I can't even begin to tell you how angry I was and still am at reading this article.  I don't know how many of you have seen outrageous increases on your JEA bill, but our increase amounts to almost exactly $100 per month or $1,200 per year at this time over the last little over a year.  They, for that money, are supposed to be providing water and electric services (and all that entails), and they are not supposed to be collecting our utility fees, so they can install or provide money for parks to be built.  This  is so totally not right.  

While I am at it, another little tidbit that I have never said anything about, because I do not have anything in writing or proof (only what was said to me at the local JEA office when I went in to pay a bill).  I asked the person who waited on me why JEA did not accept debit cards and credit cards to make it easier to customers to pay their bills and why they had changed the on line pay, so that people have to pay $5.00 to another service company now for privilege of using the debit or credit card and paying their JEA bill on line.  I was told it was a job saving move, and that if they had continued the on line service as it was or if they accepted debit and credit cards, the added efficiency would result in the closing of 2 of the JEA offices and all those people who worked in those offices would lose their jobs.  I have no idea how this statement can be verified, but if anyone knows of some way to verify and hold their feet to the fire, it would be nice to know. 

In the mean time, here is the article about the parks our $1 million in utility money will be paying for:http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-02-14/story/jea-drops-park-...