GOSHEN – At a time when the economy is slipping and record high gasoline prices are hurting everyone’s pocketbooks, the time is not right for Orange and Rockland Utilities and Central Hudson Gas and Electric to seek rate hikes, Orange county Executive Edward Diana said Wednesday.

Diana said the utilities must take the current conditions into consideration before raising their rates.

“The timing of that rate increase is absolutely absurd, when they are also blaming the consumer for the declining revenues because they are using less energy,” he said. “Here we ask consumers to cut down on their energy use, which is smart and prudent, but then utilities spin it the other way and say because of declining revenues, we now have to raise your rate.”

Diana urged consumers to attend and speak out against the proposed rate increases for O&R and Central Hudson when public hearings are held.