Living in Gainesville, Florida means relying on Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) for essential electricity, natural gas, water, and wastewater services. As a GRU customer, one of your regular responsibilities is paying your monthly utility bill to keep service active. Thankfully, GRU offers many convenient payment options to fit different lifestyles and needs.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk through everything you need to know about paying your GRU utility bill.
About Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU)
Some quick facts about GRU:
- Provides electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, and telecom services
- Serves over 93,000 electric customers in Gainesville and surrounding areas
- Employs over 900 people throughout North Central Florida
- Owns and operates Deerhaven Generating Station and JR Kelly Generating Station
- Has maintained electricity reliability of 99.97% since 2014
As a municipally-owned utility, GRU is governed by the Gainesville City Commission and managed by the GRU General Manager. Revenues from utility services fund GRU operations and investments in the Gainesville community.
Why Paying Your Bill On Time Matters
Paying your monthly GRU utility bill by the due date is important for a few key reasons
- Avoid Late Fees – A late fee of 1.5% will be added to past due balances
- Prevent Disconnection – If too late, your service could be disconnected
- Maintain Good Credit – Late payments are reported to credit bureaus
- Support System Investments – Revenues fund upgrades and reliability
GRU relies on customers paying bills on time to operate effectively. As a public utility GRU’s costs are covered by ratepayer revenues.
When is the GRU Bill Due?
GRU bills for utility service each month. Your specific due date is printed on your monthly statement.
In general, residential bills are due 21 days after the statement date. Commercial bills are due 26 days after the statement date.
If the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day. Payments must be received by 11:59 pm on the due date to avoid late fees.
You can find your exact due date by signing into your online GRU account or checking your monthly paper bill. Mark your calendar to help remember.
How Much is the GRU Bill?
Your monthly GRU utility bill amount depends on your usage of services, number of days in the billing cycle, fuel costs, and base facility charges.
On average, GRU residential customers pay between $150 to $350 a month for bundled electric, gas, water, and wastewater services. However, your personal bill amount can vary significantly based on usage behaviors.
Higher summer usage from air conditioning, pools, irrigation, etc can increase electric and water bills. Colder winters can drive up natural gas heating bills. Monitoring your consumption helps avoid “bill shock”.
Ways to Pay Your GRU Bill
GRU offers multiple payment options to provide billing flexibility:
Pay Online
The fastest and most popular way to pay is through GRU’s online bill pay. You can make secure one-time or recurring payments from a bank account, credit card or debit card.
Pay By Phone
Call the automated GRU payment line at 352-334-3434 anytime day or night to pay over the phone using a card.
Pay by Mail
Detach the payment stub from your paper bill and mail with a check or money order to GRU. Allow 7-10 days for mail delivery.
Pay In Person
Bring cash, check or money order to the GRU Administration Building downtown or authorized payment centers around Gainesville.
Automatic Bank Draft
Sign up to have your bill payment automatically deducted from your bank account each month. Easy and convenient!
Budget Billing
With Budget Billing, you pay a consistent amount each month to avoid seasonal spikes. Your account is later reconciled annually.
Financial Aid
Low income and hardship assistance is available. GRU can set up personalized payment plans if you’re struggling to pay.
Paying online provides the ultimate convenience, letting you securely pay anytime, anywhere in just minutes. But use the option that fits your needs and preferences.
How to Pay Your GRU Bill Online
Paying online at GRU’s bill pay website is fast and easy. Follow these steps:
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Visit pay.gru.com or click “Pay My Bill” from GRU.com
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Enter your 10-digit GRU account number and 4-digit PIN
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Select whether you want to pay the full balance or a partial payment amount
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Enter your credit/debit card or bank account information
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Review payment details and submit!
Once submitted, your online payment is immediately processed. You’ll receive a confirmation email with transaction details. Payments made by 11:59 pm are posted same day.
For added convenience, sign up for a free online account. You can store payment methods, view billing history, set up autopay, and more.
Avoid Late Fees and Disconnection
To avoid late payment penalties and potential disconnection, always pay your GRU utility bill in full by the due date.
If your account becomes past due, GRU will issue notices and try contacting you before any service disconnection. Communicate with them early about any payment issues.
You can set up personalized payment arrangements and extensions if needed. GRU aims to keep your utilities on and work with customers facing financial hardship.
Get Payment Assistance If Struggling
If you’re having trouble paying your GRU bill, contact their billing services team right away at 352-334-3434.
GRU offers both short-term extensions and long-term payment plans for customers in need. You can set up a customized repayment schedule based on your situation.
Low income bill assistance is also available through programs like Project Share, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and more.
GRU wants to help customers manage bills and avoid disconnection. Please reach out early before an unpaid balance becomes unmanageable.
Why Choose GRU for Your Utilities?
GRU provides Gainesville residents with:
- Reliable electricity, natural gas, water, and wastewater
- Locally-controlled public utility
- High customer satisfaction
- Energy from renewable sources
- Convenient online account and payment options
- Community investment programs
Paying your GRU bill fully and on time helps ensure uninterrupted utility services for your home or business. Consider enrolling in autopay or paperless billing to simplify the process.
Next time your GRU statement comes, avoid the hassle of mailing checks. Pay online in minutes for the fastest, easiest way to manage your monthly utility bill!
Log In to GRU
- Pay My Bill
- View Billing History
- Log In/Sign Up eBill Paper Billing
- Update Email, Mailing Address & Phone Number
- Start, Stop, Move Service