Open Central Hudson service in 4 steps
Call 3 business days ahead
Dial 1-845-452-2700 (or 1-800-527-2714 from outside 845) during business hours. New-service requests are not handled through the IVR; you need a live agent.
Provide the required information
Legal name, move-in service address (with apartment or unit number), previous address, move-in date, contact phone number and Social Security number or passport number for the credit check.
Confirm meter status
Activated meter: account is created in your name and service starts on your chosen date (1 business day). Deactivated meter: a technician must visit; allow up to 5 business days.
Register on SmartBill
Once your account is created, register at cenhud.com with your 11-digit account number. Enrol in paperless billing and Direct Pay to avoid late fees before your first bill arrives.
What you need to give Central Hudson on the phone
Have these ready before you call, otherwise the agent will tell you to call back:
- ✓Full legal name (as on your driving licence or passport).
- ✓Move-in service address (include apartment or unit; ZIP+4 if you have it).
- ✓Previous service address (used for credit history matching).
- ✓Move-in date and the date you want service to begin (they can differ).
- ✓Contact phone number and email address.
- ✓Social Security number, or passport number if you do not have an SSN.
You do not need to give Central Hudson banking information during the new-service call. That happens later, when you set up bill payment or Direct Pay.
Three things first-time Hudson Valley movers get wrong
The 3-business-day lead time is real but routinely missed. Central Hudson can usually start service the next business day if the meter at the address is already live (most Hudson Valley homes are). But if the previous tenant deactivated service, the meter may need a physical reconnection visit. That second case can take up to 5 business days. The cushion of 3 business days exists because Central Hudson often does not know which case you are in until they look up the address. Calling on a Friday afternoon for a Monday move-in is a recipe for arriving to a dark, unheated apartment.
Deposits are real, and the trigger is "no NY credit history" more often than "bad credit". A NY PSC rule allows the utility to ask for a deposit if you cannot show 12 months of on-time payment history with a New York utility, regardless of credit score elsewhere. New York transplants from out of state, recent graduates, customers on short-term leases (under 12 months) and customers with an unpaid past Central Hudson balance can all be asked for a deposit equal to roughly two months of estimated usage. The deposit refunds with interest after 12 months of on-time payment. Business accounts almost always carry a deposit.
The ESCO transfer is a separate step. If your previous home used an ESCO, that contract does not follow you to the new address. You have to (1) open Central Hudson service first, (2) get your 11-digit Central Hudson account number, then (3) contact your chosen ESCO with the new account number to enrol for the supply portion. Until the ESCO enrolment processes (typically 30 to 60 days), you are on Central Hudson default supply. If you do nothing, you stay on default supply indefinitely; that is fine as a starting point and gives you time to compare offers without pressure.
Central Hudson is the wires-and-meter company no matter what. Whether you stay on default supply or sign up with an ESCO, the people who come out after a storm and the people who read your meter are still Central Hudson.
Your default rate when service starts
When Central Hudson opens your account, the supply portion of your bill defaults to a variable rate reset on a NY PSC-approved auction schedule (roughly monthly for electric, monthly for gas). The delivery portion is set by the most recent Central Hudson rate case and does not vary month to month.
Variable default supply is the right starting point for most new movers. You can sit on it indefinitely; New York rules forbid Central Hudson from disconnecting you for refusing to choose an ESCO. After your first month, compare the default supply rate (printed on your bill) to fixed ESCO offers in NYISO Zone G before locking in.
For the full mechanics of default supply, delivery riders and the 2024-25 rate case, see Central Hudson rates and tariffs.
Choosing an ESCO as the supply side
New York deregulated retail electricity and gas markets in 1998. You can buy the supply portion of your bill from any NY PSC-certified ESCO serving Central Hudson territory. Central Hudson remains the delivery utility; you still call Central Hudson for outages and meter issues, and the wires do not change.
Two practical points for new movers:
- ✓You do not need an ESCO on day one. Start on Central Hudson default supply, then compare offers from a settled position.
- ✓If you choose an ESCO, you may receive two bills: one from Central Hudson (delivery) and one from the ESCO (supply). Some ESCOs use the consolidated billing option where the supply charge appears on the Central Hudson bill itself.
- ✓Read the renewal clause before you sign. Most ESCO traps are 6 to 12 month teaser rates that roll into expensive variable rates if you do not act on renewal.
Compare ESCO offers at New York suppliers.
Common moving-in questions.
At least 3 business days before your move-in date. If the meter is already activated from the previous tenant, service starts the next business day. If the meter was deactivated, a technician needs to physically reconnect, which can take up to 5 business days. Build a cushion.
Possibly. NY PSC rules let Central Hudson request a deposit if you cannot show 12 months of on-time payment history with a New York utility, if you have an unpaid past Central Hudson balance, if your lease is shorter than 12 months, or if it is a business account. The deposit is roughly two months of estimated usage and refunds with interest after 12 months of on-time payment.
Activation of an already-live meter is free. A physical reconnection visit (deactivated meter) is also free for residential customers under standard conditions, though Central Hudson can charge for after-hours or special visits. The deposit (if applicable) is not a fee; it is held against your account and refunded with interest.
Legal name, move-in service address, previous service address, move-in date, contact phone number, and Social Security number (or passport number if no SSN). No banking information is required on the new-service call; that comes later when you set up payment.
No. ESCO contracts are tied to a specific service address. You must open Central Hudson service first, get your new 11-digit account number, then contact your chosen ESCO to enrol the new address. Until then, you are on Central Hudson default supply, which is the safe starting point.
The Mid-Hudson Valley is mostly Central Hudson. To the south, Westchester County is Con Edison; the lower Hudson Valley west of the river is Orange & Rockland. Upstate is NYSEG or National Grid. Search your new ZIP code on the NY PSC service-territory lookup or call the utility directly.
Existing Central Hudson customers can transfer service through SmartBill. New customers (no prior Central Hudson account) typically need to call 1-845-452-2700 so the agent can run the credit check and confirm identity. Have your documents ready.
Keep exploring Central Hudson
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