Central Hudson seeks another increase

Weeks after seeing its double-digit rate hike plan slashed, Central Hudson is back at it again. The utility now proposes another round of single-digit rate hikes for electric and gas customers in the Hudson Valley, starting next summer. Central Hudson is seeking a 4.6% increase for electric and a 5.8% bump for gas customers, translating to $9.19 and $8.74 monthly increases, respectively, for the average residential customer.

The utility, which serves 400,000 customers in the mid-Hudson Valley, has submitted this proposal to the state Public Service Commission (PSC), kicking off an 11-month review. This comes on the heels of the PSC reducing Central Hudson’s ambitious double-digit rate hike requests for the year ending June 2025. Initially, the utility sought hikes of 16% for electric and 19% for gas after maintaining low rates during the pandemic. Instead, the PSC approved a 5.5% increase in electricity delivery rates and a 7.3% increase in gas delivery rates.

Central Hudson justifies these hikes as part of a multi-year plan designed to soften the impact by spreading out the increases over time. However, this has the appearance of a thinly-veiled attempt to circumvent regulatory oversight and burden consumers with unjustified costs.

The PSC’s decision to reduce unnecessary costs and prohibit using ratepayer money for executive bonuses underscores a critical point: Central Hudson’s senior management has not demonstrated a commitment to continuous improvement. Instead of improving its services and addressing internal inefficiencies, the utility is once again attempting to shift the financial burden onto its customers.

It’s time for Central Hudson to prioritize its customers over its profit margins. Hudson Valley residents deserve fair rates and reliable service, not another round of unjustified hikes.