CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN LEADS LOCAL OFFICIALS IN CALLING ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO UPHOLD ITS TRANSPARENCY PLEDGE, PUBLICLY RELEASE INDEPENDENT MONITOR'S REPORT ON CENTRAL HUDSON'S BILLING PRACTICES
Congressman Pat Ryan Leads Local Elected Officials in Calling on the Public Service Commission to Uphold its Transparency Pledge, Publicly Release Independent Monitor’s Report on Central Hudson’s Billing Practices
In letter to PSC, Ryan, Hinchey and Jacobson demand immediate release of report, which was due February 29th
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Pat Ryan led local elected officials in sending a letter to the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) calling for an update on the independent monitor’s report on Central Hudson’s erroneous billing practices and demanding the report be released to the public immediately. The report was due on February 29, 2024. Congressman Ryan’s office continues to receive complaints from Central Hudson customers experiencing billing issues.
“Transparency is an absolute must as Central Hudson works to rebuild customer trust, and it is clearly in the public’s interest to have full access to the independent monitor’s report on Central Hudson’s billing practices. I’m demanding the Public Service Commission immediately release the report, which is already more than two weeks delayed,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “This request is especially pressing, given Central Hudson’s pending rate case. Hudson Valley families deserve to know exactly what improvements and corrections Central Hudson is making to ensure this fiasco never happens again.”
“For three years, Hudson Valley residents have waited for Central Hudson to fix its billing errors, transition to monthly and accurate meter readings, and become a more transparent and trustworthy utility provider. One of the most significant steps in keeping Central Hudson accountable is seeing the findings of the Independent Billing Monitor’s report, which is now more than a week overdue,” said Senator Michelle Hinchey. “We respectfully urge the PSC to make the report public. Hudson Valley residents have a right to know whether and how Central Hudson is rectifying its systems to deliver the level of service people deserve.”
"Utility bills should be timely and accurate. The monitor was appointed to ensure that Central Hudson complies with the law and has timely billing,” said Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson. “Also, the monitor is to verify that Central Hudson corrects its billing system errors and to accelerate its plans to finally perform monthly meter readings. Central Hudson customers should expect and deserve no less."
On August 18, 2023, the PSC required that Central Hudson pay for the installment of an independent monitor to review the company’s erroneous billing practices and oversee the correction of its billing systems.
Despite Central Hudson customers continuing to experience billing issues, Central Hudson requested a rate increase of 16% for electricity and 19% for gas.
In January, the PSC announced that it chose litigation instead of negotiation in its rate case with Central Hudson.
Congressman Ryan has made repeated calls for Central Hudson’s rate increase request to be rejected until its billing systems are fully fixed and every customer that was wronged is made whole. Central Hudson hosted multiple public comment hearings on its rate increase proposal and in January, Congressman Ryan organized his own hearing with local elected officials and Central Hudson customers to demand the rate increase be rejected.
Since Congressman Ryan’s calls for an investigation into Central Hudson’s disastrous billing practices, he has received more than 11,000 formal complaints. A New York State Department of Public Service report revealed that Central Hudson’s billing system was riddled with hundreds of programming errors. This led to nearly 5,000 customers not receiving their bills, 8,000 customers being overcharged, and more than 30,000 customers whose autopay was billed incorrectly, costing them over $16 million.
Central Hudson replaced its CEO following Representative Ryan’s calls for his resignation on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Ryan has held a series of workshops connecting Central Hudson customers in NY-18 with company representatives to resolve billing issues, to establish accountability, and to rebuild trust.
A copy of Ryan, Hinchey, and Jacobson’s original letter to New York Public Service Commission Chair and CEO Rory M. Christian appears below:
Dear Chair Christian:
As you know, on August 18, 2023, the Public Service Commission (PSC) approved an agreement with Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation, requiring an independent monitor to oversee the company’s efforts to correct systematic billing errors and implement monthly meter reading. As part of the agreement, the PSC mandated that the independent monitor release a final report detailing its findings and recommendations no later than February 29, 2024.
We write today to urge that the PSC release the final report as soon as possible and to request an explanation on why it has been delayed. Despite Central Hudson’s August decision to pay for an independent monitor and apparent recognition of the serious billing problems, we have continued to receive complaints of inaccurate bills and poor customer service. The release of the independent monitor’s report is critical to ensure that our constituents’ ongoing issues are resolved and Central Hudson is held accountable.
The independent monitor’s report is particularly important given Central Hudson’s ongoing rate case with the PSC. As Central Hudson pushes for an egregious double-digit hike in gas and electric rates, customers deserve a full update on the company’s progress to deliver timely, accurate bills and monthly meter readings.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this request. We are grateful for the PSC’s work thus far to hold Central Hudson accountable and protect consumers, and look forward to the public release of the final report.
Sincerely,
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