Our energy efficiency
rebates are a hit
as homeowners get green for going green
Central Hudson is committed to energy efficiency. The company tries to spread that message every day. But the commitment goes beyond practical energy efficiency advice. Did you know Central Hudson also offers big money to customers who upgrade to energy efficient equipment in their homes and businesses? But don't just take Central Hudson's word for it. Click on the video links above to see what these customers say. And find out what types of energy efficient equipment we are currently offering rebates for on our SavingsCentral site.
IN THIS ISSUE
Rebate program a hit
President's Q&A
Support for communities
Tree planting guide
Always dig safely: Dial 811
eBills make a difference
Accolades pour in
Good Neighbor Fund
HEAP is extended
Solar Summit a success
How to get green power
Q: I've heard that fallen trees and tree limbs are the main cause of outages in this region. Why not just bury all the electrical lines underground and be done with it?
A: This is a very good question. One we hear quite often.
Yes, it's true that electric outages experienced by Central Hudson customers are caused by fallen trees or tree limbs more than anything else. We live in an area with some of the highest tree densities in New York state. When very severe weather strikes, branches or even entire trees can buckle under the weight of ice and snow, or be snapped to the ground by powerful winds. Inevitably, some of those damaged trees land on the overhead power lines, causing outages until our skilled crews arrive at the scene to repair the damage.
So why not bury all 8,000 miles of our electric lines? No more outages, right? Well, not exactly. Outages still occur when electric lines are buried underground. And when that happens it can be a much more lengthy problem to find and much more expensive problem to fix.
Furthermore, the estimated expense of undergrounding our entire system is about $18 billion. To put that in perspective, undergrounding would permanently add an average of more than $10,000 per year to the average customer's utility bill! That's an expense we could not reasonably ask our customers to pay.
Consider that our electric service reliability already averages 99.92 percent as well as the fact that undergrounding carries a complex set of environmental consequences and there are just far too many factors that make undergrounding the entire system impractical.
In some instances, it makes sense to bury the lines. This is true of major population centers as well as in new residential developments where the installation can take place together with road construction and site excavation work financed by the developer. But the astronomical cost of undergrounding the entire system is prohibitive.
How Central Hudson employees make a difference in communities we all call home
Clockwise from left, Central Hudson employees volunteer to make improvements at the Poughkeepsie headquarters of the American Red Cross of Dutchess County; Employees load a van with food items donated by coworkers to be delivered to needy neighbors; Employees make repairs and improvements at Family of Woodstock's Rosendale Family House; Employees serve ice cream at the Ulster-Greene ARC holiday party.
Serving the communities of the Hudson Valley, and the people who live in them, takes many forms for Central Hudson and its employees.
"Central Hudson employees feel strongly about supporting community service organizations, and together with our company and its shareholders, demonstrate their philanthropy each year in several ways," said Vice President Denise D. VanBuren, who added that the community support takes several forms. "In addition to financial support, it’s equally important that our employees volunteer their time and talents to so many worthwhile causes here in the Hudson Valley. Central Hudson employees donate thousands of hours every year to make our region a better place to live and work"
Since 2005, Central Hudson and its employees and shareholders have together provided more than $4.1 million in donations and sponsorships to local agencies and organizations.
VanBuren noted that the community support takes several forms:
- Employee contributions to community agencies are matched by Central Hudson’s Employee Matching Gift program. “This program allows Central Hudson to support organizations with which our employees are involved, and to spread our contributions throughout the communities we serve,” said VanBuren. Central Hudson shareholders will match employee gifts made to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations that provide services within the utility’s eight-county service territory of up to $500 per employee annually.
- In addition, employee contributions made to the Community Fund of the United Way during the annual campaign are also matched. In 2010, nearly $373,000 in employee contributions and matching shareholder funds was raised in support of local agencies and programs.
- Central Hudson shareholders also match customer contributions, up to $40,000 per year, to the Good Neighbor Fund, a last-resort grant toward utility bills for families and individuals facing financial hardship though a program administered by the local corps of the Salvation Army.
