New York Senator Challenges Central Hudson in Controversial New Bill

Is anyone else looking at their Central Hudson bill and thinking, “What the heck happened here?”

Between skyrocketing delivery charges and a bill that’s more complicated than your last tax return, it’s easy to feel like you’re getting fleeced, and if you think something’s up, you’re not alone.

Assembly Member Sarahana Shrestha and Senator Michelle Hinchey have just introduced the Hudson Valley Power Authority Act, which would replace Central Hudson with a publicly owned and democratically controlled utility.

The Hudson Valley Power Authority (HVPA) would take over operations from Central Hudson’s parent company, Fortis, and be run as a state-owned public benefit corporation—basically, a company with all the powers but without the profit motives and fat-cat shareholders.

That means instead of sending money to distant investors, we’d have a utility focused on affordable rates, straightforward bills, and reliable service.

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But how would the HVPA be different?

Well, for starters, it wouldn’t have to justify inflated rates to satisfy shareholders. Instead, it could use state-backed, low-interest bonds to buy out Central Hudson’s existing billion-dollar debt, immediately reducing costs. No taxpayer burden, no profit padding—just better service at lower rates.

It’s not just about utility bills, though. Shrestha and Hinchey’s bill also tackles the bigger picture by introducing a community-driven model with a representative Board of Trustees and something called an Observatory (think of it as a watchdog group with real teeth).

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The goal? More transparency, more community involvement, and energy that prioritizes environmental justice and labor protections.

While getting signatures in support of the HVPA is important, it’s also a power move. This bill puts pressure on Central Hudson to shape up or ship out, and if enough people get behind it, they might have no choice but to finally listen.