CERTIFICATIONS Exhibit 31.1 I, Steven V.
Lant, certify that: 1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of CH Energy Group, Inc. and
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation (collectively the
Registrants); 2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not
misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects
the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
Registrants as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4.
The Registrants other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over
financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f))
for the Registrants and have: a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
 disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that
 material information relating to the Registrants, including their
 consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
 entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being
 prepared;b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused
 such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
 supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of
 financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
 purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrants disclosure controls
 and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of
 the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered
 by this report based on such evaluation; andd)
Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrants internal
 control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrants most - 98 -   recent fiscal quarter (the Registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the
 case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably
 likely to materially affect, the Registrants internal control over financial
 reporting; and5.
The Registrants other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our
most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the
Registrants auditors and the audit committee of the Registrants boards of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
 operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely
 affect the Registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report
 financial information; andb)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
 employees who
 have a significant role in the Registrants internal control over financial
 reporting.Date: November
4, 2008

/s/ Steven V. LantSteven V. LantChairman of the Board, President andChief Executive Officerof CH Energy Group, Inc./s/ Steven V. LantSteven V. LantChairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officerof Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation- 99 -