- In addition to the $413,000 in employee and shareholder donations described above, Central Hudson also extended $226,000 in 2010 to local agencies and business groups by sponsorship of community events that raise awareness, promote the local economy and support nonprofit programs.
"Our local service organizations work to improve our quality of life and to protect the health and well-being of our region," said VanBuren. "As a community we are interdependent, and Central Hudson and our employees recognize that we must all do our part to support one another."
Find out more about the many ways Central Hudson and its employees serve the communities we all call "home" in the In The Community section of our website.
eBills: The eco-friendly, green way to go
Did you know that United States households use an estimated 16.5 million trees worth of paper every year for paper billing? That's the equivalent of chopping down every tree in Central Park 687 times per year! It's an impact we're trying to reduce at Central Hudson, but we need your help.
Please switch over to our environmentally friendly eBills option today. With eBills, it's easy, convenient and secure. We'll send you an e-mail letting you know when your bill is available with a link so you can view your billing history and make payments online.
Cut down wasted paper, not trees. Become an eBills customer now.
Before you plant: Knowledge is key to harmony for your trees, electric service
Trees provide shade, oxygen, beauty and a habitat for some marvelous wildlife. When you plant a tree you'd probably like to know it will flourish for generations. Central Hudson would like that, too. But we also have a very serious responsibility to minimize power outages.
Storm-related damage to trees is the number one cause of power outages for Central Hudson customers. Interruptions are a nuisance to residents; a greater threat is posed when power is cut off to hospitals, fire and police stations, pumping stations, traffic lights and other essential public services. Some of our customers depend upon continuous, reliable supply of electrical power to operate life-support apparatus in their homes. In addition, trees that grow into contact with power lines can conduct electricity, which can create a hazard to people and property.
(Click to view full image)
When adding trees to your landscape design, please make sure to follow the guidelines prescribed in the above graphic and on the tree plantings page of our website. This list of tree heights at maturity is another useful reference to help you decide what to plant and where to plant it.
We love trees. And when they're planted in a way in which they don't endanger existing power lines we can all enjoy their beauty as well as the convenience and safety benefits that accompany the reliable distribution of electricity.
Central Hudson honored locally, nationally
The first few months of 2011 have brought Central Hudson and its employees some astounding recognition for actions ranging from emergency response to workplace diversity to economic development.
Workplace Inclusiveness Award: On Jan. 21 at the 20th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast in Poughkeepsie, Central Hudson was awarded the 2011 Richard K. Wager Workplace Inclusiveness Award by the Poughkeepsie Journal. "We are truly honored by this recognition and 
award, as Central Hudson is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to every individual,” said Steven V. Lant, Chairman of the Board and CEO. “Central Hudson employees at all levels are committed to our diversity initiatives in order to improve the quality of our workforce and better reflect the customers we serve.” Poughkeepsie Journal publisher Barry Rothfeld said, “Companies that have been recognized have learned the important lesson that a diverse workplace is not only the right thing to do, but a sound business practice.”
EEI Emergency Response: On March 2 in Washington D.C., Central Hudson accepted the Emergency Recovery Award from the Edison Electric Institute, an association of U.S. electric companies. Central 
Hudson was recognized by EEI for its restoration efforts following the "Twin Peaks" storms of February 2010. The most damaging storm event in the company's history, Twin Peaks affected more than 200,000 of Central Hudson's 300,000 electric customers. “Central Hudson was superb in dealing with an historic storm event, despite the considerable logistical challenge,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “The utility’s well-organized and aggressive response made the best of a bad situation, and the company has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that customers have power.”
Council of Industry Manufacturing Champion Award: On March 22 the Council of Industry, a nonprofit organization that has supported 
manufacturing in the Hudson Valley since 1910, named Central Hudson its 2011 Regional Organization Champion. It's the first time the Council has honored an organizational champion. In its announcement, the Council noted that Central Hudson "has made significant contributions to Hudson Valley manufacturing" and "has played a key role in promoting economic development, particularly in the manufacturing sector, for many decades."
