Paul Kirby reports in the Daily Freeman that at online public hearings Sept. 20, local citizens were united against proposed rate increases from Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. Melanie Crouch of Hyde Park, who is disabled, said “If these rates happen, I have nowhere else to cut." Pat Pellicano had a different complaint, saying, “My bills are delayed for months.” Rosemary DaCruz of Poughkeepsie said, “We should not be rewarding a company that can’t do the bare minimum of giving an accurate bill." Central Hudson wants a one-year 16 percent jump in delivery rate for electricity and 19 percent for gas. They say that would add $1 a day to the typical electric customer and $1 a day to natural gas customers. The Public Service Commission has promised in-person hearings on the rate hikes, but none have been scheduled at this time. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.