C.J. Gish
To alleviate the impact of high bills, the city of Newberry will extend a summer utility program another month, giving customers some flexibility with late payments.
The city launched the program on Aug. 1 and planned a stop date on Sept. 30. The measure allows customers with less than $500 on their balance to continue using electricity and water without fearing a disconnection. Customers will also avoid new late fees under the program.
At the start, Newberry officials said the goal is to help customers as prices for food, gas and utilities rise.
“We understand the impact that these extremely high natural gas prices have had on energy costs for our residents,” Dallas Lee, Newberry assistant city manager, said in a press release. “These increased fuel costs, coupled with high temperatures, have made this summer’s utility bills extremely tough for our community.”
Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) also announced waived late fees for the summer and an early return on deposits to assist customers.
Newberry residents needing utility bill assistance or payment arrangements can contact the city’s customer service team at 352-472-2161 ext. 1 or by email at Service@NewberryFL.gov.
Customers can also receive in-home energy audits for free. You can request one online or by calling 352-472-2161 ext. 1.
“We’ll work with residents to get them back into the black,” Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe said in a July phone interview about the program.