Former JEA Chair Testifies as Council Considers Expanding Probe

Jacksonville City Council's special investigative committee on JEA met for the third time.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:59am

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A serene, cinematic painting of a lone utility pole or electrical substation, its metal frame and insulators casting long shadows across a sun-dappled urban landscape, conveying a sense of civic infrastructure and political tension.The ongoing investigation into the failed attempt to sell Jacksonville's public utility JEA exposes lingering questions about the motivations behind the controversial proposal.Today in Jacksonville

The Jacksonville City Council's special investigative committee on the city-owned utility JEA met on Monday, with the former chair of the JEA board testifying before the committee. The council is considering expanding the scope of the investigation into the controversial sale attempt of JEA in 2019.

Why it matters

The proposed sale of JEA, the city-owned electric and water utility, was a major controversy in Jacksonville in 2019. The investigation aims to uncover the details and decision-making behind the attempted sale, which was ultimately abandoned.

The details

The special investigative committee heard testimony from former JEA board chair Alan Howard, who said he was 'caught by surprise' by the direction the sale process took. The committee is looking into the actions and motivations of JEA leadership during the attempted sale.

  • The Jacksonville City Council's special investigative committee on JEA met on Monday, April 14, 2026.
  • The controversial attempt to sell JEA occurred in 2019.

The players

Alan Howard

The former chair of the JEA board of directors.

Jacksonville City Council

The city council in Jacksonville, Florida, which has formed a special investigative committee to look into the attempted sale of the city-owned utility JEA in 2019.

JEA

The city-owned electric and water utility in Jacksonville, Florida, which was the subject of a controversial attempted sale in 2019.

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What they’re saying

“I was caught by surprise by the direction the process took.”

— Alan Howard, Former JEA Board Chair

What’s next

The Jacksonville City Council's special investigative committee is considering expanding the scope of its investigation into the attempted sale of JEA in 2019.

The takeaway

The ongoing investigation into the failed JEA sale attempt continues to uncover new details about the decision-making and actions of utility leadership, raising further questions about the motivations behind the controversial proposal.