Letter to the editor
GRU CEO Ed Bielarski submitted the speech he presented at the Four A’s forum today:
I am honored to be here today to assist the community with a better understanding of the GRU Governance Charter Amendment. I’m not here to advocate for either a YES or NO vote. I’m here to help you understand the consequences of either vote. Then you’ll decide.
When faced with a decision on a YES or NO vote, I’m reminded of the famous quote: “Those who cannot remember history are condemned to repeat it.”
For over 100 years, the City Commission has governed the utility. What’s their track record?
The last 20 years have been defined by poor decision-making and financial mismanagement, leading to crushing debt, aging infrastructure, and high electric rates.
I know this to be true – I was the General Manager from 2015 through early 2022. I worked to protect GRU from the repercussions of the Commission’s reckless behavior. I was fired for doing so and telling them to:
- Stop using GRU as the city’s piggy bank.
- Stop asking GRU customers to fund pet projects.
- Stop reaching into the pockets of GRU’s almost 40,000 county customers.