ALBANY – The Public Utility Law Project of New York, Tuesday, filed a motion to deny the Central Hudson gas and electric rate cases. The State Public Service Commission (PSC) is currently reviewing the application from the utility.
The group said it felt compelled to file after hearing the public’s concerns about the company’s billing problems raised at recent public hearings in Catskill, Kingston, Poughkeepsie, and Newburgh.
The state-appointed independent monitor has been in place at Central Hudson for several weeks. According to company officials, Central Hudson has been fully cooperating with the monitor as the accuracy of the company’s bills are reviewed and the implementation plan for monthly meter reading is rolled out.
Two area lawmakers, one federal and the other state, immediately announced their support for PULP’s call.
Congressman Pat Ryan (D, NY-18) said it is “absolutely unacceptable for Central Hudson to raise costs on our hard-working families, who are already under serious financial pressure, especially until it fixes every one of its billing issues.”
State Senator Michelle Hinchey (D, Saugerties) said PULP’s motion to kill the rate increase plan is “spot on.”
She said ratepayers have “reached a point where we have to use every tool at our disposal to protect people from these unjust rate hikes, and this motion is one of them.”
Joe Jenkins, Director of Media Relations explained the reason Central Hudson filed the rate increase.
“Central Hudson filed its proposed rate plan with the Public Service Commission to better align with the growing need for further investments in the energy system, upgrade and replace aging infrastructure, enhance responsiveness to severe weather events and to better comply with New York State’s clean energy policies,” said Jenkins.
The process of filing a rate increase with the PSC is lengthy and involves a period of public comment before the commission will make a determination on a request.
“Our filing was the start of a nearly yearlong and transparent process where this proposal will be vigorously vetted by the NYS Public Service Commission and other registered stakeholders. Since our filing at the end of July, we have received and answered many inquiries from both our regulators and other stakeholders regarding our proposal. Our goal is to work with all parties to arrive at an agreement that balances affordability with meeting the evolving needs of our customers and New York State energy policy,” concluded Jenkins.
