Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that Rep. Pat Ryan is figuring out what tools and leverage he can marshall at the federal level to get Central Hudson to fix its billing practices. Ryan called Central Hudson’s handling of billing procedures “borderline criminal.” Central Hudson has been sending customers bills that are very high, and also not sending some customers any bills, and then sending them several with a quick deadline for payment while, according to Ryan, making “record-breaking revenues and profits.” Ryan said, “This is a public utility.... They need to be answerable to us.... I’m going to continue to escalate with every tool I have. I did it as county executive and I’m going to escalate ever further now as your member of Congress to put and keep the pressure on.” Ryan, currently the 19th Congressional District representative, is running for the 18th Congressional District seat this fall, after redistricting jumbled the local maps. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.