POUGHKEEPSIE - Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation Monday filed a mandated austerity plan with the New York State Public Service Commission. The agency in May ordered all utilities to present cost cutting plans.

The plan outlines cost cuts proposed by Central Hudson through reduced capital expenditures and operating expenses that will provide savings to customers without causing immediate impacts to service, safety or reliability.

Measures include temporarily postponing approximately $20 million, or 20 percent, of planned capital expenditures for the year to reduce the associated carrying charges; lowering research and development expenses by $350,000; and freezing executive base salaries.

The plan also proposes to temporarily scale-back distribution tree trimming by 20 percent and amend the cycle on stray voltage testing, a state-mandated program, for a combined savings of $2.6 million. “These reductions can be realized without immediately affecting safety or service reliability,” said utility President Carl Meyer.

He said the cuts were being made because of the economic environment facing local residents and businesses. “This plan is designed to help provide a measure of relief for our customers when it comes to their energy bills,” said Meyer.

If approved, the savings are proposed to be reflected as a credit on electric and natural gas bills for a 12-month period, after which these important initiatives would be reinstated.