Paul Kirby is reporting for the Daily Freeman Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation announced December 9, that its electric supply prices will drop by nearly 15 percent in December. The price per kilowatt hour as of Mon., Dec. 12, will be 13.7 cents, down from 16.1 cents, or 2.4 cents less than in November. In October, the price was 16.93 cents. However, Central Hudson said again that leaders and energy experts and state officials are warning residents to prepare for elevated energy supply costs throughout the winter months and are also advising residents to take steps to prepare. Before the month of November, electricity prices had skyrocketed for four straight months. Electric supply increased from 13.06 cents per kilowatt hour in September to 16.93 cents in October, the utility said. That represented an increase of 28.46 percent from the previous months, which followed a 56.97 percent jump in August. The residential price for electricity rose from 4.18 cents per kilowatt hour in June to 5.83 cents, in mid-July. Electricity and natural gas are provided by independent generators and suppliers in a competitive marketplace and purchased on behalf of customers, according to Central Hudson. The prices are not marked up and Central Hudson does not profit from them, the utility said. Read more in the Daily Freeman.