ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) will hold in-person public statement hearings on Tuesday, October 17, and Wednesday, October 18, 2023, concerning proposed changes in the electric and gas delivery rates of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation (Central Hudson).

On July 31, 2023, Central Hudson filed amendments to its electric and gas tariff schedules proposing to increase its annual electric and gas delivery revenues effective July 1, 2024. Central Hudson proposes to increase its electric delivery revenues by approximately $139.5 million (a 31.9 percent increase in base delivery revenues or a 16.4 percent increase in total revenues), and its natural gas delivery revenues by approximately $41.5 million (a 29.2 percent increase in base delivery revenues or a 19 percent increase in total revenues). The actual bill impacts of these proposed changes on any particular customer class will vary based upon revenue allocation and rate design.

Central Hudson states that its rate filings include proposals to: ensure safe, reliable, and resilient electric and gas systems; provide energy efficiency incentives and services in support of New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goals and targets; effectively respond to major storms and extreme weather events, invest in grid modernization to restore power more quickly, and timely recover storm costs; maintain affordability, mitigate customer bill impacts, and upgrade technologies to improve the customer experience; and support workforce growth.

For its electric business, Central Hudson states that major drivers of the rate increase are related to capital investments associated with replacing aging infrastructure; increased labor expenses; continued and enhanced low income, energy efficiency, and heat pump programs; increased capitalization and financing costs; and recovery of costs associated with major storms and extreme weather. For its gas business, Central Hudson states that rate increases are attributable to continued and enhanced low income and energy efficiency programs; increased capital investment to eliminate leak prone pipe; labor expense; and capitalization and financing costs.

Central Hudson’s pre-filed testimony and exhibits in these proceedings may be reviewed online at the Department of Public Service website, www.dps.ny.gov, by clicking on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”) and entering the case number (23-E-0418 or 23-G-0419) in the box labelled “Search by Case Number.” Under New York State law, the Commission must consider a utility's rate proposal and may adopt or reject it, in whole or in part, or modify it. In doing so, the Commission will consider changes proposed by the participating parties and general public.

Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are presiding over the gathering of public comments and all evidence relating to the proposal. Public statement hearings will be held over two days to obtain comments from the public concerning Central Hudson’s proposals.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that public statement hearings will be held before ALJs James A. Costello and/or Ashley Moreno, as follows:

Those wishing to comment on any aspect of these proceedings will have the opportunity to make a statement on the record before the ALJs. It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance, or present written material to speak at a hearing. Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card. Each public statement hearing will be held open a minimum of thirty minutes and will be kept open until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made to include their comments in the record. A verbatim transcript of each public statement hearing will be made for inclusion in the record of these proceedings.

Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations should call the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource Management Office at (518) 474-2520 as soon as possible. TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading English are encouraged to call the Department at (800) 342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.

Other Ways to Comment

For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at a public statement hearing, there are several other ways to provide your comments to the Commission. Comments should refer to “Case 23-E-0418 and Case 23-G-0419 – Central Hudson.”

Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”), enter the case number (23-E-0418 or 23-G-0419) in the box labelled “Search by Case Number,” and then click on “Post Comments” located at the top right of the page.

Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission and may be accessed on the Department of Public Service website by searching the case numbers, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Individuals may choose to submit comments by calling the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to receive comments about pending cases from in-State callers 24-hours a day. These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.