Commissioner Monica Martinez, of the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), today said the early registration period for the Mid-America Regulatory Conference has been extended one week.

Martinez, who serves as MARC's president said, "Registering before May 8 will save you $100 and will guarantee you a spot at this important conference. 

"I am pleased that the MARC conference has attracted some of the top regulators, utility executives, renewable energy experts, and researchers in North America," she added.  Speakers will discuss the electricity, natural gas, telecommunications and water industries.

"This year's conference will put an emphasis on how the mid-American region and our nation is moving toward a 'greener' economy and will highlight the technologies that are moving us closer to energy independence," Martinez noted.

The Mid-America Regulatory Conference, representing 15 states in the region, will be holding its 54^th MARC conference June 14 to 17 in the Traverse City area of Michigan.  Online registration is available for this conference at http://www.marc-conference.org/2009/register.htm.  The conference's agenda and list of speakers is located here:  http://www.marc-conference.org/2009/schedule/index.htm.

MARC was formed in 1956 to represent the interests of state agencies and establish a dialogue that focuses on effective regulatory practices. The states representing MARC include:  Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.