Central Hudson Gas Electric Corporation is offering a way for customers to protect the environment and support the community while saving time, money and environmental impact through its electronic bill payment option. For every customer who enrolls in the eBills program from now though May 15, 2010, Central Hudson will donate one dollar to Walkway Over the Hudson to help residents of the Hudson Valley and visitors to the region enjoy the unique vantage point of the newest state park in New York.  

“Using the eBills payment option is the green, environmentally friendly way to go,” said James P. Laurito, President of Central Hudson. “Customers can view and pay energy bills entirely online using this free service, eliminating paper bills, envelopes and postage stamps. Now we’ll provide the additional incentive of a contribution to Walkway Over the Hudson to encourage our customers to go green, too.”

To date, more than 26,500 Central Hudson customers have switched to electronic billing, including more than 4,800 in 2009 and more than 2,000 so far in 2010. Laurito explained that if every Central Hudson customer enrolled in the eBills program, each year nearly 730 trees would be spared. In total, customers together would save more than $1 million in return postage costs, and expenses associated with bill processing and mailing would be reduced by nearly $1 million, with these savings ultimately passed back to customers. The environmental impacts associated with mail transportation, printing and ink would also be avoided.

Walkway Over the Hudson is a non-profit organization that converted the railroad bridge between the City of Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County and the Town of Lloyd in Ulster County into a linear park, 212 feet above the river.  The Walkway opened in October 2009, and in its first three months attracted more than 400,000 visitors, but an additional $10 million still needs to be raised to cover its cost. 

“That’s where Central Hudson — and its customers — can help. Enroll in eBills by May 15, and Central Hudson will make a donation to Walkway Over the Hudson on behalf of each newly enrolled customer, to help even more people enjoy the beauty of the Hudson River Valley,” said Laurito. 

The eBills payment option can be combined with Central Hudson’s Budget Billing plan, which levels utility bills with a uniform monthly amount and eliminates seasonal highs and lows for eleven months a year based on past billing and energy usage history.  In the twelfth month, a one-time, annual plus-or-minus adjustment reflects the actual use for the year.

To learn more about eBills, Budget Billing and this special promotion, log onto http://www.cenhud.com/ebills. To learn more about Walkway Over the Hudson, visit their web site at www.Walkway.org.

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