gmail.com

Faculty Associates

Joydeep Mitra

MSU Foundation Professor
Electrical & Computer Engineering Michigan State University
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering Texas A&M University
mitraj@msu.edu

Soren Anderson

Faculty Associate
Associate Professor of Economics Michigan State University
Ph.D. Economics University of Michigan
sta@msu.edu

Johannes M. Bauer

Senior Faculty Associate
Department of Telecommunication Information Studies and Media MSU
Ph.D. Economics Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration
bauerj@msu.edu

Elizabeth Connors

Faculty Associate
Assistant Professor Michigan State University
Ph.D. Accounting Michigan State University
connors@broad.msu.edu

William Knudson

Faculty Associate
Department of Agricultural Economics Michigan State University
Ph.D. Philosophy and Agricultural Economics Texas A&M University
knudsonw@msu.edu

Thomas Jeitschko

Faculty Associate
Department of Economics Michigan State University
Ph.D. Economic Theory University of Virginia
jeitschk@msu.edu

Douglas Jones

Faculty Associate
Professor (Emeritus) of Public Policy & Management Ohio State University
Ph.D. Economics Ohio State University
jones.1@osu.edu

Harry Trebing (September 14, 1926, to August 15, 2019)

Professor and Faculty Associate
Founder & Director Emeritus of the Institute of Public Utilities Michigan State University
Ph.D. Economics University of Wisconsin
trebing@msu.edu

IPU Founding Director 1966 to 1991

Crossing the Rubicon with Harry Trebing (2002)
University Creates Unit to Study Utility Problems (1966)
Contribute to Harry M. and Joyce C. Trebing Endowed Scholarship for Graduate Studies in Economics here
See some of Professor Trebing's publications here
Trebing Tributes

Trebing Tributes

"Sad news indeed. A great loss." -Rajnish Barua Delaware Public Service Commission

"Harry's NARUC courses influenced generations of regulators. His legacy is massive. He will be greatly missed." -Sandy Berg, University of Florida (emeritus)

"Harry was certainty a giant. Probably no single person has had such an influence. He certainly had his heart in the right place. May he rest in peace." -Kenneth Costello, NRRI (retired)

"He was definitely one of the greats. Made a lasting imprint on me early in my career." -Robert Gee, Gee Strategies Group LLC

"A huge loss for the regulatory community. As big of an icon that he was he would still always take the time to offer support and encouragement to people like myself. My sincere condolences to his family. He will be greatly missed." -Doug Gegax, New Mexico State University

"The word I associate with Harry is hero. He was a hero of mine. I first heard of Harry Trebing way back in my graduate school days. Several of my professors at the University of Nebraska were friends of Harry and they would reference him and his academic work. Little did I know that a few years later I would become involved in utility regulatory work and land at Camp NARUC. That would have been in the mid-80's so Kellogg Center looked a bit different in those days. Anyway I was thrilled to finally meet Harry and participate in his classes. He was masterful at employing his expertise in economics to explain complex regulatory concepts in a way that allowed for meaningful understanding by everyone in the room. And of course he would spice up the sessions with side-bars employing his considerable knowledge of history. I remember one particularly interesting foray about Patton's engagement with Rommel in North Africa in WWII. What a gem! Harry was a very good teacher and more importantly a standard-setter for regulators. As others have said utility regulation in the United States would not have achieved the success it has if there had been no Harry Trebing. Over the years I got to know Harry on a more personal level and he was one of the kindest individuals I have known. Another characteristic of heroism. He qualified on all counts. I am very thankful to have learned from him and to have known him. He will be missed." -Burl Haar, Minnesota Public Utility Commission (retired)

"A great loss. I am so sorry to hear this news. We will all honor him doing good work as regulators!" -Angela Hawkins, PUCO

"What a terrible loss both personally and professionally. Regulation in the US is significantly better than it would have been were it not for Harry." -Mark Jamison, University of Florida

"A good teacher and economist a recommendation from him resulted in me being set on the path to become a commissioner. I will miss his wit as well as his more cynical moments when discussing the behavior of certain industries. He will be missed." -Karl McDermott, University of Illinois Springfield

"Thank you for sharing the sad news about our much-loved and deeply-respected Harry. I've passed along to others in the legal regulatory community. We are united in feeling the loss of a great teacher and inspiring friend." -Eve Moran, Illinois Commerce Commission (retired)

"What a wonderful life he lived." -Tommy Oliver, RGC Resources

"Such a legacy." -Jill Steiner, Public Sector Consultants

"Harry Trebing was a great man in so many ways. As an educator mentor and friend Harry was exemplary. His knowledge of the industry was extensive and he was willing to share all that he knew with whoever would ask or be interested. Rest in Peace." -Branko Terzic, Consultant and former regulator

"Harry was a good friend and an extraordinary mentor. He will be missed tremendously." -Cheryl Walker Davis, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (retired)

"Definitely a legacy. He touched many in the industry. Condolences to the family." -Kim M. Wissman, Consultant