Serving Gainesville since 1990 1887 - Gainesville citizens receive manufactured gas in their homes from a private firm. 1959 - Gainesville grants a 30-year, non-exclusive franchise to the Gainesville Gas Company to deliver natural gas. 1989 - Agreement ends and the City acquires the gas system. 1990 - GRU assumes operation. Today - GRU has more than 730 miles of underground mains, linking to GRU's 34,000 natural gas customers.