Utilities
CLP closely monitors utility actions and policies as a community-based organization working to create a locally-based clean energy economy. We participate in rate cases and state-level regulatory proceedings to protect ratepayers, keep energy costs down, and support opportunities for residents and businesses in the Mid-Hudson region to enjoy the benefits of renewable energy ownership and clean energy development.
RATE CASE
DEBT FORGIVENESS
TAKE ACTION
Stop Central Hudson’s Rate Increase 2023!
The public is invited to comment on Central Hudson's proposed rate increases and it's time to make our voices heard!
Tell decisionmakers whether or not you think Central Hudson should be rewarded with a rate increase and tell them why you feel the way you do! Did you have problems with Central Hudson? Have the problems been remedied? Are you not sure? This is your chance to let the state know and potentially stop an increase to your utility bill!
”It’s crucial that we have folks attend these hearings, to speak up about how they will be negatively impacted by rate increases, or whether or not their billing issues have yet to be remedied,” says Jess Mullen, Executive Director of Communities for Local Power.”
Read more in our press release
Read More
Debt Forgiveness
“The bill credit program for low-income customers is supported by the Public Utility Law Project, the Utility Intervention Unit of the Department of State, Citizens for Local Power, the American Association of Retired Persons, and the Long Island Power Authority, which oversees PSEG Long Island. Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Daniel W. Tietz said, "While our state's economy continues to rebound, one thing is painfully clear -many lowincome New Yorkers are still struggling to pay down utility bills accrued during the public health crisis. In addition to providing immediate relief to households enrolled in the Energy Affordability Program, this effort will help identify many others qualified for and in need of assistance. This program, along with many others designed to bring relief to struggling households, demonstrates Governor Hochul's continued commitment toward helping all New Yorkers overcome hardship brought by the pandemic."
Make Shareholders Pay
The state moratorium preventing New Yorkers' electricity from being shut off due to non-payment is about to expire. This means more than 48,000 residents in Central Hudson territory face power shutoffs. Central Hudson is under investigation for its billing practices, rate hikes, and the handling of the winter storm that lead to power outages in February 2022. Meanwhile, their profit margin has not been affected and shareholder dividends have actually increased! We aren’t alone, either– New York state is in the middle of an energy crisis. NY residential customers alone owe over $1.5 billion in unpaid bills to utilities, and businesses owe another $600 million. We were already paying sky-high prices for energy, and the recent bill hikes have seen some New Yorkers' bills double or triple in the last few weeks alone. This is a catastrophe, and it's not sustainable. This is a statewide issue, with state-level solutions.
We need our state leaders to take action. We are calling on Governor Hochul, the New York State Legislature, and the Public Service Commission to make the for-profit utilities pay for debt relief, not the ratepayers. Utility shareholders have been making major money throughout the pandemic, and it is fundamentally unjust to ask New Yorkers to foot the bill for their profits when so many people have to choose between paying for groceries or running their electricity.
2020 Central Hudson Rate Case
As a non-profit organization dedicated to helping communities in the mid-Hudson region transition to a locally-based clean energy economy, CLP sought in this rate case to address issues of significant impact on our municipalities, residents, and small businesses.
Further Reading & News
Our victories in the Central Hudson Rate Case are listed down below.
Rate Decrease in the First Year: CLP welcomes the unusual rate decrease that Central Hudson’s customers will experience during Year I of the new three-year rate period. It is surely appropriate given the devastating impacts of the pandemic on individuals’ and businesses’ ability to pay
Spanish Website & Billing: We raised the issue of language accessibility and welcome the company’s explicit commitment to provide Spanish-language informational materials and bills to its customers who require them. As detailed in Appendix Z of the Joint Proposal, Central Hudson is committed to translating its website into Spanish by December 31, 2022
Gas Sales Targeting a Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: As part of the Joint Settlement, Central Hudson has committed to developing a greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan