William J. Kemble is reporting in the Daily Freeman Central Hudson is asking the state Public Service Commission to require small energy producers to help fund the cost of maintaining the electric grid. The Poughkeepsie based company is one of six utilities and three private companies making the request under the name, Solar Progress Partnership. According to a Central Hudson spokesman, because of the way the current metering program is designed, as the number of customers using solar or wind systems increase, costs will increase for those who obtain their electricity from the grid. Under the partnership's proposal to the PSC, a fee would be charged when solar installations are connected to the grid. Existing rooftop solar programs would be allowed to continue, as is, through 2019. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.