Exhibit 23(a)

            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 2 to
the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated January 29, 2004
relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedule, which
appears in Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as amended. We also consent to the
references to us under the headings "Experts" in such Registration Statement, as
amended.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, NY
September 24, 2004