Who Loves JEA?

[tufsu1]

So $300,000,000 in excess cash for a local utility just in deposits isn't excessive? Lol....

do you have any idea how much non-profits are recommended to have in reserve?

[tufsu1]

nope...just asking a question

[uptowngirl]

Glad they have so many reserves, perhaps they can start cleaning the water they charge us a minimum usage no matter what our true usage is, or that it is polluted as hell.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41354370

10 U.S. cities with the worst drinking water

Here's that list, in descending order, with the city's water utility in parenthesis:

10.) Jacksonville, Fla. (JEA)
Located on the northeast coast of Florida, Jacksonville is the state's largest city. According to EWG, 23 different toxic chemicals were found in Jacksonville's water supply. The chemicals most frequently discovered in high volumes were trihalomethanes, which consist of four different cleaning byproducts â€" one of which is chloroform. Many trihalomethanes are believed to be carcinogenic. Over the five-year testing period, unsafe levels of trihalomethanes were detected during each of the 32 months of testing, and levels deemed illegal by the EPA were detected in 12 of those months. During at least one testing period, trihalomethane levels were measured at nearly twice the EPA legal limit. Chemicals like arsenic and lead were also detected at levels exceeding health guidelines

[tufsu1]

nope...just asking a question

cool.  If you know the answer, Im very curious myself, and would like to know the context of your question.  It will be nice to chat about something besides football.  Lord knows, I like hearing about the Dawgs as much as the next person, but some people just take it too far!

the general concept for non-profits is to have a minimum of 6 months expenses in reserves.....and no more than 2 years

[BridgeTroll]

So... JEA might be simply use industry "best practices" even though they may not be specifically mandated by regulation?  Who would a thunk it... things like billing, deposits and maybe even lottsa other stuff?

So an answer to a question like... "Why does JEA do xxxx xxxx when they are a municipal utility and are not regulated by the state?

Could very well be... "It may not be specifically regulated but it is an industry norm never the less.  It is considered a best practice.

" So since xxx xxx is is not required and I think it is an onerous rule ... can we change it?"

"Yes... of course.  All you have to do is convince the board of directors that your version of the rule is better than the current one.  In fact we encourage public participation."

[BridgeTroll]

I think the opposite is true...

[ChriswUfGator]

Westsider, just because you don't elect to have a special meter installed doesn't mean they don't calculate out your peak and off-peak usage based on a computer algorithm. Actually for most of us the entire bill is generated by an algorithm that estimates usage, they have laid most of the meter readers off.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying show me.  That goldmine of PDFs that BT gave us has pretty much everything you need to research JEA.  There are several different formulas for figuring taxes, energy spikes (for x-rays, welders, etc.) and others, but I didn't come across any general usage formula.

Let me send PM's to Uptowngirl and Riversideloki, they both recently busted JEA over-estimating their usage without reading the meter. That will give you the story directly from real people who've caught them at it. I am in the process of busting JEA for the same thing myself, just waiting for the next bill to drop. From what my readings are so far, their estimates are 20%+ higher than my actual usage. I learned from Uptowngirl's saga, I actually photographed the meter readout with a time and date stamp on it. Let's see them get out of that one.

[BridgeTroll]

Drilling is a good idea... Leaking oil is not...

[BridgeTroll]

As long as the rich get a little bit richer, its all good I guess.  I mean, that's why we're all here isnt it?  

 That certainly seems to be the reason these discussions exist and devolve as they do.  Rich v poor, corp v joe, rep v dem, lib v con.  it is all extremes of black and white and us v them.  Some clearly enjoy the sport of it... insults, name calling and sarcasm being the weapon of choice.  We have talked at each other for the better part of two days and neither has convinced anyone of anything.  Most of us understand JEA has some faults... I bet they would even admit it... But from everything I have read... in the multiple site I have visited has convinced me more than ever that JEA is run like most utilities... public or private... and is actually a pretty good one.  That said... if you have a dispute on your bill... by all means... dispute it!  If there is an unfair practice all you have to do is convince enough of the right people that it needs to change.  You and Chris have tried to convince me for two days to little avail.  Keep charging that windmill my friend... It makes for a great read!

[ChriswUfGator]

As long as the rich get a little bit richer, its all good I guess.  I mean, that's why we're all here isnt it?  

