Central Hudson electric rates and bills
Central Hudson's 246,232 default-service customers in New York paid an average of 27.67¢ per kWh in 2025, for an average bill of $192.60 a month on 696 kWh.1 Over the last 12 months (Sep 2025–Aug 2026) the average was 30.71¢, and 34.25¢ in August 2026.2 Another 24,375 homes on its wires (9.0%) buy their supply elsewhere and pay Central Hudson delivery charges averaging 18.08¢ per kWh, plus their supplier's price.
EIA-861 2025 final (released October 7, 2026) and EIA's monthly utility survey through August 2026 (preliminary); next monthly update expected November 24, 2026. Averages are revenue divided by kWh, all charges included: not the rate printed in a tariff.
7 of 62 New York counties served (EIA-861 2025)
Over the 12 months to August 2026, Central Hudson's full-service homes paid an average bill of $212.88 a month, more than the customers of any other large New York utility, at an average price of 30.71¢ per kWh2. Its average price rose from 2024 to 2025 and again over the latest 12 months, and the Hudson Valley utility also stands out for long outages and for having almost no smart meters.
Central Hudson's average price per kWh, dated three ways
A cents-per-kWh figure means little without its period. EIA's data give three for Central Hudson, each covering a different stretch of time:
- 2025, final annual data (EIA-861): 27.67¢ per kWh1 for full-service residential customers, those buying both delivery and supply from Central Hudson.
- Last 12 months, September 2025 to August 2026 (EIA-861M): 30.71¢ per kWh.
- August 20263 alone: 34.25¢ per kWh, +13.8%2 against August 2025. Monthly figures for 2026 are preliminary.
All three are average revenue per kWh: what full-service customers paid in total, divided by the kWh they used. That folds in the monthly customer charge, supply costs and surcharges, so it does not match any single line of Central Hudson's tariff, and a home that uses little electricity pays more per kWh than the average. The figures exclude homes that buy supply from an ESCO; their delivery-only figures are further down.
Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state. Residential revenue divided by kWh in each month, as reported to EIA's monthly survey (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary). Bundled (default-service) customers only.
Show the numbers
| Month | Central Hudson (¢/kWh) | kWh per customer | Bill per customer |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | 23.01¢ | 878 | $202.12 |
| February 2025 | 26.05¢ | 851 | $221.65 |
| March 2025 | 28.65¢ | 686 | $196.54 |
| April 2025 | 31.03¢ | 532 | $165.04 |
| May 2025 | 29.23¢ | 536 | $156.75 |
| June 2025 | 26.56¢ | 649 | $172.46 |
| July 2025 | 25.57¢ | 931 | $237.95 |
| August 2025 | 30.09¢ | 767 | $230.65 |
| September 2025 | 34.77¢ | 531 | $184.56 |
| October 2025 | 29.21¢ | 516 | $150.78 |
| November 2025 | 25.85¢ | 665 | $171.91 |
| December 2025 | 26.33¢ | 818 | $215.34 |
| January 2026 | 26.00¢ | 945 | $245.78 |
| February 2026 | 30.41¢ | 895 | $272.17 |
| March 2026 | 35.15¢ | 649 | $228.15 |
| April 2026 | 35.23¢ | 537 | $189.15 |
| May 2026 | 32.49¢ | 557 | $180.99 |
| June 2026 | 30.10¢ | 643 | $193.59 |
| July 2026 | 32.32¢ | 826 | $266.84 |
| August 2026 | 34.25¢ | 735 | $251.64 |
In 2025 the full-service average was the 2nd highest of the 10 New York utilities with 10,000 or more such customers, behind only Con Edison's 36.74¢ per kWh, and 4.9% above the New York average. Against the rest of the country the gap is wider: 11th highest of 177 large US utilities, and 55.6% above the national average for investor-owned utilities (17.78¢ per kWh1).
From 2024 to the latest month: a steady climb
The residential average went from 25.14¢ per kWh4 in 2024 to 27.67¢ per kWh in 2025, a rise of 10.1%1. EIA's monthly survey puts the most recent 12 months, September 2025 to August 2026, higher again at 30.71¢ per kWh, and the latest single month, August 2026, at 34.25¢ per kWh. That month was +13.8%2 on the same month a year earlier, while New York as a whole was +7.5% (28.65¢ per kWh statewide in August 20263).
