Thousands of residents who participated in a clean electricity program, Hudson Valley Community Power (HVCP), will soon receive checks in the mail as part of a large settlement with Columbia Utilities Power, LLC. Eligible participants do not need to take action to receive these checks.
Residents were negatively impacted when their electricity supplier prematurely terminated a contract that served the majority of residents of the municipalities participating in HVCP[1]. Hudson Valley leaders and their program administrator Joule Assets, stood up for residents, by bringing a class-action legal action against the supplier Columbia. The New York State Public Service Commission also intervened in support of the collective action against Columbia.
“It’s important for our communities to know that when we implement a program, we all stand firmly behind it,” said Fred Costello, Saugerties Town Supervisor, “Everyone worked together to achieve this victory on behalf of our residents.”
All HVCP participants enrolled through the program end date in July 2022 will receive compensation from the settlement, and do not need to take action to receive their check. Checks for approximately $50.00 will be mailed to eligible participants on April 18, 2025 (The exact amount will depend on the final number of recipients). These checks will be void after 90 days, on July 17, 2025, as per the court's order. The void date will be clearly indicated on each check. The checks are likely to reference the name of the lawsuit, which was Town of Saugerties et al. v. Columbia Utilities Power, LLC.
Background:
Hudson Valley Community Power is a community choice aggregation (CCA) program that launched in July 2019, providing customers with renewable electricity, reducing the communities' carbon footprint, and supporting clean energy resources in New York State. Columbia Utilities Power, LLC served as the electricity supplier for HVCP from July 2021 until the program's early termination on July 18, 2022.
Details:
Timeline:
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April 18, 2025: Checks will be mailed to eligible participants.
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July 17, 2025: Checks will be void after 90 days.
Eligibility:
- Every residential or small commercial account holder enrolled in the HVCP electricity supply program as of July 18, 2022, will receive a check for each participating utility account.
- Participants who opted out before the program ended or never participated will not receive a check.
- All of the participating municipalities[1] are asking their residents who participated in the program to be on the lookout for the checks beginning after April 18, and to cash or deposit their checks promptly.
[1] The participating municipalities Include the Town of Saugerties, the Town of New Paltz, the Village of New Paltz, the City of Beacon, the Town of Clinton, the Town of Marbletown, the City of Poughkeepsie, the Town of Red Hook, the Town of Philipstown, and the Village of Cold Spring.
