New York Electricity Rates
New York deregulated its electricity market in 1996, giving all residential and commercial customers the power to choose their electricity supplier. With rates averaging 27.07¢/kWh—50% above the national average—New Yorkers have strong incentive to shop for competitive rates from licensed ESCOs (Energy Service Companies). The state’s ambitious Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) is reshaping the energy landscape while maintaining full retail choice across all six major utility territories. Below you’ll find current rates, utility breakdowns, and everything you need to find the best plan.
Key Takeaways
New York Avg Rate
U.S. National Average
How New York Electricity Deregulation Works
New York restructured its electricity market in 1996, separating generation from delivery across all six investor-owned utilities. Competitive suppliers—known as ESCOs (Energy Service Companies)—are licensed by the NY Public Service Commission (PSC) to sell electricity directly to consumers. Your utility continues to deliver power, handle outages, and maintain infrastructure.
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Identify Your Utility
Check your bill to see which of New York’s six investor-owned utilities serves your area. Your utility determines which ESCOs and rates are available to you.
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Compare ESCOs
Browse licensed ESCOs and compare supply rates, contract terms, and plan features. The NY PSC’s Power to Choose website and ElectricChoice.com both offer comparison tools.
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Select & Enroll
Choose a plan and sign up online or by phone. Your ESCO handles the switch notification to your utility. There’s no paperwork to file with your utility.
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Start Saving
The switch completes within 1–2 billing cycles with zero service interruption. Your utility continues to deliver power. Only the supply charge on your bill changes.
Why NY Rates Are High (and Why Shopping Matters)
New York’s electricity costs are driven by constrained natural gas pipelines, aging urban infrastructure (especially in New York City), high property and labor costs, aggressive clean energy mandates under the CLCPA, and transmission congestion between abundant upstate generation and massive downstate demand. While these structural costs affect all customers, the supply portion of your bill is shoppable—and given NY’s high rates, even modest percentage savings translate to meaningful dollar amounts.
New York Electric Utility Territories
New York’s deregulated market is served by six major investor-owned utilities. Your utility determines the delivery charges on your bill and which ESCOs serve your area. Delivery charges stay the same regardless of which ESCO you choose.
Con Edison
The largest utility in the state, serving approximately 3.5 million electric customers across all five NYC boroughs and most of Westchester County. Con Ed territory has the highest delivery charges in the state due to dense urban infrastructure. Outage line: 800-752-6633.
National Grid
Serves approximately 1.6 million electric customers across upstate New York, including the Buffalo, Syracuse, and Capital District (Albany) metro areas. Generally lower delivery charges than downstate utilities. Outage line: 800-642-4272.
NYSEG
New York State Electric & Gas serves approximately 900,000 customers across a large geographic area in central and southern New York, including Binghamton, Ithaca, and parts of the Catskills. Outage line: 800-572-1131.
RG&E
Rochester Gas & Electric serves approximately 380,000 electric customers in the Rochester metro area and surrounding Finger Lakes region. Part of the Avangrid family alongside NYSEG. Outage line: 800-743-1701.
Central Hudson
Serves approximately 310,000 electric customers in the Mid-Hudson Valley, including Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and Kingston. Part of Fortis Inc. Outage line: 800-527-2714.
Orange & Rockland
A Con Edison subsidiary serving approximately 230,000 customers in Orange, Rockland, and Sullivan counties in the lower Hudson Valley, plus parts of northern New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Outage line: 877-434-4100.
Types of New York Electricity Plans
New York’s competitive market offers several plan structures through licensed ESCOs. Given the state’s high rates, choosing the right plan can significantly impact your annual electricity costs.
Fixed-Rate Plans
Your supply rate stays locked for the entire contract term, protecting against seasonal price swings. Essential in New York where winter volatility can cause dramatic bill increases.
- Rate locked regardless of market fluctuations
- Protection against winter price spikes
- Terms typically 6–24 months
- Early termination fees may apply
Variable-Rate Plans
Your rate adjusts monthly based on NYISO wholesale market prices. Can deliver savings during mild months but carries risk during NY’s cold winters.
- No contract or cancellation fees
- Rates may drop during mild seasons
- Risk during winter price spikes
- Cancel or switch anytime
Green Energy Plans
Support New York’s CLCPA goal of 70% renewable electricity by 2030. Many ESCOs offer 100% renewable plans through RECs at competitive rates.
- Support NY’s clean energy transition
- Often competitively priced
- Wind, solar, and hydro sourced
- Same grid reliability
Short-Term Plans
Try an ESCO with a 1–3 month commitment before committing to a longer term. Useful for NYC renters or anyone new to the state.
- Minimal commitment
- Low or no cancellation fees
- Test ESCO service quality
- Typically converts to variable after term
NY PSC Consumer Protection
The New York Public Service Commission requires all ESCOs to guarantee that their rates will not exceed the utility’s default supply rate for low-income customers (those on utility assistance programs). Additionally, the PSC mandates clear disclosure of all rates, fees, and contract terms before enrollment. If you have a complaint, file it with the PSC at 800-342-3377.
New York Energy Profile
New York’s energy landscape is shaped by the dramatic divide between the dense urban demand of New York City and the abundant generation resources of upstate New York. The state is aggressively pursuing one of the most ambitious clean energy agendas in the nation.
New York benefits from significant hydroelectric resources, including the Niagara Power Project—one of the largest hydroelectric facilities in the United States. Combined with three nuclear plants, the state has substantial carbon-free baseload generation. The CLCPA mandates 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040, driving massive investment in offshore wind, solar, and energy storage.
