Bielarski: Fact or Fiction, Part 7
Letter to the editor
Just when you thought Commissioner Eastman’s claims couldn’t get any more ridiculous, he posts another TikTok video that proves us all wrong. In a bizarre rant, he casts the governor as a veritable man behind the curtain, manically using GRU Authority (GRUA) members as puppets to take money away from city taxpayers for some nefarious, yet undisclosed, purpose.
Eastman’s Claims
- The governor, through his control of the GRU Authority, redirected $30 million away from the City.
- GRU has ended its net metering program for roof-top solar customers and increased rates for many customers.
- The GRU Authority has “shut down” internal audit functions.
Facts:
Key Point #1: The GRU Authority has only reduced the general fund transfer from $15,305,225 in fiscal year 2024 to $8,505,225 in fiscal year 2025 and beyond. At most, that’s $13,600,000 in two years (see below).
Eastman seems to have forgotten that under a real outside audit by the state Joint Legislative Auditing Committee (JLAC), and specifically in response to Representative Mike Caruso’s request for “bold action,” the City Commission reduced the general fund transfer from $34,283,000 to $15,305,225 in fiscal year 2024 (see below). That was a $18,977,775 reduction by the Commission, not the GRUA.
Conveniently, Eastman adds $19 million to the $14 million, rounds it to the $30 million increase in property taxes the DOGE auditors are reviewing, and calls it the governor’s fault. The lack of accountability is startling, even for politics.
Totally absent from the Commissioner’s rant is that the GRU Authority voted to reduce the general fund transfers over 10 years to recoup the $68 million in excess of its profits the City took from GRU.
Key Point #2: The GRU Authority overwhelmingly helped the majority of its customers when it: 1) decreased the rates it pays for rooftop solar customers, as well as 2) increased the lower price tier from 800 to 1,000 kilowatts per month.
For well over a decade, GRU has been paying its retail residential electric rate to rooftop solar customers who sell power back to the utility. That rate has averaged between 12 and 16 cents a kilowatt hour over the years and far exceeds GRU’s cost of generation. These customers, who have paid upwards of $100,000 for some of their installations, are subsidized by the rest of GRU customers, who can’t afford such expenses. GRU ended that practice for any future solar customers.
For decades, GRU customers only received a lower electric rate if they kept their usage below 800 kilowatts per month, while the vast majority of other utilities extended that lower rate to 1,000 kilowatts per month. In order to make the change revenue-neutral for the utility, GRU increased the rates for usage over 1,000 kilowatts when it increased that threshold for the lower rate. In the end, 83% of GRU customers are projected to see a lower bill or no increase. Only 17% of customers will see increases. Based on our analysis, the majority of the increases will come from the folks who have the largest homes within the community.
Key Point #3: GRU has an internal auditor on staff who is fulfilling the role formally performed by the City Auditor.
Once again, while the facts are clearly evident, Eastman ignores the truth and takes to social media platforms to spout lies, innuendo, and complete fabrications.
Summary
The list of fictional allegations Commissioner Eastman and other members of the City Commission have made are quite alarming, particularly ahead of a referendum vote on the fate of GRU and its Authority. It’s not a matter of not being given the facts that I have presented over the last series of Fact or Fiction articles. These aren’t matters of opinion. They are matters of numbers, actions that are plainly documented,… and clearly ignored by the Commission, particularly Eastman.
Here are the facts, once again:
- The City Commission is solely responsible for placing GRU in the state of having: 1) the highest electric rates in the state; 2) the highest burden of debt (~$2 billion); 3) the oldest fleet of power plants; and 4) the highest percentage of money transfers to the City, based on the profits it earned.
- Only after the consequences of such egregious fiscal governance did our elected state officials prepare HB 1645, which was approved by the Florida legislature and signed into law by the governor.
- The bill and the resultant Authority were meant to protect the almost 40% of GRU’s out-of-city customers from the City Commission’s abandonment of its responsibilities.
- The Authority has restored order to GRU, as evidenced by the reports of the three major bond rating agencies and the following facts:
- Electric bills fell from the highest in the state to the middle of the pack since the board was seated.
- GRU has paid down an excess of $78 million more in debt.
