Central Hudson History
In 1883, Newburgh village leaders persuaded Thomas Edison to build a local power plant and light up their town. The Edison Electric Illuminating Co of Newburgh made the village the second municipality in New York to be lit by electricity. Yet, in 1885, a group of local investors formed the rival Newburgh Electric Lighting Company to compete against Edison's company. Ultimately, following the War of the Currents, the rivals merged in 1895 to form the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light, Heat, and Power Company.
In 1900, New York City gas magnate, William R. Beal and a team of investors launched the Newburgh Light, Heat and Power Company and quickly acquired both Consolidated Gas, Electric Light, Heat, and Power Company and the Consumers Gas Company of Newburgh. For the next ten years, the Beal team then set about snapping some 80 small local utility companies up and down the Mid-Hudson Valley and consolidating them into their three utility companies: the Newburgh Light, Heat and Power Company, the Poughkeepsie Light, Heat and Power Company, and the Hudson Counties Gas & Electric Company. In 1911, the three merged to form the Central Hudson Gas And Electric Company.
Expansion continued and by 1927 the company reorganized to become the Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation. Today, Central Hudson serves 309,000 electric customers and and 84,000 natural gas customers through out New York's middle Hudson Valley.
In 2013, Central Hudson joined Canada-based Fortis Inc.'s federation of utility companies. Meanwhile, Central Hudson continues its commitment to nonprofit groups like the United Way, employee volunteer and matching gift programs, the company and its employees take an active role in making their Hudson Valley community a better place for the people they serve.
Central Hudson Service Territory
Central Hudson serves approximately 309,000 electric customers in some or all of of New York State's Mid-Hudson River Valley:
| Albany | Columbia | Dutchess | Greene | Orange | Putnam | Sullivan | Ulster |
Central Hudson serves these cities:
Shop Central Hudson Electricity Suppliers In Your Area.
Compare Central Hudson Electricity Rates
Compare alternative supplier electricity rates
in the Central Hudson service area.
- Enter zip code.
- Select "electricity".
- Choose "residential" or "business".
- Click "Shop for Rates".
In New York, electricity utility service territories may overlap in some zip codes. If the tool reports that it has found more than one serving your zip code, don't worry! Just choose your local utility from those listed.
You'll then get to see the listing of all the energy suppliers' plans available in your area, along with rates, term lengths, and links to more detail information.
How to Start New Central Hudson Service
Getting set up with Central Hudson is easy and convenient. Just visit the Central Hudson web site to start your electric service. If you don't have an account, you can start one there and then follow the prompts to set up your service.
Customers can also apply to start service by calling Central Hudson customer service (1-845-452-2700).
Be ready to supply:
- Service Address: The address where you want your service turned on or switched.
- The start date for electricity service.
- Personal Information: You will need to provide a valid form of identification (such as a driver's license or credit card) to validate your name and prior address. Otherwise, you will need to pay a deposit.
- The utility may also require proof of your occupancy date for service and ask you for a copy of your lease or deed.
Applicants for electric service must have paid in full all bills on their past Central Hudson accounts or agree to a deferred-payment plan before a new account can be opened. Central Hudson will notify you by letter within three business days after receiving your application if it has been denied. The letter will state the reason(s) for denial, exactly what you must do to be approved.
Will I Need to Pay a Deposit?
In New York, no utility can require any new residential customer to pay a security deposit as a condition of receiving utility service. The saem applies to anyone over 62 year old. Lastly, if you receive public assistance, you will not need to pay a deposit.
However, the utility can require a deposit if:
- You're new seasonal or short-term customer.
- You are applying for a new Central Hudson account within 60 days of closing an old account and the bill you get once every two months is 50 days overdue, and you have not paid at least one-half of what you owe.
- You were previously disconnected during the past six months.
Note: If you're aged 62 or older or you are receiving public assistance, supplemental security income, or additional state payments then you will not need to pay a deposit.
If you must pay a deposit -- Central Hudson must notify you in writing within 3 business days about the specific reasons why you are required to pay a security deposit. NY law states that deposits cannot be greater than an estimated two months usage.
Customers have 20 days after the utilty sends the deposity request notification to make a payment. However, customers can pay the full deposit in installments over a 12 month period. Central Hudson can hold deposits for residential service for 12 months. If the customer pays their bill in full and on time for 12 consecutive months, the deposit will earn interest.
Understand Central Hudson Delivery and Supply Charges
In New York, residential customers pay for both the cost to deliver their electricity as well as for the amount of electricity supply that they use.
Understand Central Hudson Zone Charges
New York State is a complicated place to supply and distribute electricity. For the that reason, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) operates New York's bulk electricity grid, administers the state's wholesale electricity markets, and provides comprehensive reliability planning for the state's bulk electricity system.
