New Central Hudson Program Encourages Customer Choice, Offers Savings

Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation today introduced a new option for customers who are interested in participating in the deregulated energy supply market but aren't sure how to go about it. The utility's new EnergySwitch program offers a guaranteed, one-time savings on electricity and natural gas supply costs on a trial basis.

Participation is voluntary, and customers enrolling in the program will receive their energy supply from a competitive marketer that has agreed to offer a one-time discount on their first bill, equal to 7 percent of their average bimonthly energy supply charges. Enrolled customers will be assigned to a participating, pre-approved independent marketer, or may select the participating marketer of their choice.

Savings for a typical residence using 500 kWh (kilowatt-hours) of electricity per month would be approximately $6 on a bimonthly bill, and approximately $14 on a bimonthly natural gas bill with a typical usage of 80 CCF (hundred cubic feet) per month. An individual’s actual savings will vary with his/her usage and market supply prices.

"EnergySwitch is available to both residential and small commercial customers, and is designed to encourage participation in the competitive energy supply marketplace by offering automatic enrollment and guaranteed savings," explained Central Hudson Senior Vice President of Customer Services Charles A. Freni. “Customers would still receive one consolidated bill for both energy delivery and supply, too.”

New York State's deregulation of the energy marketplace allowed electric and natural gas customers to choose their energy supplier, with the local utility continuing to deliver that energy and to provide a broad array of customer services. Central Hudson’s EnergySwitch program was developed to aid those who want to take advantage of new energy supply options by automatically enrolling them with a participating, pre-approved marketer or allowing them to select a participating marketer, and offering the 7-percent discount on a one-time basis. After the EnergySwitch trial period, customers may continue with the marketer at a negotiated rate, choose a different marketer, or return to Central Hudson for their energy supply.

"Customers should note that the program’s 7-percent discount applies only to the unregulated and variable energy supply portion of their bill, and that their delivery charges will be unaffected," Freni added. He also urged customers with questions about EnergySwitch or the other options available through the deregulated natural gas and electricity supply market to call Central Hudson’s special toll-free information line, established to provide information on the program and Customer Choice, at 1-866-763-8593; or visit www.CentralHudson.com.

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