Lawmakers urge halt to utility rate hike

Ryan, Hinchey, Cahill also call for a Central Hudson monitor and penalties

KINGSTON, N.Y. » Three top political leaders representing Ulster County are demanding that a state agency prevent Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. from raising its already-approved delivery rates in July.

Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan, Senator Michelle Hinchey, and Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, D-Kingston, have written a letter to the Public Service Commission requesting that the commission halt the utility’s rate increase in July. Additionally, they are seeking a special monitor to oversee the utility and are demanding the state to seek penalties.

The electricity and gas delivery increases received approval from the Public Service Commission in November. The approved plan includes another increase in delivery charges in July 2023.

Ryan, Hinchey, and Cahill said that the commission should restrict any increases until the closure of its investigation into the utility’s billing practices.

Jim Denn, a Department of Public Service spokesman, said that the agency would review all of the requests.

“Given the seriousness of the utility billing problems at Central Hudson, the Department is conducting separate investigations — including a deep-dive, third-party management audit — to determine what went wrong and how should it be fixed,” Denn said. “Ensuring that customer bills are sent out timely and accurately is the singular responsibility of the utility, and the Department will hold Central Hudson accountable for any billing errors while ensuring customers are held harmless.”

“While a date has not been set when the investigations will be completed, the Department is conducting the investigation with all due and deliberate speed and the requests put forth will be reviewed and considered,” Denn added.

The three elected officials are calling for the following:

• That the Department of Public Service expedite the investigation process with the goal of publishing its findings by October 1, 2022, be

“While a date has not been set when the investigations will be completed, the Department is conducting the investigation with all due and deliberate speed and the requests put forth will be reviewed and considered.”

— Jim Denn, Department of Public Service spokesman

fore the next heating season begins;

• Bi-monthly updates to lawmakers from the department on the status of the investigation;

• That the department and the commission fortify the protective measures that lawmakers have urged;

• That, due to the scope and magnitude of the consumer impact, the commission appoint an independent monitor to oversee the daily operations of Central Hudson until the full resolution of the problems; • That the commission suspend the rate increase set to go into effect in July and restrict any rate increases until the closure of the investigation;

• That the agencies use their authority to seek and apply penalties against the Company and order the utility to directly compensate residential and small businesses throughout the service territory;

• That public hearings be held prior to the reports being issued; and

• Greater transparency of the market prices and formulas.