Central Hudson’s Rate Hike — A Monopoly Masquerading as a Partner
Central Hudson’s Rate Hike:
A Monopoly Masquerading as a Partner
In her February 2025 op-ed, Central Hudson President and CEO Stephanie Raymond claimed the company is a “partner” to our community, “keeping homes warm and lights on.” But let’s be honest: when a utility is the only game in town, there is no partnership. There is no choice. Families across Dutchess County either pay Central Hudson’s bills, or live in the dark ages without electricity. That is not partnership; it is monopoly power.
I know this struggle personally. As a parent raising a family and running a household on a tight budget while working full-time, my jaw hits the floor every time I pay my utility bill especially in the summer months when the AC is running full-time.
While campaigning for County Legislature, I am aware that neighbors and community members feel it too! I have met and spoken with many Town of Poughkeepsie and Dutchess residents who are being forced to choose between paying for groceries or keeping the lights on. This is unacceptable. Electricity and heat are not luxuries, they are basic necessities.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) recently approved the Central Hudson rate hike, but it was a no-win situation. If the PSC had rejected the proposal outright, the default would have been Central Hudson’s original plan, which called for an even higher increase than what was actually negotiated in final. That is hardly a victory for the public, it is coercion dressed up as oversight.
Reportedly, starting September 1, average electric bills will rise more than 3% (about $5.43 a month), and gas bills by over 5% ($7–$8 a month). Within three years, families could be paying nearly $50 more every month. At the same time, Central Hudson plans to spend millions on executive bonuses, even after billing failures that caused mass confusion and left residents scrambling to make payments, and a gas explosion in Wappingers Falls that displaced families and will now cost the utility millions in damages. Truth be told, ratepayers should not be asked to shoulder more while executive leadership rewards itself and shields itself from accountability.
Ms. Raymond touts Central Hudson’s economic support to the Mid-Hudson Valley. But what is glaringly missing from her report is transparency: where does the money really go, and how are priorities set? Instead of rewarding executives, why not reinvest in reliability, safety, and billing systems that work for consumers instead of service metrics being set at the bare minimum to meet exective bonuses (as an audit found)?
And let me be clear: Central Hudson is the only electricity and natural gas delivery provider for roughly 300,000 electric and 78,000 natural gas customers in its service territory. While New York is technically an open-market state for electricity, where customers can choose who buys and resells their supply, Central Hudson must be contracted to deliver that energy. In practice, residents have no real choice but to rely on this monopoly for the most basic of services.
So when Ms. Raymond points to “billions in economic activity” and “millions in tax contributions,” those numbers may impress shareholders, but they ring hollow to residents who must decide which bill not to pay each month just to keep the lights on.
The people I have spoken too refuse to be put in the untenable position of choosing which bill to pay because of unscrupulous rate hikes. Central Hudson’s slogans about “community partnership” ring false. If Cen Hud leadership truly respects our community, they should justify these rate increases, disclose executive compensation, and start acting like the partner they claim to be. Until then, families like mine will continue to pay our bills each month out of necessity, but make no mistake, under duress.
Respectfully,
Anna Shah, Esq.
Candidate, Dutchess County Legislature, District 5
Town of Poughkeepsie
