GRU Authority encourages struggling customers to call and make payment arrangements
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At the November 12 meeting, the GRU Authority urged struggling customers to call and make payment arrangements and defended its governance by pointing to reduced particulate emissions, reduced bills for 59% of residential customers, and a profit of $8 million above budget through September.
CEO Comments
During General Public Comment, several people had asked the board to pause sending bills while the federal government is shut down because people are struggling. CEO Ed Bielarski said GRU encourages people to call, “and we’re willing and able to make payment arrangements for them. It’s nice to get to know the people personally, and we try to structure things that are applicable for them.” He said GRU’s new Customer Service Officer has gotten a grant for $100,000 to help low-income customers, “so that’s being applied right now.”
Bielarski: “When the City decided to have a referendum and an election, they were going smack-dab against the will of the Legislature. So while the will of the people is very important, there’s no will of anyone unless the rule of law is followed.”
Responding to members of the public who asked the board to resign, Bielarski said, “House Bill 1645 offers representational rights to people that are outside the city…. It was the will of the legislature,… and so when the City decided to have a referendum and an election, they were going smack-dab against the will of the Legislature. So while the will of the people is very important, there’s no will of anyone unless the rule of law is followed.” Bielarski added that the Authority’s lawsuits to overrule the ballot measures were not “capricious” or “arbitrary… Right now, House Bill 1645 is the law. We’re following the law, and what people don’t realize is the election would have stripped the Authority of its rights of an appeal by getting its due process rights, and it would have dissolved the Authority. That’s pretty extreme.”
In response to a comment from a Sierra Club representative, Bielarski said, “We’ve done a lot in terms of environmental accomplishments… We’ve ostensibly done away with coal use. We retrofitted our DH2 facility with natural gas-fired generation. We retrofitted the Kelly [plant] to get another 30 years of operation… Back in 2021, before we converted from coal to natural gas, we were emitting 64 tons [of particulate matter] into the environment; we’ve reduced that by 90%… Mercury is down 66%… Nitric oxide went down 51%… Sulfur dioxide went down 64%… CO2 is down 16%… So through all of this, we have become very much of an environmental steward, and we’re looking to do more of that.”
Bielarski added that GRU is “looking at getting a $19 million Clean Water State Revolving Fund grant” that will be used “in environmentally friendly ways.”
Attorney Comments
During Attorney Comments, Scott Walker addressed the perception that the 1st District Court of Appeal’s recent decision to grant a Writ that prohibited the City from taking over GRU until the appeal is resolved; he said the City argued that the Writ should not be granted because the Authority did not have a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of the case, but he believed the court “would not have granted the relief the court granted us if… there weren’t constitutional issues before the court and an argument that at least needs to be ferreted out. Now, I don’t know if we will be successful with those arguments,… but there’s a fundamental due process right that we have to make that argument… — and that, the court ruled upon.”
Business Discussion Items
After unanimously approving a contract for boring services that are typically used to install water services, Bielarski presented the November GRU Review (click here for the presentation) and said the utility’s profit is about $8 million above budget through September.
Director Comments
In response to a comment from the public about some customers receiving higher bills since the tiers were adjusted, Bielarski said the change gave 59% of GRU’s customers a reduction in their bill, “and I’m not going to apologize for that.” He said the bill for households using 1,000 kWh is down to the 14th highest in the state, “and we haven’t been there since I started, back in 2015, so there’s a lot of haters, but we’re doing the right thing.”
Director Chip Skinner added, “For all of you out there that think that we are paid: we are doing our civic duty at no pay. I’m not even getting gas money to drive over here… So for those of you that want to complain — do your civic duty, throw your name in the hat.”
Director David Haslam urged customers who are struggling financially to “be your own best advocate. Please call, and please see what we can do for you.” He also urged them to contact churches for help: “Hit up some of these big churches. That’s what they’re supposed to do.”
Ed and all the lawyers are laughing 🤣 all the way to the bank.
Call the city commissioners and tell them to keep their grubby leftist hands off our GRU revenues!
“Responding to members of the public who asked the board to resign, Bielarski said, “House Bill 1645 offers representational rights to people that are outside the city”
This comment should be from the Board and not an employee of the board.
