POUGHKEEPSIE – Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-Newburgh) announced that he will be hosting a virtual forum for constituents to ask Central Hudson representatives about their utility bills. The utility company has come under scrutiny after customers were subjected to substantial rate increases recently.
The forum is being held in a virtual format on Thursday, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. through Microsoft Meetings. Participants can join the forum by clicking HERE.
“In the past few weeks, my office has been hearing non-stop from constituents unhappy about their utility bills,” Jacobson said. “I have been working with constituents to try to resolve their individual problems about their recent bills, but the problems go beyond individual billing glitches. That is why I have secured an online forum so constituents can ask questions directly about their bills directly to Central Hudson.”
As of December 2021, the Public Utility Law Project (PULP) estimated 48,228 Central Hudson accounts are behind by 60 days or more, for a total of $24,764,448. Central Hudson estimates its total customer base to be roughly 393,000.
The rate increases, according to Central Hudson are only part of the issue for the soaring bills but Jacobson disagrees. “I met with Central Hudson which is blaming their new billing software, estimated billing. the winter weather and the fluctuating energy market, but none of these excuses are acceptable for the frustration we’re all experiencing.”