To keep the power flowing smoothly all across New York State, NYSIO has divided it into 11 load zones, labeled A through K.
These load zones directly affect your electricity rates:
- New York electric utilities can operate in more than one load zone. For example, Central Hudson serves zones F and G.
- Both supply and delivery rates can be different in each zone. That means the rates you pay for your electricity will depend on which zone you live in.
What Are Central Hudson PTC Charges?
When deregulation began in New York, all utilities that wanted to participate in consumer choice had to sell off their generators and limit their business to energy delivery. However, the NY PSC requires these utilities to provide electricity supply at a default rate to customers in their service territory who don't shop for a retail supplier. As a result, these utilities must purchase their electricity supply for the default rate from generator companies.
The NY PSC oversees Central Hudson's default service rates since these represent generation supply costs that are passed directly through the utility onto their customers without mark up. This default rate is also called the "Price to Compare" or PTC.
Price to Compare (PTC)
The PTC default rate represents the actual price (generation + transmission) the utility pays for the electricity. In other words, it not only includes the generator company's price for making the electricity but also the cost to transmit it from power stations over high tension power lines to Central Hudson's local electrical switch yards. From there, the electricity is distributed throughout the Central Hudson local electrical grid for delivery to homes.
Central Hudson's PTC rate is composed of the Supply charge. This rate is based upon market conditions during the billing period and will vary depending on where you live or do business. It changes monthly. There are also other charges which include the Merchant Function Charge, the Clean Energy Standard Supply Surcharge, the Electricity Supply Reconciliation Mechanism, and other surcharges.
Because electricity demand fluctuates due to seasonal weather, Central Hudson's Supply charge rates can vary seasonally; low some months, higher the next -- especially in summer when air conditioning usage can soar. You can never be too sure what you'll pay from one mnth to the next.
Central Hudson Current PTC Standard Residential Rate:
- 5.560 cents per kWh, expires 3/31/2025
How Much Do Central Hudson Charges Cost?
The US Energy Information Agency reports that in 2019 New York State's residential customers used an average of about 577 kWh each month.
Therefore, an average residential PTC bill roughly breaks down like this:
| Rate per 577 kWh Used | Monthly Customer Charge | Total | |
| PTC Supply Rate (excluding MFC and other surcharges) |
5.560 cents | 0 | $32.08 |
| Monthly Distribution Charges (non-summer rate, excluding riders) |
$0.09579 per kWh | $19.50 | $74.77 |
| Total Bill | $106.85 |
Understand New York Energy Choice
New York electric consumers are free to choose to buy electricity from Energy Service Companies (ESCOs). These alternative suppliers shop deals with different electricity generators on the wholesale market to offer competitive rates. As such, their rates are not controlled by NY PSC nor do they include the same complicated supply surcharges that Central Hudson does in its monthly PTC rate. This way, ESCOs are able to offer competitively priced fixed rate plans for a variety of term lengths.
Though it can seem confusing, shopping electricity plans is an easy process. The trick is finding the one that meets your needs. That's why retail energy suppliers in New York offer two types of plans:
Your Energy Usage and Your Central Hudson Bill
While your energy usage habits are unique to you, any upstate New York native will tell you that winters can be bitterly cold upstate and summers can be hot, hazy, and humid. While your biggest energy usage will usually follow the weather, all those other domestic activities, like cooking and cleaning, also add to your monthly bill.
- While most NY homes rely on natural gas for heating, only 12.2% of homes in the state rely on electricity for heat.
- New York residents spend on average 5% of their annual energy costs on air conditioning. About 53% of NY households have window or wall-mounted AC systems while only 20% have central AC.
- Approximately one third (32%) of home electricity usage goes to electronics, lighting, appliances, and air conditioning.
- The remainder of energy use goes to water heating, refrigeration, lighting, electronics, clothes dryers, cooking, and small appliances.
Want to learn more about your home energy usage? Central Hudson customers can track 12 months of their home's electric usage plus other relevant information on each monthly bill or by logging on to your Central Hudson account.
The most effective way to cut your energy bills is to reduce your usage by sealing your doors and windows against winter and summer drafts. Adding insulation to your attic, sealing and insulating your basement, and purchasing a programmable or smart thermostat also improve your home's energy efficiency and help cut your electric bills. Your utility company can provide a wealth of resources and may offer programs to help you improve your home's energy performance.
Understand Your Central Hudson Bill
Your Central Hudson bill contains many details that can be confusing to customers. But there's lots of useful information to help you better understand your usage and rate. Below, we break down the most important items on a sample Central Hudson Electric bill.
