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Our History

Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) is a community-owned, multi-service utility located in Gainesville, Florida, providing electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, and telecommunications services

GRU serves approximately 87,000 retail and wholesale customers in Gainesville and surrounding unincorporated areas. For almost 95 years, Gainesville has been served by public power. Below are some key dates in GRU's history:

• 1887 - Citizens receive gas in their homes from a private firm
• 1891 - City purchases Boulware Springs to provide water to citizens
• 1912 - Gainesville establishes a publicly owned electric system
• 1914 - Gainesville completes its first electric power plant, later to be known as the John R. Kelly Generating Station
• 1929 - Citizens vote to prevent the City from purchasing electricity or water from outside sources
• 1930 - Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant begins operation
• 1948 - Gainesville builds its first water treatment facility downtown
• 1949 - First city in Florida and 11th in the nation to fluoridate its water supply to promote strong and healthy teeth
• 1959 - City grants a franchise for distribution of natural gas
• 1972 - Deerhaven Generating Station begins commercial operation
• 1976 - Walter E. Murphree Water Treatment Plant is constructed
• 1977 - Kanapaha Wastewater Treatment Plant, later renamed the Kanapaha Water Reclamation Facility, opens
• 1979 - The City of Gainesville’s utility supplier is named Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU)
• 1990 - City and GRU provide natural gas services to Gainesville
• 1996 - GRU.Com, the telecommunications service, is added
• 2002 - Customers can conduct utility business online
• 2006 - New energy efficiency and demand side management programs make it much easier for customers to save

The GRU Administration building is located at 301 S.E. 4th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida.