Your Bill Explained

Click the images below to open graphics explaining what each of the line items on your energy bill represents.

FAQs

Why am I not receiving an actual reading every month?

Prior to 2016, Central Hudson issued residential customers bimonthly bills and read meters every other month. In 2016, state regulators required Central Hudson to issue monthly bills for most customers. To avoid raising costs for customers, the state approved a plan to issue residential bills monthly and read meters every other month.  For the months between actual meter readings, a bill based on estimated usage is issued. With the next actual meter reading, the billed amount will be adjusted to reflect actual recent usage. 

Estimated bills are based on past usage, weather conditions and many other factors.  If you feel your estimated usage is being calculated too high or too low, here are options to consider:

• Enroll in Budget Billing: Budget Billing spreads your energy bills evenly, making payment amounts predictable and uniform for 11 months based on your energy usage history. The bill for the 12^th month includes a plus-or-minus adjustment to reflect actual costs incurred throughout the year. To enroll in Budget Billing, click here.
• Review our Payment Assistance Programs to identify programs that may be available to assist you. Click here for information.
• Submit your meter reading to us. Click here  for information.

We began transitioning residential customer accounts to monthly meter reading in September 2023. Customer accounts will be converted based on location served, with the expectaton that the majority of accounts will be converted by end of summer 2024. 

Why does the “total current charges” amount inside the circle graph on the first page of my bill not match the total amount due on the bill summary or payment stub?

The total current charges amount reflects the charges incurred during your most recent billing period for which you are receiving a bill. The “amount due now” listed in the bill summary and payment stub reflects the total amount due on your account, and may differ from the total current charges amount depending on bill adjustments and other factors.

Why do the delivery charges represented in the circle graph on the first page of my bill make up the majority of my total current charges?

Delivery charges represent Central Hudson’s costs for delivering electricity and natural gas to homes and business over our region’s network of electric lines and natural gas pipelines, operating and maintaining the delivery infrastructure and providing an array of customer services. Delivery charges include a Basic Service Charge, as well as a System Benefits Charge, mandated by New York state to fund a number of initiatives, including energy efficiency programs, assistance for low-income customers, energy research and development and subsidization of the use of renewable energy sources. More information about the elements that make up your delivery and supply charges can be found on the back of the first page of your bill.

Where can I find messages that are specific to my account (e.g., demand metered account status, payment agreement information, final or corrected bill status)?

If applicable, that information can be found in green type on the bill stub, above your service address.

Why is my energy usage graph in the billing details missing?

If you have no energy usage for the billing period, your usage will be zero and an energy usage chart will not be shown. If you use energy during the next billing period, your bill will include a usage chart.

I’m a net-metered customer or a customer billed separately by another energy supplier: Why do I not see supply charges on my Central Hudson bill? 

If you’re a net-metered customer and your generation is producing more energy than you’re using, your bill won’t reflect supply usage – the excess energy is passed from you back to Central Hudson’s electric grid. If you’re a customer billed separately by another energy supplier, your supply charges won’t be included in your Central Hudson bill. 

Where does the bill show the payment amount that’s due?

The payment amount that’s due can be found in the bill summary (highlighted in green) and on your bill stub below the account number. If you have a payment agreement, the amount due to maintain your current payment agreement will be shown in green type on the left-hand side of the stub.

I’m a net-metered customer: Why is my bill missing energy usage information? 

If your bill is issued during a billing period when your meter is not read, and you only have electric service, your bill will only reflect billing payments and adjustments – there will be no delivery or supply information included.

What is demand metering? 

Electric demand can be a very difficult concept to understand, but it is a very useful tool to recover the costs associated with the delivery of service we provide to our commercial and industrial customers. Each customer’s unique operation determines the service required and the necessary metering. Refer to this booklet for information about demand metering. 

Central Hudson Bill Backer

Explicaciones de facturas de electricidad

Explicaciones de facturas de gas natural

Explicaciones de facturas de electricidad medidas por la demanda