- The excessive general fund transfers have been stopped, and prior amounts greater than GRU’s profits are being recouped.
- Infrastructure is being restored, and entrepreneurial spirit has become part of the GRU culture.
- The Authority is legally disputing another referendum being placed on the ballot in a special election on Nov. 4 because the historical record of Commission governance is evident. HB 1645 is the clear intent of the legislature, and it’s the law, which the Authority will defend.
Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “A well-informed electorate is a prerequisite to democracy.” Stay informed, my friends.
GRU CEO Ed Bielarski, Gainesville
Click here to read Part 1 in the series.
Click here to read Part 2 in the series.
Click here to read Part 3 in the series.
Click here to read Part 4 in the series.
Click here to read Part 5 in the series.
Click here to read Part 6 in the series.
The opinions expressed by letter or opinion writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AlachuaChronicle.com. Assertions of facts in letters are similarly the responsibility of the author. Letters may be submitted to info@alachuachronicle.com and are published at the discretion of the editor.
Many of us know Eastman to do his best to convolute things for his constituents. He believes most to be idiots and with the way they vote, they either are or they’re just gullible and easily manipulated.
This is what matters to me, the GRU Authority is doing more to reduce the debt, the Clown Commission isn’t able to suck on GRU teats to fund their personal agendas, and last but not least, my GRU bill has decreased.
Only idiots would want to allow the Commission and that POS mayor to regain control of GRU profits.
Surely Bielarski must know the summer heat makes it impossible to stay under 1000kwh.
So his timing for doing a huge rate increase on everything over 1000kwh will not help his cause in November.
All of the usage between 850 and 1000kwh is at the lower rate (it used to increase at 850), and the rate increase isn’t “huge” – it’s from .1121/kwh to .1213/kwh
From AC’s report on the change: “The change will result in a reduction of $4.13 per month for residential accounts that use exactly 1,000 kWh; accounts that use 850 kWh or less will remain the same, bills for accounts that use between 851 kWh and 1450 kWh will be slightly lower than under the current billing structure, and accounts that use more than 1,450 kWh will see higher bills.”
https://alachuachronicle.com/gru-authority-reduces-gfr-by-1-5-million-increases-usage-for-lowest-electric-rate-tier-from-850-kwh-to-1000-kwh/
That report didn’t point out the underhanded tactic of changing the billing days per billing cycle during hot months (28 to 32), nor did it mention the increase in transaction fees.
Billing cycle hasn’t changed in quite a few years and was set by City Commission. City transaction fees went up more than GRUs. GRU raised the limit that you can pay with one payment online, which increased their fees. Much like tariffs…consumers get hit with it.
Never forget Eastman finagled the election that got Clovis Watson elected.
Given Belarksi’s failure to acknowledge his own gross errors in his previous screeds – confusing $98 million a year with $98 million in 5 years in several of his “key points” – why have confidence in any of his numbers. An inability to admit errors does not speak well for someone lecturing others on “facts and fictions”.
As to idiots like “You voted”‘s incessant and obsessive hatred for Gainesville and it’s elected leaders and Balarski’s self interested viewpoint (over $300k a year), the city and it’s voters own GRU, it’s profits and IT’S DEBTS, not the Governor or state legislature, and in a free capitalist democracy voters determine who leads them and operates it’s property, not sworn partisan enemies pretending to be concerned. Recall that prior to the takeover, GRU’s credit rating equaled FPLs.
Ah so you enjoy single-party control where politicians don’t fear losing elections.
I favor democracy no matter who wins. If I don’t like who wins I don’t advocate overthrowing the results and instead figure my side has to try harder.
Sure Jizzmouth, as to your fondness, or should I say addiction, to whatever Ward feeds you, it’s easy to understand why you’re so easily swayed by the continuous waste of GRU profits by the Commission of Clowns.
Don’t forget that also prior to the GRU Authority being implemented those same people you bow and suckle voted to increase utility rates as well as give raises to themselves. Did your dementia cause you to forget that or just hitting your thumb too often?
You voted signals his typical reliance on personnel – and infantile – insults to argue serious issues.
