GRU bills climbing as summer heat pushes AC use higher

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - As temperatures climb into the upper 90s across north central Florida, Gainesville residents say their Gainesville Regional Utilities bills are rising along with the heat.

Residents interviewed said they keep their thermostats set between 69 and 74 degrees. Many said they are trying to find the right balance between staying comfortable and keeping their electric bills under control.

GRU CEO Edward Belarski said the utility’s rates have not changed — but customers’ usage has.

“The bills will go up because the usage goes up,” Belarski said. “The rates don’t change. The usage changes. So what folks can do — and look, there’s reasons why some people can’t — but you need to keep your thermostat a little higher.”

Belarski said many customers do not account for outside heat affecting how hard their systems have to work, even when thermostat settings stay the same.

GRU customer Evelyn Dicks said her bill last month was close to $700, with an estimated $400 to $500 of that tied to HVAC energy use.

“I think the cost of living in general has gone up, inflation’s gone up,” Dicks said. “I think it’s another bill that has increased.”

Dicks said she keeps her thermostat set between 72 and 74 degrees, but her home often reaches 78 degrees on the hottest afternoons because her system struggles to keep up.

GRU says every few degrees a thermostat is lowered can significantly increase energy use. The utility recommends the following to help reduce costs:

• Set the thermostat a few degrees higher when possible
• Use ceiling fans
• Replace air filters regularly
• Schedule routine HVAC maintenance

UF students in the area also reported noticing higher bills. Ananya Padala and Shravya Mandaba said their June bill was higher than their May bill. Terry Crosby said his bill fluctuates month to month and recommended fans or a window air conditioning unit as lower-cost alternatives for those without central air.

GRU says when temperatures remain high for several consecutive days, air conditioners must run longer and work harder, which increases electricity use.

GRU does offer free home surveys to help customers find ways to be more energy efficient. The process takes between 30 minutes and three hours, depending on the size of the home.

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