Customers of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation who want to learn more about their new energy options in the deregulated marketplace are invited to attend a series of public Energy Fairs to be held next week at locations in Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster counties. In addition to Central Hudson representatives, officials from several independent Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) and the New York State Public Service Commission will be available to discuss various programs and services involving both natural gas and electricity. In particular, several ESCOs will be discussing their programs to offer supplies of natural gas at fixed prices, an option that Central Hudson is no longer able to extend.

The Energy Fairs will be conducted in a “trade show format,” through which attendees can visit individual booths set up by each participating organization and engage in one-on-one conversations with the representatives. Or, attendees may simply collect printed information and view a short video presentation about energy supply options.

The fairs, which will last from noon until 8:00 p.m., will take place:

• Tuesday, September 27
  Casperkill Country Club, 2320 South Road, Route 9, Poughkeepsie
  
  
• Wednesday, September 28
  Ramada Inn, 1289 Route 300, Newburgh
  
  
• Thursday, September 29
  Holiday Inn, 503 Washington Avenue, Kingston
  

"These fairs are designed to help our customers obtain information about all the competitive energy supply providers currently doing business in Central Hudson’s energy delivery area. They're also meant to help local residents understand new offerings, as well as the concepts of customer choice and competition emerging in today's energy marketplace," said James R. Van Tassell, Central Hudson's Director of Customer Choice Programs.

"Of course, customers can also choose to have Central Hudson continue to purchase the supply of natural gas and/or electricity on their behalf. Whether Central Hudson or an ESCO supplies the actual electricity or natural gas a customer uses, Central Hudson will continue to safely and reliably deliver that energy to all customers in the region."

For additional information on new options in the energy market, visit Central Hudson at www. CHEnergyGroup.com, and click on Customer Choice Programs within the Central Hudson section of the Web site. For additional information regarding fixed-price gas options, please call 1-866-763-8593.