Residents Unanimously Reject Central Hudson Rate Hike at Public Hearing

At a recent public hearing convened by the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC), residents from Poughkeepsie and across the Hudson Valley delivered a resounding message: reject the proposed Central Hudson rate hike.

Speaker after speaker condemned the utility’s request for increased rates, citing soaring bills, corporate greed, and a complete breakdown in public trust.

Many residents expressed outrage over Central Hudson’s financial practices, with executives receiving compensation in the millions, according to Yahoo Finance. Meanwhile, 15% of customers cannot afford to pay their energy bills, even as the utility’s parent company, Fortis Inc., reaps growing dividends and returns on investment.

"This is socialism for corporations," said one speaker, summarizing the frustration of many.

Poughkeepsie resident, Myrna Ross, shared that her Central Hudson bill soared to $1,124 for a single month, an amount wildly disproportionate to her usual $75–90 charges. Others detailed threats of service shutoffs, including during winter months.

Town of Poughkeepsie Supervisor Rebecca Edwards, a 30-year resident, spoke of the cumulative burden on ratepayers who have been paying not just for service but also for years of company mismanagement. “There has been a serious erosion of public trust,” she said.

City of Poughkeepsie Common Council candidate Daniel Atonna pointed to a recent $64 million settlement resulting from Central Hudson’s billing system failures, calling it “offensive” that the company would seek another rate hike so soon after. He noted recent incidents like a manhole explosion in Poughkeepsie as evidence of a “greedy, reckless company.” Atonna demanded that the PSC reject the rate increase entirely.

Several speakers urged adoption of broader reforms, including the New York HEAT Act and the Hudson Valley Power Authority (HVPA), a public power alternative rooted in affordability and clean energy. Citing historical precedents like the 1974 creation of public power in Massena, speakers emphasized that public utilities can deliver cleaner and cheaper energy.

A representative from Food & Water Watch added that Central Hudson continues to expand fossil fuel infrastructure while polluting water and air in pursuit of profits. “We must end corporate control over essential services,” they said, endorsing HVPA and state-level reforms.

Underlying the hearing was a growing dissatisfaction with the PSC itself. As the regulator of this state-sanctioned monopoly, the PSC is supposed to serve as a voice for consumers, not corporate shareholders. Speaker after speaker called on the commission to fulfill its mandate and reject the proposed rate increases in full.

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