Paul Kirby reports for the Daily Freeman that Assemblyperson Sarahana Shrestha met on Nov. 21 with top executives of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. and explained her opposition to proposed rate increases. She said, “At our in-person meeting, I explained our position for why we want to see a rate decrease.... Our constituents feel more helpless than angry at this point, and while we recognize other sources of economic pressure, especially housing, we reiterated to CEO Capone that a rate increase would worsen people’s trust in Central Hudson.” Central Hudson wants the New York Public Service Commission to approve their request to increase electric rates by 16 percent and natural gas rates by 19 percent. The company is under investigation by the Department of Public Service because of billing problems. Central Hudson spokesperson Joseph Jenkins said of the meeting with Shrestha that, “The two discussed many of the key initiatives that Central Hudson is working on now, including the implementation of our monthly meter reading plan and the current performance metrics of our billing system." Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.