PSC Seeks Public Comment On Rates For Central Hudson

ALBANY, NY (01/20/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York State Public Service Commission seeks public comments on an application filed July 31, 2009 in which Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation (Central Hudson) has proposed new rates, effective July 1, 2010, to increase the company's annual revenues by $15.2 million (6 percent) for electric delivery service and $4.0 million (6 percent) for gas delivery service.

According to Central Hudson's estimates based on electric and gas commodity price forecasts as of June 2009, if a residential customer buys not only delivery service but also the commodity itself from Central Hudson, the proposed delivery rate increases would increase the typical monthly residential bill for combined delivery and commodity service by $3.46 (3.7 percent) for electricity and $3.97 (3.5 percent) for natural gas.

The public statement hearings will be held before an Administrative Law Judge as indicated below:

Poughkeepsie - Tuesday, January 26, 2010

11:00 a.m.

Common Council Chambers Municipal Building

3rd Floor, 62 Civic Center Plaza

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Kingston - Tuesday, January 26, 2010

6:00 p.m.

Council Chambers

Kingston City Hall, 420 Broadway

There will be an opportunity for informal discussion before each hearing. It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or present written material to speak at the hearings. Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card. All comments at the hearings will be transcribed and become part of the Commission's formal record. Each hearing will remain open for at least one hour, and will continue until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements are made.

To assist with daytime parking at the Poughkeepsie hearing, free parking will be available in the City Hall Parking Garage at 62 Civic Center for anyone attending the hearing. Participants should bring their garage tickets to the hearing to be validated.

Disabled persons requiring special accommodations may place a collect call to the Department of Public Service's Human Resource Management Office at 518-474-2520 and should contact that office as soon as possible.

Central Hudson asserts that it needs additional delivery revenues mainly because of "mandates and externally imposed costs," reduced sales volumes due to poor economic conditions and conservation, environmental remediation at the former manufactured gas plant in Newburgh, the cost of investment capital needed to serve new customers and maintain or upgrade delivery systems for existing customers, and inflationary increases in operating and maintenance expense and labor costs.

After all testimony and exhibits were filed, the active parties entered negotiations which could result in a new rate proposal to the Commission. Under the Public Service Law, the Commission is required to decide Central Hudson's electric and gas cases by June 30, 2010. The Commission may approve, modify, or reject the company's request, in whole or in part, and may set rates for a multi-year period.

Other Ways to Comment

Writing: Those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at a public statement hearing may comment by writing to Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. Your comment should refer to "Cases 09-E-0588 and 09-G-0589 – Central Hudson - Rates."

Toll-Free Opinion Line: You may comment through the Commission's Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day. Callers should select English or Spanish and press "1" to leave comments about the Central Hudson rate proposals.

Internet: You also may comment using the PSC Comment Form. On the homepage of the Commission's consumer website, www.askPSC.com, (1) click on "Contact Us" and then (2) click on "Comment Form." Many libraries offer free Internet access.

All comments using these methods should be submitted, or mailed and postmarked, no later than March 17, 2010. All statements at the hearings and other comments will become part of the record, will be made available at www.dps.state.ny.us, and will be reported to the Commission for its consideration.

Persons interested in the company's filing, the parties' testimony, and related documents may view them at www.dps.state.ny.us. On the homepage, click on "Electric" or "Natural Gas" and then click on "Central Hudson Electric [or Gas] Rate Case."

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