The average bill rose faster than the price, from $167.86 to $192.60 (+14.7%), because use per home also went up, from 668 kWh4 to 696 kWh1 a month.
Central Hudson's delivery rates are approved by the New York State Public Service Commission, and each rate filing, with the commission's decision on it, sits in the public case files on the Department of Public Service site. Why electric rates increase follows a case from filing to the monthly bill.
The highest 12-month bill among New York's large utilities
Central Hudson's price is high, but not the highest in the state; its bill is. Over the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026, its full-service homes averaged $212.88 a month, against $210.42 at PSEG Long Island, $198.12 at neighboring Orange & Rockland and $148.872 at Con Edison. The statewide residential average for the same 12 months was $167.673.
The difference from Con Edison comes from use, not price. Central Hudson homes used 696 kWh a month in 2025, close to twice Con Edison's 373 kWh and well above the New York average of 586 kWh5, so the second-highest price in the state is multiplied by a larger number of kWh. In the annual 2025 figures, PSEG Long Island's bill ($194.75) was slightly above Central Hudson's ($192.601); in the more recent 12 months the order reversed.
Source: EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.
Show the numbers
| Utility | average monthly residential bill |
|---|---|
| National Grid (NY) | $129.73 |
| Con Edison (NY) | $137.10 |
| RG&E (NY) | $153.76 |
| NYSEG (NY) | $168.05 |
| Orange & Rockland (NY) | $181.87 |
| Central Hudson (NY) | $192.60 |
| PSEG Long Island (LIPA) (NY) | $194.75 |
January brings the largest bill
Central Hudson's bills peak in winter. Over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026), use per home was highest in January 2026 at 945 kWh, with an average bill of $245.78, and lowest in October 2025 at 516 kWh and $150.78. Orange & Rockland and Con Edison, downstate, peaked in July 2026 instead, while National Grid upstate also peaked in January 20262.
Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility. kWh per residential customer in each month (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary). The table adds the average bill and price for the month.
Show the numbers
| Month | kWh per customer | Bill per customer | ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 531 | $184.56 | 34.77¢ |
| October 2025 | 516 | $150.78 | 29.21¢ |
| November 2025 | 665 | $171.91 | 25.85¢ |
| December 2025 | 818 | $215.34 | 26.33¢ |
| January 2026 | 945 | $245.78 | 26.00¢ |
| February 2026 | 895 | $272.17 | 30.41¢ |
| March 2026 | 649 | $228.15 | 35.15¢ |
| April 2026 | 537 | $189.15 | 35.23¢ |
| May 2026 | 557 | $180.99 | 32.49¢ |
| June 2026 | 643 | $193.59 | 30.10¢ |
| July 2026 | 826 | $266.84 | 32.32¢ |
| August 2026 | 735 | $251.64 | 34.25¢ |
Almost no smart meters, few time-of-use customers
EIA's 2025 meter count shows 0.4% of Central Hudson's residential meters as advanced (AMI) meters, which record use at short intervals and send readings remotely. Every other large New York utility reported a majority: 63.0% at National Grid, 92.9% at NYSEG and 99.4%6 at Con Edison.
Interval metering is what makes a time-of-use rate workable, and enrollment is low: 1,604 residential customers, 0.6%6 of those on Central Hudson's wires, were on a time-varying rate in 2025. Central Hudson's tariff sets the hours and prices of its time-of-use option; the time-of-use guide explains how such a rate changes a bill.
Rooftop solar: second only to Long Island
Rooftop solar is more common here than in most of the state. Central Hudson reported 18,214 net-metered residential installations in 2025, 67.3 per 1,000 residential customers, with 150.5 megawatts of capacity. Among New York's large utilities only PSEG Long Island had a higher rate (92.6 per 1,000); Orange & Rockland was close behind at 65.8, and National Grid had 17.96. Net metering explains how exported solar power is credited.
Long outages
Central Hudson's customers averaged 290 minutes without power in 2025, including major event days such as large storms, more than the New York average of 116 minutes. Excluding major event days the figure was 182 minutes, against 70 minutes statewide, and the average customer had 1.50 interruptions, against 0.77 for New York. All are measured under the IEEE 1366 standard. Among the state's large utilities, only NYSEG reported more outage minutes (302 minutes7).
Source: EIA-861 2025, reliability. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.