Director Chip Skinner added, “For all of you out there that think that we are paid: we are doing our civic duty at no pay. I’m not even getting gas money to drive over here… So for those of you that want to complain — do your civic duty, throw your name in the hat.”
This comment reveals why long winded Ed, once an unpaid Authority member is now it’s most staunch fighter, $345K buys a lot of gas! Ratepayers are picking up the attorney fees for both sides to boot.
Please resign, the people have spoken.
No details on the comments from the public?
I’ll go… That’s $8 million above budget that so far hasn’t been plundered by the fiscally incompetent commission to use on their pet projects.
Glad to help.
Joe, This article reported by AC is slanted at best. For example, I asked a number of questions that have gone unanswered for months, the article mentioned none of that. I was the one that asked them to resign and drop the legal actions filed that halted the process to transfer back control to local governance. Going out now there will be more from me later today.
You “asked them to resign and drop the legal actions filed”. Yet they have committed to running the utility and currently have a legal right to do so. What you “asked” is like being in a tied game just after half time and asking the opposing coach to forfeit just because you “think” you have a better team. They actually have a moral obligation to try and defend the current law – and filing the appeal/writ/court cases are a means of performing that obligation. So, I ask you now, it’s just after half time and the GRUA has the ball – will the City Commission concede if we “asked” them?
Chuck I believe your questions have been answered. I understand that you do not like the answers.
Mr. Ross, I totally disagree with you. The AC is way better and balanced than the Sun on its reporting. AC does not print out a transcript of each meeting and do not include all comments made, especially those that have been addressed at other GRUA meetings.
Some of your questions come from a misunderstanding of utility operations and the legal system. Educate yourself on the history of PPAs and how utilities work together, especially when it comes to high tension power lines. I heard your comments on this and also on whether or not directional boring was a need for a utility. This shows that you have not taken the time to learn about what you are upset about.
You also had the audacity to ask the Board to not make any decisions due to the vote and not enter into contracts. So what you want is for the Board to sit in limbo and not conduct business while this plays out in the courts. Why aren’t you posting items on the excessive budget at the City of Gainesville.
Your comments are a reflection of those you serve, the Bottchers and others. Why not come out and let everyone know that you are part of the Citizens group that only represents a small subsection of our community.
Why would non-city GRU residents want to annex themselves into a commie oligarchy?
The “authorities” performance is irrelevant to the fact they are an illegitimate power answerable to no one but the governor, who hopefully has bigger fish to fry, and the owners were disenfranchised from control of the entity they own and which they created over 100 years ago.
I guess those “owners” who signed a petition and voiced their opposition to the Commission’s annual rate increases were just ignored.
The Commission must have thought 🌈 crosswalks and turning a segment of NE 8th Ave into bike lanes, (which is used by less than 0.01% of all traffic), was more important than the “owners'” concerns.
What is relevant is which organization is using GRU’s profits more effectively and efficiently.
The only people not willing to acknowledge that are those who are so biased they are incapable of doing so.
Jazz, the city is subservient to the state….you do accept that as a fact, right?
The airport authority was created because the city didn’t know what they were doing. The GNV airport is top notch now.
Same thing, Pegeen Hanrahan ruined GRU by trying to comply with Kyoto protocol which the US was not a signatory to. It put us 2 billion in debt. Now, the GRU authority is fixing it.
The authority is still government..
It has a specific duty to oversee that it gets done correctly without a political agenda.
They have been doing a good job.
You’re a big complainer .
Bullwinkle, the legality of this hostile takeover is yet TBD, but the state’s constitutional power was not intended to be misused to grab power or change policies those in power in the state disagree with but to correct gross impropriety or illegal actions. Neither of those conditions were present with GRU. Both the governor and the state legislature have misused these powers multiple times over the last 6 years and in an unprecedented fashion. Of course seizing control is about as extreme a reaction as possible, since there are no accusations of illegality and at the time of the law passing GRU had the same credit rating as FPL, which was “A”. This was a misused partisan power grab and not in line with the intended safeguards in the constitution.
Wrong. Former GRU Manager Kurtz wanted a mega coal fired electric plant and would not budge so he was not kept on. “Donovan also criticized Kurtz’s handling of the debate over how to meet the area’s future energy needs, which has now been on-going for more than two years. He said GRU should have been more active in helping the commission develop alternatives to a new coal power plant.”
