Paul Kirby reports for the Daily Freeman that as Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. tries to raise its prices to consumers, they are also saying electric supply costs fell by more than a penny this month compared to September and less than half of what it was last year. October’s supply costs fell to 7.6 cents per kilowatt hour from 9.1 centers in September. Before that, electricity prices had risen for four consecutive months. Central Hudson also reported that, for the ninth month in a row, gas supply costs also were lower. Gas supply prices are now at 37.8 cents per hundred cubic feet, down from 40.6 cents per hundred cubic feet in September and less than half what prices were a year ago. The announcement comes as Central Hudson is currently asking the Public Service Commission for rate increases. The Public Service Commission is holding public hearings about the proposed rate increases, including one at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 17, at the Robert Antonelli Senior Center 15 Academy St. in Catskill. Central Hudson claims the new rates would add roughly $1 a day to the typical electric customer and $1 a day to most natural gas customers. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.