Lana Bellamy reports for the Times Union that some business owners are upset because Central Hudson wants to raise rates 16 percent on the average residential electric bill and 19 percent on the average natural gas bill to pay for system upgrades. The Public Utility Law Project, a consumer advocacy group, filed a motion in October to block the rate increase, citing an ongoing Public Service Commission investigation into Central Hudson billing errors. And many local politicians are against the rate increase, with Rep. Pat Ryan showing up with the business owners and activists at a Jan. 26 press conference in Kingston. Ryan said, “Central Hudson’s proposed double-digit rate increase is blatant corporate greed." Central Hudson spokesperson Joe Jenkins said the company is working to resolve all its customers’ concerns in a timely fashion, and said, “That is why we have scheduled two additional customer service events in the coming months that give an opportunity to customers who have come to us through their elected officials to discuss any lingering concerns they may have." Read more about this story in the Times Union.