Grant PUD general manager announces resignation
Grant County Public Utility District General Manager Rich Wallen, shown here testifying before the House of Representatives in 2022, has announced his resignation.
File photo
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD General Manager Rich Wallen has announced his resignation, effective June 14.
Wallen will become the chief operating officer of the Chelan County PUD.
Wallen’s resignation was submitted May 7. It was announced in a press release, and Public Information Officer Christine Pratt said the PUD would not have any further comment.
Wallen has worked for the PUD for seven years; he was appointed as general manager in February 2022. He started as managing director of power production in 2017 and was named chief operating officer in 2019.
PUD Commission Chair Tom Flint said an interim chief executive officer will be appointed.
“We as commissioners will be meeting to begin the process of selecting an interim CEO while we engage in a thorough selection process to permanently fill the position,” Flint said in the release.
Flint praised Wallen for his dedication to the job.
“Under his leadership, we have become more efficient and fiscally sound. Rich led a strategic realignment of the utility, which sets the stage for Grant PUD to meet the changes and challenges in the evolving electric utility industry,” Flint said.