Here’s How Much the Central Hudson Rate Hike Would Cost You

Spoiler alert: This is how much more you'll have to pay Central Hudson starting July 1.

The Poughkeepsie Journal reports that the Public Service Commission will finalize delivery rates for Central Hudson customers during a meeting this week. But we already know that the power company's customers will be paying more next month.

Central Hudson has estimated that the combination of delivery and supply cost will increase the average electric bill by 60 cents a month in the first year, $4.68 in the second and $5.64 in the third; almost $70 per year.

Thanks to leftover bill credits from Fortis' takeover of Central Hudson two years ago, gas customers will see less than a 1 percent decrease in their bills during year one. Those raites will  rise the next year to $1.19 and then $4.96 in the third year, totaling just about $60 per year.

Again, these numbers are estimated by Central Hudson for the average customer and may vary depending on each homeowner's actual electric or gas usage. There is a chance that the Public Service Commission won't approve these rate hikes and call for a slightly lower rate, but customers will still be paying more on July 1 regardless.

What do you think? Are these proposed rate hikes reasonable or do you think they are too much of a burden for the typical Hudson Valley family?