The Public Service Commission Wed., Mar. 16, announced it had appointed third-party independent consultants to conduct a comprehensive management and operations audit of Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation. In a press release, the Commission announced a review of Central Hudson’s response to the February winter storm that left more than 67,000 homes and businesses without power. It is also investigating ongoing billing problems related to the company’s recent upgrade to a new billing system that resulted in customers not receiving timely monthly bills. “The audit we have launched will examine Central Hudson’s electric and gas operations in New York state,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “The audit will also provide an assessment of Central Hudson’s grid modernization efforts and examines how the company plans for and manages projects related to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act... We are also closely examining Central Hudson’s storm response efforts, and its ongoing customer-billing problems.” The audit will also look at governance, management, and customer operations, including bill estimation processes. The Poughkeepsie-based utility serves approximately 309,000 electric customers and 84,000 natural gas customers in the mid-Hudson region.