CITIZENS’ ACADEMY
Ed Bielarski, General Manager
April 13, 2016
Update
• Taking our personal belief in
GRU’s potential and continuously
improving to meet new and
existing challenges
o Great community
o Quality services
o Dedicated employees
GRU Services and Mission
• Mission: Provide safe, reliable, competitively
priced utility services in an environmentally
responsible manner to enhance the quality of
life in our community.
• Services:
o Electric
o Water
o Wastewater
o Natural Gas
o Telecommunications
What We Have Accomplished
Since November
Challenge: Highest Rates in the State
o Leadership and Governance
• Executive Board Restructuring
• Advisory Board
• Bill 1355 Advisory Board
o Contracts
• City of Alachua Contract
• GRUCom Contract with Alachua Schools
o Rates
• Electric Fuel Adjustment
• Purchase Gas Adjustment
• Customer Aid Programs:
o LEEPplus Upgrade: $3,800 to $4,000 in value
Residential Basket of Services
March 2016*
1,000 kWh of Electricity, 25 Therms of Gas, 7,000 Gallons of Water, & 7,000 Gallons of Wastewater
*Gainesville ‘15 rates consists of values from April 2015.
Plans for Continuous
Improvement
o Diversity and Inclusion
o Diversity of Thought
o Diversity of Culture
o Community Outreach
o GREC
o Customer Aid Programs
o Bill Payment Help
• Payment Extensions
• Family Hardship Extensions
• Extend-a-Hand Installment Payments
• Project SHARE
• Social Service Agencies
How?
By focusing on GRU strengths
GRU Strength: Bond
Ratings & Refunds
STABLE Outlook
S&P
AA-
Moody’s
Aa2
Fitch
AABond Refund
Savings value of $1.7 million
GRU Strength: Quality
• Water Quality
o
o
o
o
Provide safe and clean drinking water
Meet all safe drinking water standards
Sourced from Floridan aquifer
Protected by 7,100 acres of
conservation lands
• Electric Service Reliability
o Total generation capability 597.7 MW
o ‘Round-the-clock rotating employee
shifts to service emergencies
o Experienced employee base
gru.com/waterreport
GRU Strength: Employees
• 800+ local employees
• Members of community
• Commitment and availability to help
Questions?
Thank You!