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July 23, 2001
JEA Plans No Rate Increases And Improved Services in 2002 -
12 Consecutive Years No Electric Rate Increase
JACKSONVILLE - JEA officials will present the utility's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2002 to the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee July 26, along with good news for its electric, water and sewer customers. "We're pleased to continue to keep our electric rates low and stable without an increase for 12 consecutive years," said JEA Managing Director/CEO Walt Bussells. "Our water and sewer customers will see no rate increase for the fifth year in a row."
Bussells attributes JEA's success at maintaining rate stability to innovative investments in employee education, management structure, and improvements to electric, water and sewer infrastructure that deliver these services to its customers in Northeast Florida. As a result, JEA's rates have been among the lowest in the Southeast for several years, while many areas of the country have been faced with rolling blackouts and rate increases resulting from rising fuel prices.
"We work very hard to create savings in every part of our organization and constantly look for ways to increase productivity and improve our level of customer service year after year while keeping our rates low and stable," said Bussells.
Besides no rate increases, other highlights of JEA's newest proposed budget include:
- A $9 million reduction in operating and maintenance expenses
- A record-high contribution of $77 million to the City of Jacksonville
- Additional funding for environmental improvement projects, "Green Power" projects, power quality and service reliability improvements.
JEA is the eighth largest community-owned utility in the United States, and serves more than 600,000 electric, water and sewer accounts in Jacksonville and portions of Clay, St. Johns and Nassau counties.
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