Gainesville residents took to the streets near Bo Diddley Plaza today to protest what they call unfair GRU utility rate hikes.

The protestors carried signs expressing concerns about proposed rate increases.

They say it's a burden on families that are already struggling to pay bills.

Protester Brian O'Brien said, "the GRU rates are too high, the poor cannot afford to pay anymore and the reason they're too high is Mayor Poe and his cobble have gambled with the taxpayer's money."

Protestors like Brian O'Brien say Gainesville residents need to attend city commission meetings so they can have their voices heard when it come to rate increases.

Others say they aren't confident in how their usage meters are being monitored by the city-run utility.

Eloise Bowman who has lived in Gainesville for more than 10 years said, "they'll say you know you can expect some hot days so you're bill is going to be extra high. So you're not charging me according to my usage, you're charging me according to the weather because I don't do anything any different."

We reached out to Mayor Poe for comment but received no response.