N.Y. PSC Maintains October 1, 2011 Start for Expanded Hourly Pricing at Central Hudson Despite Data Issues

The New York PSC has maintained an October 1, 2011 start date for the expansion of hourly pricing to default service customers at Central Hudson Gas & Electric with demands greater than 500 kW in any two months during the previous twelve months (Case 08-E-0887).

Originally, customers were to have 12 months of interval data prior to the October 1, 2011 expansion of hourly pricing to 500 kW. However, despite continuous efforts by Central Hudson, some customers requiring an installation of a phone line to support interval recording did not meet the October 1, 2010 deadline for installation due to logistical and managerial issues specific to each location.

About 40 customers had not installed phone lines as of late November 2010. Central Hudson is now offering such customers a wireless meter after receiving approval from the PSC for the technology, with installation to be completed by the end of February 2011.

Central Hudson requested authority to commence hourly pricing for such customers on October 1, 2011 despite the lack of 12-month interval data, noting that such customers will still receive over six months of interval data, including the important summer capability period.

The PSC approved the request.

Separately, Central Hudson filed compliance tariffs in Case 09-E-0588 to implement the lowering of the hourly pricing cutoff to 300 kW effective October 1, 2012, approved by the PSC in November (11/19).