Central Hudson Sample Bill
- A: Account Number. This shows your 11 digit Central Hudson account number.
- B: Central Hudson Contact Info. To the right is the mailing address Central Hudson. To the left are other ways you can contact the utility for billing questions, or to report an outage or other emergency.
- C: Central Hudson Bill Summary. This section shows your previous charges, previous payment, and your current charges for Central Hudson.
- D: Provider Bill Summary. This section shows your previous charges, previous payment, and your current charges for your electricity supplier.
- E: Total Amount Due. Here you can find the total amount for all charges due for the current billing period. It also shows the date when late charges will be added and the next scheduled meter reading date.
- F: Usage Information. To the left, a diagram displays how much of your total bill went to your electric supply charges and delivery charges. To the right, it lists your electricity and natural gas usage for the current year and the previous year and compares your usage amounts to heating degree days. This way, you get an idea of how much energy your home uses for heating. This can be very helpful in planning your budget when you shop for retail energy plans.
- G: Ways to Pay. This lists convenient ways you can pay your Central Hudson Bill. Some methods may require you to pay fees.
- H: Payment Stub Message Section. This section shows important messages from Central Hudson, including the minimum payment amount due for your current bill.
- I: Payment Stub Amount Due. This section includes your customer account number and summarizes the total amount due for the current billing period. It also shows the date that late charges will take effect if the bill has not been paid by then.
- J: Payment Stub Mailing Address. This section shows the service address and the mailing addres to return this stub with your payment if you pay Central Hudson by mail.
Compare Central Hudson Rates
Central Hudson Coupons, Energy Promotions, Discounts, Rebates and Promo Codes
As your local electric utility, Central Hudson offers several rebate and energy efficiency programs to help customers save money off their monthly bill by upgrading their home's energy performance. Some programs also offer money-saving incentives while others could make paying your monthly bills much easier during those expensive winter and summer months.
| Program Name | Program Type | Benefit |
| HVAC Rebates Program | Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Central Hudson residential customers can take advantage of generous rebates on the purchase of high efficiency heating and cooling systems, including geothermal, heat pumps, central air conditioning, ductless systems, and water heating.
|
| Appliance Rebate Program | Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Appliances include energy-saving LED bulbs, water heaters, washers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, ventilation fans, and dehumidifiers through participating local retailers. Look for Central Hudson special pricing signage. Rebates range from $25 to $1000. |
| Residential Energy Assessment & Upgrades | Energy Efficiency Program | Sealed has teamed Central Hudson to help qualifying customers receive rebates to help improve your home's energy efficiency.
|
| Em-Power New York Energy Efficiency Upgrades | Residential Energy Efficiency | Central Hudson has partnered with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to provide no-cost energy efficiency upgrades to eligible Central Hudson customers to reduce their electric bills.
|
| Central Hudson Payment Arrangements | Bill payment assistance | Central Hudson offers payment arrangements to allow residential customers to pay their account balance in monthly installments. These installments are billed along with your current monthly charges and both must be paid on time, in full each month.
|
| Central Hudson Energy Care and Share | Bill payment assistance | If you're a residential customer that has exhausted all other forms of assistance and is facing a hardship (such as a Final Termination Notice, service shut off due to nonpayment, etc) you may be eligible. As long as funding remains available, eligible recipients may receive a maximum of $275 to pay their bill. Applicants must contact a Central Hudson customer service representativeve for a referral. The Good Neighbor Fund is administered by the Salvation Army and funded by Central Hudson customers, employees and shareholders. |
| Low Income Grant | Bill payment assistance | Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides both regular and emergency financial grants to eligible households to help pay heating and/or utility bills. HEAP benefits are funded by the federal government and administered through the New York state Department of Social Services. Central Hudson customers who receive a HEAP benefit during the HEAP season will be issued a monthly bill credit on their Central Hudson bill for a maximum of 12 months based on service type.
|
Read Central Hudson Reviews
Since Central Hudson serves a mid-size east coast market segment, Hudson Valley residential customers can get a better picture of how good a job it does by comparing it to similar sized utilities. While Central Hudson is not accredited with the BBB, the utility ranks within the average range for J.D. Power's 2020 utility residential customer satisfaction study.
| NY Energy Ratings Score | Better Business Bureau | J.D. Power 2020 Electricity Utility Study |
| N/A | Not Accredited, A+ |
712 of 1000 pts |
How Do I Get the Cheapest Central Hudson Rate?
Shopping for a new Central Hudson Customer Choice Plan can seem bewildering at first. Once you understand how it works, though, it's an easy and straightforward process. That said, you should have these three things with you when you shop for electricity.