Natural gas was not cheap, fracking was not a thing so a gas fired plant was an expensive proposition. Nor was solar.
Biomass given the ample forestry activity and envisioned carbon tax and/or tax credits was viewed by many as an emerging opportunity to combat climate change.
Regrettably poor contract management by Kurtz GRU successor, city attorney and city commissioners led to a horrible biomass contract. That and the “election “ of Bush II and his ties to the fossil fuel industry and climate change denial are factors that put us here.
They are not illegitimate. That is a lie. As for your constant dribble about all that matters is GRU belongs to the people that live in the city limits only, is rubbish. There is a lot more that matters or we wouldn’t even be where we are. The issues are accountability and fiscal responsibilities to all the customers at GRU and the other highly important requirements to run a successful utility regardless of your whining, “it’s mine, all mine” meme. Does running the utility into the ground with excessive debt justify your obsession with the incompetent city commission getting their greedy little hands back in the piggy bank? No one that thinks rationally would even suggest that. To demand it is totally irresponsible to the good of the city and the utility as a whole. You are delusional to suggest otherwise.
GRU belongs to the City, it had an A rating – same as FPL – when seized, nor are there any credible charges of personal enrichment by commisioners, James. Facts are hard things and you don’t have any.
Jazzmouth, go back and review the legislative audit, the section on GRU, that was in 2021-2022. You will find the facts there. Then get back to me with your denials. Not holding my breath.
I’m kinda’ busy James, why don’t you quote or link it. That’s what I do.
You’re just busy running your mouth and telling others to do your research. You even try tell the AC what to research and print. If you can’t stop your personal attacks and lack of finding objective facts then you should just leave this platform. By the way, why do live in such a horrible and racist place as Florida? And why do you hide behind your keyboard like the Wizard of Oz? More like the Wizard of Odd in my opinion. Take your own advice and “ST_U”.
Clarification from James G. post. I meant to imply that Jazz is the one who hates Florida. I love Florida and support the Governor. I’m also a Democrat but will leave that party next year. Can’t even get close to supporting the no platform and no leadership party it has become. To me they have become anti-American and I’m a patriot before party. God Bless America.
GRU still belongs to the City, only its management changed. Board cannot sell off any of the systems unless put forth on a ballot referendum, by law.
You will probably now bring up that the Board is looking to sell off a small sewer system out in Hawthorne that is not even attached to the main GRU system and is bleeding money monthly. This sell off was first proposed by the City Commission and they were looking to do the same thing. This is not the same as selling our power generating plants, water plants or other systems.
What about seniors who are living on a retirement income & manage to pay utilities as a priority??? We did NOT plan to support scoundrels who waste money on frivolous trash cans, etc. Just because we are frugal enough to pay GRU, NO church or any other organization will pay a bill for us. It just means we don’t have money to spend on holidays, etc. that might keep the economy revolving!
The GRU authority is great! Nice responses…
good job Bielarski and thanks for doing your civic duty Chip Skinner by volunteering with no pay.
Quite commendable! Thank you Authority Board!
The 8 percent RATE INCREASE above 1000kwh IS NOT revenue neutral.
I see you’re still fighting Jim. But, who is worse in your eyes: The City Commission or GRU board and Bielarski?
I don’t think Mr. Konish can answer that question. He says GRU bills are up due to Board raising stormwater and solid waste rates, but those are decided by the City Commission and only billed through GRU.
From my understanding, GRU will now get a percentage of those fees versus a flat fee for the billing and collections.
The GNV City Commission is, and likely always will be, a select club of mostly radical far left’ers that love to spend other people’s money, all they can get their hands on. And to do what? Answer: Prove that they endorse those leftist ideas more than the next person. That’s it in a nutshell. They have no awareness or concern about debt levels. They will raise property taxes, spend GRU funds, create fees, etc for more spending authority.
PS Yes, there have been a number of commissioners that were fiscally responsible, but too few in number have been elected.
Ed “Mr Smoke and Mirrors” Bullshytarski. Highlight that capital improvements have been suspended to reduce rates. When they come back online, the rates will be the same if not higher.
Where did you see that? Capital improvements are being made as upgrades to some of the power generating plants to extend their life, which is much more economical than mothballing them and building a new power generating system. Think of it as maintaining your car.
There are also major improvements going on with the wastewater (not stormwater) and water systems around town.