GRU Bill Takes Another Step Forward

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) — The utilities bill changed late in the state legislative session to pre-empt state control of GRU was adopted by the House of Representatives Thursday evening. The vote was 79-24, with Gainesville Democrat Yvonne Hinson voting “no.” CS/CS/HB 1451 was amended before the final vote, which means it once again goes back to the Senate, which voted in favor of the bill on Wednesday.

The CEO of Gainesville Regional Utilities said he is hopeful the bill--or a legal case--will resolve the ongoing dispute over who controls GRU.

The bill prevents efforts by Gainesville city leaders to take back control of the utility following a successful voter referendum. The First District Court of Appeals is also considering a legal challenge to the referendum.

In a statement, GRU CEO Ed Bielarski said the authority has remained focused on customers throughout the legislative and legal battles.

“The GRU Authority has not wavered from its customer-first mission throughout the ongoing legislative and judicial processes: processes by which the Florida Legislature makes state laws, the judiciary interprets those laws, and we follow them,” Bielarski stated. “We, like all GRU customers, await the outcome of the bill being considered for enactment as law and the decision in the case before the First District Court of Appeal. Hopefully, either one of these pathways will put this long-standing dispute to rest.”

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