- Your current bill. Your past usage per billing period can help you estimate a how much a plan might cost you each month.
- The current Central Hudson PTC rate. Knowing the current Central Hudson supply price lets you compare rates offered by retail energy suppliers. This way, you can get a better feel for what suppliers are offering, for how long, and if any of their incentives make their price work for your family's need.
- Your Central Hudson customer account number. You'll also need your load zone, billing cycle information. These are found with your This 11 digit account number on page 2 of your bill. Having these handy lets you sign up with a retail supplier right away.
Central Hudson Shopping Questions
The best way for a NY energy customer to avoid making a bad choice it to ask the right questions. That way, you can learn exactly the information that can save you money. When you shop for electricity service in New York, always be sure to ask these important questions:
- Is the rate variable or is it fixed?
- How long does the plan contract term run?
- Does the plan include any recurring monthly charges?
- Is the rate competitive with the current Central Hudson supply rate annual average? Central Hudson's rate changes monthly!
- Does the plan have an early cancellation fee?
- Does the supplier offer any customer incentives or rewards programs?
- What happens when the contract with the ESCO expires?
Other Commonly Asked New York Electricity Questions:
Who bills me? Central Hudson sends a single bill that outlines and adds up your monthly charges.
What are the Terms of Service? In NY, Customer Choice Plans must include Terms of Service that explain and identify specific charges and any fees a customer will face when they sign up for an electricity plan. Not all suppliers have the same terms. That's why all New York energy choice customers should read and understand the terms of service and contract summary for any plan they are interested in before they sign on to the plan.
What is the Right of Rescission? According to the New York ESCO Consumers Bill of Rights, residential customers have the right to rescind or cancel an agreement with an ESCO within three days of receiving the agreement without facing a penalty.
What are early termination fees? Switching retail suppliers before a contract ends can involve paying early termination fees. These can take a big chomp out of your checking account you if choose to switch retail providers before your plan contract ends.
Where can I find more information on my usage? Central Hudson customers can request 12 months of their energy usage free of charge. This is most easily available through your Central Hudson online account.
Read Central Hudson Customer Reviews
Compare Central Hudson Electricity Rates in Your Area
Bill Questions? Electricity Out? Contact Central Hudson!
Having problems or interruptions with your Central Hudson electricity? Here's the proper people to call.
Central Hudson Billing Problems
First thing to do is contact Central Hudson. If you are having trouble paying your monthly bill call Central Hudson's Customer Service: 1-845-452-2700. Have your account number ready. You can also apply online through your Central Hudson account.
Important Billing Options to keep in mind:
- Budget Billing: The NY PSC requires all New York public utilities to offer "budget billing" where annual electricity costs are averaged out over the cost of the year. This ensures that customers aren't presented with unexpectedly high bills at peak times.
- Fixed Income and Need Extra Time? The Extra Security Plan is open to Central Hudson customers on a fixed income and customers who receive Social Security income, disability benefits or survivor benefits as their only source of household income. Call Central Hudson Customer Service or by applying on-line.
Central Hudson Emergencies and Outages
All power lines are extremely dangerous! Never attempt to move a downed power line by yourself. Call 911 and then notifiy Central Hudson.
- Report downed powerlines and other safety hazards immediately to Central Hudson at 1-800-867-5222.
- You can also report downed lines or outages at Central Hudson's website.
- Check Central Hudson's current electric outages as they are being repaired.
Central Hudson Service Area Providers
| Company | Rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Frontier Utilities | (3.4/5) |
|
| Direct Energy | (3.3/5) |
(866) 645-2643 |
| Constellation | (3.3/5) |
|
| Sunwave Gas & Power | (3.1/5) |
|
| Spark Energy | (3/5) |
(866) 605-8658 |
| Major Energy | (2.9/5) |
(866) 607-4735 |
| Verde Energy | (2.8/5) |
|
| Kiwi Energy | (0/5) |
|
| SFE Energy | (0/5) |
|
| Spring Power & Gas | (0/5) |
|
| 10 results | ||
New York Zip Codes with the Cheapest Electricity Rates
The Latest Central Hudson News
New Year, New Law for Utility BillsWhen NYSEG and Central Hudson billing problems overcharged customers, Albany responded with a new law limiting back-billing by utilities. Learn how it may... [read more]
Keep Your Holiday Lights Safe with LEDsThese 5 LED holiday safety tips untangle the mystery of making your home's display not only safer but easy to enjoy. Plus they may help you save some money... [read more]
PULP Tells Central Hudson ‘No Treat’ This HalloweenWas it too many billing errors? Learn why PULP filed to stop Central Hudson's proposed rate hike that could add more to your monthly... [read more]
