Nine companies make first cut in JEA privatization process

Jacksonville, FL — The next phase of a months-long search for a privatization partner for JEA has been reached as nine companies have survived the first cut.

The eighth largest government-owned utility received a lot of interest from all kinds of companies, from traditional electric utilities to water companies and more.  JEA winnowed down the list of 16 bidders to nine firms that will now enter months of negotiation. They are:
American Public Infrastructure LLC

American Water Works Company, Inc.

Duke Energy

Emera Inc.

JEA Public Power Partners: A Consortium of Bernhard Capital Partners, Emera Inc., and Suez

IFM Investors PTY LTD

Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets Inc. (MIRA Inc.)

NextEra Energy

Respondent A (Respondent did not consent to release of name)

In a statement, JEA said the Chief Procurement Officer reviewed the overall scores of the replies and determined that the nine respondents represented those scoring 75 or more overall points.

See the complete scorecard and more of the timeline JEA will take.

There are several different possibilities, but the commonality is removing JEA from the city government structure and putting it in to the hands of community or private ownership. By February a recommendation is expected to be made to the JEA Board, followed by a vote by the full City Council, then finally voters.