Show the numbers
| Utility | outage minutes per customer (all events) |
|---|---|
| Con Edison (NY) | 26 |
| PSEG Long Island (LIPA) (NY) | 68 |
| RG&E (NY) | 133 |
| Orange & Rockland (NY) | 155 |
| National Grid (NY) | 242 |
| Central Hudson (NY) | 290 |
| NYSEG (NY) | 302 |
ESCO customers: what Central Hudson bills for delivery
24,375 Central Hudson residential customers, 9.0% of the homes on its wires, bought their supply from an ESCO or a community choice program in 2025, compared with 7.3% statewide. Central Hudson still delivered their power and billed them for it: 18.08¢ per kWh on average for delivery alone, against 16.61¢ per kWh4 in 2024 (+8.9%), or $117.38 a month for 649 kWh. The New York average for delivery-only residential customers was 17.88¢ per kWh1.
This delivery figure and the full-service price above cover different customers and different parts of the bill, so they cannot be subtracted to find a supply price. What ESCO customers paid their supplier is not reported by utility. Delivery vs supply charges explains the two halves of the bill, and retail choice in New York covers how switching works.
Where Central Hudson's wires run
EIA's service-territory records list Central Hudson in 7 counties: Albany County, Columbia County, Dutchess County, Greene County, Orange County, Putnam County and Ulster County. In all 78, at least one other utility also reports customers, so a county or town name does not settle which utility serves a home; Central Hudson's service-area map decides by address.
Source: EIA-861 2025, service territory; Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties. EIA-861 2025 service territory: 7 counties. Counts whole counties even where the utility serves only part of one; check the utility's own service-area map for an address.
Show the numbers
| County | Other utilities reporting service |
|---|---|
| Albany County | National Grid, Village of Green Island |
| Columbia County | National Grid, NYSEG |
| Dutchess County | NYSEG |
| Greene County | NYSEG |
| Orange County | NYSEG, Orange & Rockland |
| Putnam County | NYSEG |
| Ulster County | NYSEG |
Businesses and help with bills
Commercial customers paid 19.71¢ per kWh on average in 2025 and the 624 industrial accounts 19.40¢ per kWh, both below the 27.67¢ per kWh homes paid. Across all customer classes the average was 24.96¢ per kWh1.
Households that cannot keep up with these bills can apply to New York's Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), funded by the federal LIHEAP grant, which gave the state $401.2 million10 for fiscal year 2026. Help paying an electric bill lists the options, and electricity in New York has the statewide data.
Questions and answers
What is Central Hudson's electric rate per kWh?
EIA reports averages, not tariff lines. Central Hudson's full-service residential customers paid an average of 27.67¢ per kWh1 in 2025, 30.71¢ per kWh over the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026, and 34.25¢ per kWh2 in August 20263 alone (preliminary). Each figure is total residential revenue divided by kWh, so it includes the customer charge, supply costs and surcharges.
How much is the average Central Hudson electric bill?
$192.60 a month in 2025 for 696 kWh1, up from $167.864 in 2024. Over the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026 the average was $212.88, and in January 2026 it reached $245.782.
Did Central Hudson rates go up in 2026?
The average price did. In August 20263 Central Hudson's residential customers paid 34.25¢ per kWh, +13.8%2 against August 2025. The 2026 monthly figures are preliminary until EIA's final annual data.
Can I buy electricity from someone other than Central Hudson?
Yes, the supply part. New York households can buy supply from an energy service company (ESCO) or a community choice program while Central Hudson keeps delivering the power and billing for delivery. 9.0%1 of its residential customers did so in 2025.
Related pages
Sources
- EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; table sales_ult_cust_2025 and _2026; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state; table sales_revenue.xlsx (EPM Table 5.6.A); January 2001 to 2026-08; months since January 2026 preliminary; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2024 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2024; 2024, final (file updated December 3, 2025); released December 3, 2025. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, average monthly bill by state; table Average_Bill_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, advanced meters, dynamic pricing and net metering; table Advanced_Meters, Dynamic_Pricing, Net_Metering 2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, reliability; table Reliability_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, service territory; table Service_Territory_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties; table cb_2025_us_county_5m; cb_2021_us_county_5m; 2025 (2021 for Connecticut). www.census.gov
- HHS, LIHEAP funding releases to states; table FY2027 first release; FY2026 final; FY2027 first release (October 9, 2026); FY2026 total; released October 9, 2026. acf.gov
How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.