LETTER: Insulting mail from Central Hudson

Dear Editor:

I have just received yet another mailing from Central Hudson, advising me of how many homes in my general location are using less, or more, electricity than am I, or how much more, or less, electricity I have used compared to the previous billing period. 

I know I am far from alone in my ever-increasing level of annoyance each time I receive one of these mailings.  There are myriad reasons for me to believe these mailings are not only bogus but are a very serious waste of time, wages, paper, printing inks and postage. 

They are bogus because there is no way Central Hudson can know how many people are living in my home or in each “comparison” home, let alone know what their living practices or needs include – how many days they may or may not be in residence; how many or what type of appliances they have; what their health requirements might be; what the average outdoor temperatures for the billing period were when compared to the previous billing period; variance in the amount of daylight during each billing period, etc.

I suggest that those who receive these intelligence-insulting mailings contact Central Hudson and request, nay, demand they be removed from all such mailing lists.  Such an inundation of negative contacts would, one has to hope, bring an end to this ridiculously misguided public relations practice.  The overall costs involved in producing such mailings could be better applied to reducing fees for providing the electricity we all require to live in at least a modicum of comfort. 

A  simple one-liner on the bottom of each bill mailed, stating, “If you wish to receive advice about how to lower your electric bill, please call this number ...” should surely suffice.

MARY PHILLIPS-BURKE

Woodstock

roseveere@hvc.rr.com