CERTIFICATIONS Exhibit 31.1 I, Steven V.
Lant, certify that: 1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K 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    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: February
10, 2009

/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