Central Hudson 2024 Shut Offs Info
Starting in early May, 2024, Central Hudson is resuming the release of Final Termination Notices in their Kingston District, to residential customers who have unpaid balances greater than two months past due.
The Kingston District service area includes Denning, Esopus, Hurley, Kingston, Marbletown, Neversink (Sullivan County), Olive, Rochester, Rosendale, Saugerties, Ulster, Wawarsing, and Woodstock.
The Importance of Making A Complaint with Department of Public Service
An account that has an active complaint open (with a complaint case number issued by the Department of Public Service/DPS), the Company may not shut off service. However, occasionally mistakes on this can occur. Consequently, DPS has an extended hours phone line – the Hotline, 800-342-3355 – which is dedicated to service terminations and failure of service to be connected. They are open for calls from 7:30am to 7:30pm.
BEFORE OPENING A COMPLAINT: You must attempt to work with Central Hudson on resolving your issue. Only if you cannot reach a satisfactory resolution with Central Hudson should you open a complaint with the Department of Public Service.
Do you have a complaint case number already? Make an update to it every two weeks, if you’ve received a termination notice or are still having bill issues.
Did you receive a termination notice but can’t find your complaint case #? Make a new complaint describing your situation, and save the case # assigned to it.
Are you having billing issues but have not made a complaint yet? Make one now, and you should receive a complaint case number within a few days.
Account terminations should not occur while your inquiry is being investigated; however, any amount not in dispute must be paid when due.
DPS Complaint Links
FILE A NEW COMPLAINT HERE (Save the case number assigned to your case)
Protections for Households with a Resident That’s Elderly, Blind, Low-income, Or Disabled
Certain households that qualify will not be shut off, including households with a resident that is elderly, blind, disabled, or low-income.
Central Hudson provides special protections for elderly, blind and disabled persons; persons on life support equipment or with medical emergencies; and customers receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits, or additional state payments. The Company is supposed to work with customers to make a satisfactory payment agreement and notify local social services if appropriate. They should not disconnect service during a health or safety emergency. They also must protect persons in two-family dwellings where service is not metered separately.
Households With A Low Income Resident have the option of enrollment in Central Hudson's monthly discount program "EAP" is the fastest way. Here's a link to the application form. https://www.cenhud.com/en/forms/energy-affordability-program-application/
Eligibility for at least ONE member (the “Benefit Qualifying Person”) of the household needs to include existing enrollment in one of the following programs:
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Lifeline Telephone Service Program (Lifeline)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Medicaid
Veterans Disability or Survivors Pension
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Federal Public Housing Assistance
Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (if living on tribal lands)
Head Start (if living on tribal lands)
Tribal TANF (if living on tribal lands)
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (if living on tribal lands)
Central Hudson Rights & Responsibilities has more helpful info.
How to plan for the potential receipt of a final disconnection notice
Step 1: Contact Central Hudson if you believe that you're behind on your bill by two months or more and currently have questions or concerns about your account. You can visit https://www.cenhud.com/en/customer-service/contact-us/
Step 2: Keep an eye out for your next bill. When it arrives, check to see if a Final Termination Notice is included. If you're unsure of when your next bill will arrive, you can contact the Company and ask them.
Step 3: If you receive a Final Termination Notice, contact the Company immediately. They should offer you a deferred payment agreement to help pay what you owe back over time. If they offer you a payment agreement that is not financially possible, or you are concerned the terms are too high and it is likely something that you'll break, explain and ask for a more affordable option.
Step 4: If you are unable to reach a satisfactory resolution with Central Hudson, you have the right to file a Complaint or Inquiry with the NYS Department of Public Service. This includes unsatisfactory efforts to obtain a payment agreement and concerns as to whether or not your balance and bill are accurate.
Step 5: Complaints and inquiries can be filed by calling 800-342-3377 or by filing online at:
https://dps.ny.gov/file-complaint
Step 6: You will receive a complaint number. If you do not hear from the Company, or if you do hear from the Company after filing your complaint and you're still unable to reach a resolution, contact the Department of Public Service again to update your complaint by calling 800-342-3377 or by updating your complaint online at:
https://dps.ny.gov/file-complaint
Step 7: If you are low-income, contact your County Department of Social Services and tell them that you have received a Final Termination Notice. You may qualify for utility related financial assistance such as Emergency HEAP and Emergency Energy Assistance.
Ulster Co. DSS: (845) 334-5436 (8AM-5PM)
Sullivan Co. DSS: 845-807-0142 (8AM-5PM)
Note: Communities for Local Power is a non-profit organization and the information provides options that ratepayers can pursue, but it is not legal advice. Households with additional concerns about their bills and service status should contact their case liaison with the Department of Public Service and/or their utility provider.