NYISO: The Grid Operator
The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) manages the state’s bulk electricity grid and wholesale markets. NYISO divides the state into 11 pricing zones—Zone J (New York City) and Zone K (Long Island) consistently have the highest wholesale prices due to transmission constraints that limit how much cheap upstate power can flow downstate. This geographic pricing dynamic is a key reason why electricity costs more in the NYC metro area than in upstate regions.
New York Business Electricity Rates
New York’s commercial rate of 22.54¢/kWh is among the highest in the nation, making competitive procurement essential for businesses of all sizes. The state’s diverse economy creates varied energy demand profiles.
Financial Services & Real Estate
Wall Street and Manhattan’s commercial real estate sector are among the largest electricity consumers in the state. High-rise buildings, trading floors, and data centers require uninterrupted, reliable power.
Tech & Data Centers
New York’s growing tech sector in NYC, the Hudson Valley, and Buffalo demands significant power for data center operations. Many operators seek 100% renewable energy to meet ESG commitments.
Retail & Hospitality
From Times Square to the Catskills, New York’s tourism and retail industries are significant electricity consumers. Hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues benefit from fixed-rate plans that stabilize operating costs.
Best Time to Shop for NY Electricity
New York electricity prices follow seasonal patterns driven by NYISO wholesale market dynamics. Natural gas costs and heating/cooling demand create predictable windows for savings.
Spring: Mar–May
Heating demand subsides and cooling hasn’t started. NYISO wholesale prices drop as natural gas pipeline constraints ease. ESCOs offer their most aggressive rates to capture new customers during this window.
Winter: Dec–Feb
NY’s coldest months drive heating demand and natural gas prices higher. Wholesale costs spike, especially during polar vortex events. If your contract expires in winter, try to switch before December.
Fall: Sep–Nov
Summer AC demand fades and wholesale prices retreat. An excellent window to lock in a fixed rate that will protect you through the expensive winter months ahead.
New York’s Major Cities
All of New York’s major cities fall within deregulated utility territories, giving residents the ability to choose their electricity supplier. Rates vary by utility territory due to differing delivery charges and wholesale market dynamics.
| City | Utility |
|---|---|
| New York City | Con Edison |
| Yonkers | Con Edison |
| New Rochelle | Con Edison |
| White Plains | Con Edison |
| Mount Vernon | Con Edison |
| Buffalo | National Grid |
| Syracuse | National Grid |
| Albany | National Grid |
| Schenectady | National Grid |
| Troy | National Grid |
| Niagara Falls | National Grid |
| Utica | National Grid |
| Rochester | RG&E |
| Binghamton | NYSEG |
| Poughkeepsie | Central Hudson |
| Valley Stream | PSEG Long Island |
| Jamestown | National Grid |
| Saratoga Springs | National Grid |
| Newburgh | Central Hudson |
Frequently Asked Questions About New York Electricity
Everything you need to know about shopping for electricity in New York, answered in plain language.
Is New York a deregulated electricity state?
Yes. New York deregulated its electricity market in 1996 under Governor Pataki’s restructuring initiative. All residential and commercial customers served by the state’s six investor-owned utilities can choose their electricity supplier—called an ESCO (Energy Service Company).
What is the average electricity rate in New York?
The average residential rate is 27.07¢/kWh—50% above the national average of 18.05¢/kWh. The commercial rate averages 22.54¢/kWh. New York City residents served by Con Edison typically pay even more due to higher delivery charges in the metro area.
Why is New York electricity so expensive?
Several structural factors drive NY’s high rates: constrained natural gas pipeline capacity, aging urban infrastructure (especially in NYC), high property and labor costs, aggressive clean energy mandates under the CLCPA, transmission congestion between upstate generation and downstate demand, and some of the highest taxes and surcharges in the nation.
What is an ESCO?
ESCO stands for Energy Service Company. These are licensed competitive suppliers authorized by the NY Public Service Commission to sell electricity (and often natural gas) to consumers. ESCOs compete on price, contract terms, renewable energy content, and customer service. All ESCOs must be registered with the PSC.
How do I switch electricity suppliers in New York?
Switching takes about 10 minutes. Compare ESCOs using your ZIP code, choose a plan, and enroll online or by phone. Your ESCO notifies your utility, and the switch completes within 1–2 billing cycles with zero service interruption. The same power flows through the same wires.
What is the CLCPA and how does it affect my electricity?
The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), signed in 2019, mandates that New York source 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and achieve 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040. This is driving massive investment in offshore wind, solar, and energy storage. Many ESCOs now offer 100% renewable plans, often at rates competitive with conventional electricity.
Who do I call for power outages in NY?
For power outages, contact your utility—not your ESCO. Con Edison: 800-752-6633. National Grid: 800-642-4272. NYSEG: 800-572-1131. RG&E: 800-743-1701. Central Hudson: 800-527-2714. Orange & Rockland: 877-434-4100.
Is Long Island part of New York’s deregulated market?
Long Island is served by PSEG Long Island, which operates under a different structure than the six investor-owned utilities upstate and in NYC. While Long Island has a community choice aggregation program, individual retail choice options are more limited compared to Con Edison or National Grid territories. Long Island residents should check with PSEG LI for current supplier options.
About this Data
Rate data is sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the New York Public Service Commission (PSC), the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), and the ElectricChoice.com electric rate marketplace. The inclusion, exclusion, ranking, or naming of any rate, plan, or provider on this page does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Listed rates reflect averages and do not include all utility-specific delivery charges. You should review each plan’s terms of service before enrolling. Last data refresh: May 2026.