POUGHKEEPSIE – Congressman Pat Ryan (D, NY-18) and State Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson (D, Newburgh) both called on the State Public Service Commission to deny Central Hudson rate increases proposed by administrative law judges.
The utility wanted to increase electric delivery revenue by 27.5 percent and gas delivery revenue by 33.2 percent.
But administrative law judges have just proposed electricity delivery increases of 16.7 percent and gas delivery increases of 21.8 percent.
Ryan called the proposed rates “outrageous, and if approved, would have a devastating impact on Hudson Valley families who continue to struggle with the fallout of Central Hudson’s billing issues.”
Jacobson called the judges’ recommended hikes “an unaffordable insult to every Central Hudson customer.”
But, utility spokesman Joseph Jenkins said the recommended decision by the judges “is another step in the process of arriving at an approved rate plan.” He said it is not a final decision and does not provide customer bill impacts.
“As part of this process, Central Hudson is reviewing the decision in its entirety and will provide additional information by the end of the month,” Jenkins said. “In the coming months, when the process is complete, the Public Service Commission will issue a final order.”
