KINGSTON – Three Democrat elected officials based in Ulster County have called on the state Public Service Commission to take immediate actions while it investigates Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation and its parent company, Fortis headquartered in Canada.
Senator Michelle Hinchey of Saugerties, Assemblyman Kevin Cahill of Kingston and Ulster Executive Pat Ryan of Gardiner asked the PSC to suspend the rate increase set to go into effect in July and restrict any rate increases until the closure of the investigation.
They also asked the Department of Public Service and the PSC to seek and apply penalties against the company and order Fortis/Central Hudson to directly compensate residential and small businesses throughout the service territory, and that the state requires transparency.
The state agency is currently investigating the utility’s customer information system implementation, which has result in several serious billing errors.
