PURC Annual Conference
Feb. 18 – 19, 2026 | Hilton University of Florida | Registration opens Oct. 2025
53rd Annual PURC Conference
For more than 50 years, the annual conference has served as a neutral forum for engaging dialogue about issues facing utility service providers, policymakers and regulatory agencies.
The conference is held every February in Gainesville, and brings government officials, utility executives, industry leaders and academia together, primarily from Florida and the Southeast.
Conference location
The conference is hosted at the Hilton University of Florida – 1714 SW 34th Street, Gainesville, Florida. A conference rate, $154 plus tax per night, is available. Reserve your room online or by calling reservations at (352) 371-3600. Reservations must be made by Jan. 21, 2026 to secure the discounted rate.
Agenda
Registration opens at 1 p.m. on Wednesday and the conference begins at 1:30 p.m. The program concludes following lunch on Thursday.
| Noon | Registration opens |
| 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Welcome and keynote |
| 2:30 p.m. | Break |
| 2:40 p.m. – 4:10 p.m. | Panel |
| 4:10 p.m. | Break |
| 4:20 p.m. – 5:50 p.m. | Panel |
| 5:50 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Reception |
| 7:30 a.m. | Registration and continental breakfast |
| 8:30 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. | Keynote |
| 8:50 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. | Panel |
| 10:20 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 am – noon | Panel |
| Noon – 1:30 p.m. | Luncheon and awards presentation |
| 1:30 p.m. | Adjourn |
Conference registration
Information regarding registration and conference fees will be available in October 2025. Registration includes:
- Reception (hors d’oeuvres, beer & wine) – Wednesday evening
- Breakfast – Thursday
- Conference Luncheon – Thursday
- Continuous beverage service and snack breaks
Continuing education credits
PURC is registered with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation as a provider of continuing professional educations programs. Each year, we apply for technical business CPE credit for conference sessions, as well as to the Florida Bar for general CLER credit for Florida law practitioners.
Awards
Each year at the PURC Annual Conference, PURC honors an individual who has contributed to the understanding of regulatory economics and finance. The PURC Distinguished Service Award recognizes the cumulative impact of an individual’s research and policy analyses on both the academic community and regulatory policymakers.
The Gerald L. Gunter Distinguished Service Award is presented jointly by PURC and the Florida Public Service Commission. It recognizes a Public Service Commission employee who has made a significant contribution to the development of regulatory policy.
The award is named after former FPSC Commissioner Gerald L. Gunter, who was supportive of the relationship between the university and FPSC. After his death in June 1991, the Gerald L. Gunter Memorial was established by his friends and colleagues. In addition to the Gunter Award, financial gifts enabled the establishment of the Gunter Professorship in the Warrington College of Business. Mark Jamison serves as the Gerald L. Gunter Professor of research in regulatory policy.
Questions?
The conference manager can help you with registration, hotel or agenda questions.
Contact information
Rebecca Beachy
Public Utility Research Center
Warrington College of Business
P.O. Box 117142
Gainesville, Florida 32611-7142
Email Rebecca
352-392-3655