answers & insights - Gainesville Regional Utilities

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the
february 2013 answers & insights
Take Control of Your Bills
GRU offers many resources to
help you understand, manage
and lower your utility bill.
Lower Your Bill
Manage energy and water
use, save money and improve
your home’s comfort with
our rebates and incentives.
GRU offers cash back for
customers making low to no
cost efficiency upgrades.
Payment Options
For your convenience,
payments can be made online,
by phone, in person or by mail
using a bank draft, cash, check,
money order or credit/debit/ATM card.
eBill Paperless Billing
Receive bill notifications by email and
view complete bill details online.
Payment Assistance
We offer many options and
programs to help our customers
experiencing hard times:
• The LEEP program helps low income
customers with home improvements
that can lower their electric bill,
improve comfort and reduce
energy use.
• Project SHARE assists customers
who are experiencing financial
difficulty. Call the United Way at 2-1-1.
• Bill payment extensions, family
hardship extensions and extenda-hand
installment payments are
available. For more information
call 352-334-3434.
Online Self-service
View your billing history, make
payments, manage your utilities or
update contact information online.
Learn more about our convenient
payment and billing options, and
get energy, water and moneysaving
tips at www.gru.com.
Florida Friendly Landscaping
Saves Money
Landscaping accounts for up to
50 percent of all residential water
use. Customers can save water and
money this spring by following some
Florida Friendly landscaping tips:
• Landscape with native plants.
• Choose drought-tolerant plants or
plants with low watering needs.
• Avoid watering between the
hours of 10 AM and 4 PM.
• Save grass for areas where
children or pets play.
• Follow irrigation rules from your
water management district.
When landscaping, remember to
call 811 to have underground utility
lines marked before you dig.
For more information about Florida
friendly landscaping or to read the
irrigation rules, visit www.gru.com.
Reduce Your
Energy and
Water Use
A GRU analyst points out that a clean A/C filter
can save money.
GRU offers free home surveys to
help customers save money on their
utility bills by conserving energy and
water. A trained GRU conservation
analyst will check your home’s
windows, doors, ductwork, insulation,
appliances and other equipment. The
analyst will then offer customized tips
for making your home more efficient.
For customers who are more the
“do-it-yourself” type, GRU also
offers online self-service tools to
help analyze utility use and improve
the comfort of the home. For more
information, or to request an on-site
home survey, visit www.gru.com.
Earn $50 by Recycling
Your old Garage
Refrigerator
Moving that old
refrigerator to
the garage may
have seemed like
a good idea for
storing items such
as beverages, but
these appliances
can be real energy
hogs. Being
placed in hot
spaces without
air conditioning
forces them to
run longer, using up to 50 percent
more energy than interior units.
Additionally, because they are
often forgotten, they tend to have
deteriorated seals, clogged coils and
malfunctioning cooling systems that
further decrease energy efficiency.
Recycle that extra refrigerator and
earn $50 through GRU’s Refrigerator
Buyback and Recycling Program.
Details are available at www.gru.com.

Share a Valentine with
Neighbors in Need
Warm up the winter for those less
fortunate by giving a valentine that
helps pay utility bills. Project SHARE
is a way for GRU’s customers to show
that they care about their neighbors
in need.
GRU collects donations through
Project SHARE and gives them to the
Salvation Army, Catholic Charities
and Gainesville Community Ministries.
These organizations distribute the
funds to people having trouble
paying their utility bills, with special
consideration given to those who are
elderly or handicapped. Hundreds of
low-income residents and their families
benefit from this program each year,
but many more are still in need.
Donations in any amount are welcome,
as even a small contribution can
improve someone’s quality of life.
Customers can designate a monthly
donation through their utility bill or
make a one-time gift. Simply fill out the
enclosed card and return it with this
month’s bill or sign up at www.gru.com.
2012 Citizen’s Report Available
The City of Gainesville’s 2012
Citizen’s Report, detailing the City’s
contributions to the community during
the past year, is now available.
The full report, including information
about GRU, can be found at www.
cityofgainesville.org. It contains
interesting and important information
Support a Brighter Tomorrow
for Local Students
GRU is pleased to announce the 3rd
Annual Brighter Tomorrow Scholarship
Banquet, Thursday, April 25, at 6
PM at the University Hilton Hotel.
The banquet awards scholarships to
deserving, financially disadvantaged
about the City of Gainesville
and its services, programs and
financial conditions, and is provided
to help citizens gain a better
understanding of local government
and utilities. For more information,
please call 352-334-5017.
Tickets are $50, and all proceeds go
toward funding the scholarships.
Visit www.gru.com to learn more about
the scholarship program or purchase
tickets. For questions or to learn about
sponsorship opportunities, contact
february 2013
public service
announcements
Fight Lung Cancer
Join the 4th Annual “Run Amuck with the
Duck” 5K walk/run to fight lung cancer on
Saturday, March 9, at 9 AM at the North
Florida Regional Medical Center. This
fun event is family and pet friendly. For
information, visit runamuck2013.kintera.
org or call Caren Gorenberg at 352-256-
6263.
India Fest Health Fair
India Cultural and Education Center
presents its annual extravaganza
Saturday, March 16, at Santa Fe College
from 9 AM to 6 PM. Enjoy Indian food,
music and dances, and buy jewelry,
arts/crafts and attire. Admission
is $5; kids under 5 are free. For
information, call 352-378-7112 or email
IndiaFestGainesville@gmail.com.
Springs Celebration
Experience the beauty of O’Leno State
Park and enjoy the Chili Cook-Off and
Springs Celebration from 11 AM to 3 PM
on Saturday, March 23. Park admission is
free with the donation of a canned good.
For more information, call 352-264-6829
or visit www.SantaFeRiverSprings.com.
Run for Haven
Join Haven Hospice for their 4th Annual
Run for Haven in Tioga on Saturday,
March 16, starting at 4:30 PM. This
family-friendly event is a 5K and 10K run/
walk with a St. Patrick’s Day theme and
post party. To learn more, visit www.
RunForHaven.org or call 352-271-4665.
Spring Season at Primavera
Get ready to applaud Gainesville’s
spring cultural season during Primavera.
From the spring equinox to Earth Day,
revel in a month-long celebration of art,
music, theatre, dance, festivals, youth
performances, tours of creative spaces
and more. March 20 – April 22. For
information, call Michelle Hinson at 352-
871-4575.
Submit a PSA
GRU offers public service
announcements in this customer
newsletter to help local nonprofit
organizations that support the arts and
sciences or provide a community service.
To find out how to schedule a PSA with
enough advance notice to ensure a
reservation, call 352-393-1485 or e-mail
jessede@gru.com.
GRU’s general manager, Bob Hunzinger (left), GRU’s community relations director, Nona Jones (right), and last year’s speaker,
Dr. Mae Jemison (center), pictured with the 2012 scholarship recipients.
students in the Gainesville area who
plan to pursue engineering careers
through the University of Florida.
Community Relations Coordinator
Yvette Carter at 352-393-1207 or
Cartersy@gru.com.
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