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PSC audit has more criticism of Central Hudson

Apr 24, 2023 12:46 am

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that on April 20 the New York State Public Service Commission released an audit of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. that showed the company had a 900 percent increase in adjusted bills. A national independent firm, Overland Solutions, Inc, conducted the audit. It came after thousands of complaints about the adjusted and estimated bills Central Hudson recently sent customers, after switching away from meter readers. The audit said, in part, "Central Hudson’s practice of issuing bills monthly but reading meters every other month contributed to billing issues and a large increase in customer complaints and further noted that, as of June 2022, only 53 percent of Central Hudson’s electric and gas meters featured automated meter reading technology." State Senator Michelle Hinchey is trying to pass a bill to require monthly, accurate meter readings, and said, “Everything that we know to be true about Central Hudson’s sweeping mishandling of estimated billing and woefully inadequate customer service procedures is re-confirmed by this audit and verified in the PSC’s findings, making the need for my legislation to stop these negligent practices all the more urgent.” Read the full story in Porcupine Soup.