 That certainly seems to be the reason these discussions exist and devolve as they do.  Rich v poor, corp v joe, rep v dem, lib v con.  it is all extremes of black and white and us v them.  Some clearly enjoy the sport of it... insults, name calling and sarcasm being the weapon of choice.  We have talked at each other for the better part of two days and neither has convinced anyone of anything.  Most of us understand JEA has some faults... I bet they would even admit it... But from everything I have read... in the multiple site I have visited has convinced me more than ever that JEA is run like most utilities... public or private... and is actually a pretty good one.  That said... if you have a dispute on your bill... by all means... dispute it!  If there is an unfair practice all you have to do is convince enough of the right people that it needs to change.  You and Chris have tried to convince me for two days to little avail.  Keep charging that windmill my friend... It makes for a great read!

Kind of a curious post, when none of the sites you read and posted about actually applied to JEA, since (as you finally had no choice but to acknowledge) they aren't regulated like other utilities, meaning that your links to the PUC and PSC, and state desposit guidelines, etc., were all complete garbage since not a single one applies to JEA.

Yet you continued reposting that nonsensical garbage for 11 pages anyway, trying to muddy the argument. And none of the sites backed up your foregone conclusions, even if they did apply, which they don't. And you continue engaging in nonsensical and disinginuous comparisons of JEA to for-profit companies. It isn't one.

So this is all it takes to support an argument in your world?

[BridgeTroll]

Your flat assessment that this is standard behavior for a public utility, is contradicted by the JEA's own auditor, who has been quoted saying the exact opposite.

Show me.

You then tried to conflate predatory lending practices with standard procedure for a not for profit.

Show me that they are in fact predatory.  Not someones opinion.

Despite the fact that every single media source in the city has covered this as a problem,

I have read the articles about people who have a problem paying their bills.  I do not doubt nor have I ever said billing mistakes do not happen.  They have happened to me.

I have personallly spoken with Brian Roche, the architect of these policies on his reasoning behind them.  I have also spoken with the current and former CEOs of the JEA on these matters, and I have argued at length with Marlene Murphy Roach, the vice president of Customer relations for the JEA.

Awesome.  Even our attorney Chris would not allow that as evidence in an argument.  perhaps you could convince those folks to join this discussion so I could ask a question.  Perhaps even a verifiable quote that we can look up.  I am not unreasonable.

is out of step with what the public, who owns it, thinks it should be run.

Luckily, I happen to qualify as a member of the public... guess that makes an owner too...

[uptowngirl]

Most of us understand JEA has some faults... I bet they would even admit it... But from everything I have read... in the multiple site I have visited has convinced me more than ever that JEA is run like most utilities... public or private... and is actually a pretty good one. 

Well it is curious that JEA runs like most utilities and is a pretty good one when their water is in the top ten worst (poisoned) in the United States. I am betting there are several utilities that would not agree with you!

[BridgeTroll]

To be fair... the vast majority of this discussion has been regarding JEA as an electric provider.  I happen to agree with you regarding the water supply and would join calls to get this fixed ASAP!

[ChriswUfGator]

Stephen what the hell are you talking about? It's not like there is ANY WAY that a nearly six-fold increase in arrests for meter tampering could possibly have ANYTHING to do with JEA's abusive and unaffordable deposit requirements. It's not like this problem suddenly started at the same time the deposit requirements went into affect. Oh wait, it did.

This is really the epitome of unfairness. We'll send you a bill for some arbitrary amount that we feel like you might have used. If you can't pay it on time, we'll arbitrarily add another $700-$10,000 to your bill as a deposit, due immediately. If you can't pay this new arbitrary assessment on time, we'll just turn your power and water off and your kids can just go without showers, food, heat, etc. If you turn the power back on, we'll have your ass arrested. It's one big fuck you.

[RiversideLoki]

Bridge, I just want to know one thing (that I asked earlier and got no legitimate answer to.)

What is your stake in JEA? Why are you so ardently defending them despite overwhelming of malfeasance? I know it's a bit of a crass question, but I can't think of anyone in Jacksonville that would defend JEA's practices besides bondholders, the board, employees, and contractors making a buck off of JEA.

What camp are you in?