Anyone reading my posts knows I am consistent in my support of the principles at stake with this issue and others and not the personalities, and have criticized as much as praised specific actions of the CC. In fact I do little of either. You voted goes on a hate toot at the mention of Ward, criticizing him even for announcing holidays.
Btw, yes, voters do determine and that’s why we have single-party control, a child poverty rate & income inequality higher than the state average.
Things are going GREAT. For sure, change nothing, and let’s make sure we don’t get single-member districts because then we might have ONE dissenting voice on county commission.
Nope nope nope. Gotta keep it 100% machine Dem!
Dan, we “gotta’ keep” elections and democracy, no matter how bad the politicians at any level. If you don’t win try harder. That’s my solution.
What is your proof that the Gov and State are controlling GRU? Just because the listened to constituents (not Republicans) that asked for help and the GRUA was created? Not sure if you listen, but all the GRUA members have said over and over that they do not get direction from Tallahassee. Do a public records request for their emails and phone records if you don’t believe them.
You would rather have a CC that pays down debt slower, increases rates on everything, wants to increase debt to go fully green and then digs into GRU reserves to balance their budget shortcomings? I surely do not!!
Disc, the “constituents” the state legislators listened to were Sen Perry and Rep Clemons, 2 republicans who live here but could only get elected with the votes from other counties. Given that there are more GRU customers in the city than the county, and that so far they overwhelmingly voted to return control to the city, your “constituent” argument isn’t holding up.
The goal of Clemons, Perry, and the state GOP was to weaken the CC and city voters and any programs they pursue. If you don’t think so, watch what Fl DOGE is doing. You don’t have to like what they do, and they may crash and burn, but if they do, that’s on them, along with debt. Since the “authority” is appointed by the state, who do they answer to if not the state? No voters in Alachua county have a say in their selection.
Explain the 2 billion wood burner. Explain the 8,000 dollar garbage cans. Explain the bus service where only 1% of riders pay. Explain the building of streets to nowhere.
Ok. Fracking and natural gas weren’t cost effective when the biomass plant was conceived. Carbon taxes were on the horizon and coal was disfavored due to pollution loads. GRU manager Mike Kurtz was insisting on a Mega Coal plant for upgrades…that would have been a disaster. Commission with community input went with biomass alternative.
Sometimes bad decisions are made because we don’t have a crystal ball…VHS v Betamax, Blockbuster video v Netflix. Should have would have, how many of us made money on the natural gas boom?
😭 …pull your panties out or pull your big boy pants up.
Didn’t address you until you addressed me. Call me whatever you want but at least I’m not the liar you are, and definitely not the hypocrite.
Don’t like it, oh well.
These are not the droids you are looking for, move along…
It is almost like a soap ‐opera, the drama never changes.
If you are able, move to an area that is serviced by FPL.
You won’t regret it.
Nothing matters here. Single-party control. Voters will not ever demand change.
Work harder Dan. That’s what I do.
Go to whypaygrumore.com to see: 1) that Ed Bielarski paid too much for the biomass plant then accounted for the transaction in a very dubious manner claiming it was worth what was paid, 2) continues to ignore all Public Records Requests referencing SLA Losses thereby covering up material misstatements on the GRU Financial Statements, 3) Claims that we have the highest electric rates in the state while claiming the we have moved to the middle of the pack.
Hmmm….interesting. 1) Ed B was told by the City Commission to find a way out of the contract and they approved the purchase and they were his boss at the time. 2) SLA losses have been discussed at many GRUA meetings and will probably be until those agreements are hashed out or dissolved. The GRUA seems to have addressed some of the losses in the GFT or GFC (kills me that CC calls it a ‘contribution’). 3) You can go look at online charts that are independent of GRU and see that our electric rates have fallen into the middle of the pack…none of them report taxes and other additional costs, just the rate per kilowatt hour and associated bill. I would like to see the rates with all taxes included which would give a better perspective.
Not sure where you stand sometimes as you seem to have a love-hate relationship with GRU or are you just a bit of Jeckell and Hyde?
False and misleading GRU Financial Statements and GRU BILL (not rate) comparisons will merely postpone the day of reckoning ahead. Ed’s hands are unclean.
Jim believes he’s right no matter what. He uses an interesting combination of fact and fiction to prove his points. Probably to push his website or get some time on you tube.