Times are still tough for many out there and Central Hudson’s Good Neighbor Fund is straining to keep pace.
Funded by customer contributions, matched by Central Hudson’s stockholders, and administered by local offices of The Salvation Army, the Good Neighbor Fund has been making a difference for those in need for 25 years. Rising demand for this "last resort" grant by customers who need help paying energy bills, combined with a diminishing supply of donations, adds up to a precarious situation for many people here in the Hudson Valley. The Good Neighbor Fund balance is currently 50% lower than it was in the Spring of 2009 and 2010.
If you are interested in helping a neighbor and would like to make a contribution you may add a whole dollar amount of $1-$10 to your next Central Hudson bill payment or send a direct contribution to "The Good Neighbor Fund" to:
The Good Neighbor Fund
284 South Ave.
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
New York State extends HEAP benefits
New York state recently announced that a second emergency benefit is available for heat or heat related energy emergencies for households that have exhausted other Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits and meet the eligibility rules. Though the program is funding-dependent, the 2010-2011 program is now expected to remain open into May. Visit the state's Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance website for more information about this extension and click here to find the local emergency contact office(s) in your county.
Central Hudson-led Summit
energizes local solar community
Central Hudson associate engineer Kevin Post, lower right, talks with local solar energy professionals during the Feb. 9 Solar Summit at Central Hudson's Kingston office. Post was one of several speakers at the event, which was organized by Central Hudson's Environmental Stewardship Communications Committee.
More than 70 solar energy industry professionals attended Central Hudson’s Solar Summit on Feb. 9 at the company's Kingston district office. Inspired by Central Hudson's commitment to supporting renewable energy, the event educated installers about various aspects of the interconnection of private electric solar systems with the utility grid.
Ron Kamen, President of the New York Solar Energy Industries Association, and also of Earthkind Solar, was impressed.
“Central Hudson has always been a leader in New York when it comes to solar energy,” said Kamen. “With their continued support and that of other industry leaders, government officials and local residents, our region plays an important role in solar installations, manufacturing and ancillary jobs.”
Participants and attendees included solar installers, manufacturers, economic development professionals, solar advocates and educators.
“The Mid Hudson Valley is recognized as having the largest concentration of solar installations in New York State, with Ulster County ranked highest,” said James P. Laurito, President of Central Hudson. “Central Hudson and solar installation professionals work together to connect new solar generation systems in the Hudson Valley, and this event provided an opportunity to reinforce that relationship.”
Attendees also learned about financial incentives for solar installations by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority; economic development efforts to promote renewable energy by Ulster County; local and statewide solar advocacy efforts by The Solar Energy Consortium and the New York Solar Energy Industries Association; and initiatives by the New York Power Authority to develop 100 megawatts of solar generation in the state.
Heather Adams, a Section Leader in Central Hudson's Engineering Division, had a lead role in organizing the Solar Summit and said much was achieved at the event.
“The summit was an opportunity to help clarify and simplify the processes solar installers must go through while building positive relationships with installers in our service territory,”said Adams.
“Central Hudson should be commended for its active role in promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency in the Hudson Valley,” said solar installer and attendee Randall Kelsey of Kirchoff Green Energy. “Events like the Solar Summit allow installers, manufacturers, government agencies, local advocacy groups and Central Hudson to meet, interact and engage in useful dialogue.”
Central Hudson supports
green power
and so can you
Central Hudson supports your right to choose the products that best meet your needs and interests. There are two ways in which customers can support renewable energy:
1. You may purchase your entire supply of energy from an Energy Service Company (or ESCO) that owns the rights to electricity that was generated by renewable fuels such as wind, solar, small hydro, biomass, etc.,
or
2. You may purchase Renewable Energy Certificates, commonly known as RECs, TRCs (or Tradeable Renewable Certificates) or “green tags.’
Visit the Green Power page on our website to evaluate the current offers being made by green power providers.
Produced by the Corporate Communications Division
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp.
284 South Avenue
Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601
www.CentralHudson.com