Updated with EIA data for August 2026
In August 2026, the average residential electricity rate in New York was 28.65¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh), 58% higher than the US average of 18.16¢. That makes New York the 6th most expensive of the 50 states and DC. Prices rose 7.5% from August 2025 (26.64¢).
| Year | Avg rate | Avg monthly bill | Avg monthly use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (8 mo) | 29.26¢ | $179 | 613 kWh |
| 2025 | 26.39¢ | $155 | 586 kWh |
| 2024 | 24.43¢ | $140 | 571 kWh |
| 2023 | 22.24¢ | $126 | 566 kWh |
| 2022 | 22.08¢ | $131 | 592 kWh |
| 2021 | 19.48¢ | $117 | 599 kWh |
| 2020 | 18.36¢ | $110 | 602 kWh |
| 2019 | 17.94¢ | $104 | 577 kWh |
| 2018 | 18.52¢ | $112 | 604 kWh |
| 2017 | 18.03¢ | $103 | 572 kWh |
Rates are weighted by kWh sold. Bills and usage are averages per residential customer.
| Sector | Rate | A year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | 28.65¢ | 26.64¢ |
| Commercial | 23.06¢ | 22.33¢ |
| Industrial | 10.54¢ | 10.20¢ |
| Transportation | 16.41¢ | 18.27¢ |
| All sectors | 24.60¢ | 22.76¢ |
At New York's 12-month average residential rate of 28.60¢ per kWh, here is the energy cost for common monthly usage levels, next to the US average. Fixed customer charges, taxes and fees vary by utility and are not included.
| Monthly use | New York | US average |
|---|---|---|
| 250 kWh | $71.50 | $45.40 |
| 500 kWh | $143.00 | $90.80 |
| 750 kWh | $214.50 | $136.20 |
| 1,000 kWh | $286.00 | $181.60 |
| 1,500 kWh | $429.00 | $272.40 |
| 2,000 kWh | $572.00 | $363.20 |
Over the last 12 months, the average residential rate ranged from 26.46¢ (November 2025) to 29.93¢ (May 2026), and homes used the most electricity in July 2026 (784 kWh on average).
| Month | Avg rate | Avg bill | Avg use |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 28.65¢ | $212 | 742 kWh |
| July 2026 | 29.89¢ | $234 | 784 kWh |
| June 2026 | 29.49¢ | $169 | 574 kWh |
| May 2026 | 29.93¢ | $134 | 448 kWh |
| April 2026 | 29.45¢ | $141 | 479 kWh |
| March 2026 | 28.55¢ | $155 | 544 kWh |
| February 2026 | 29.92¢ | $198 | 661 kWh |
| January 2026 | 28.37¢ | $191 | 674 kWh |
| December 2025 | 27.43¢ | $168 | 611 kWh |
| November 2025 | 26.46¢ | $126 | 476 kWh |
| October 2025 | 27.00¢ | $131 | 483 kWh |
| September 2025 | 27.28¢ | $152 | 559 kWh |
New York's 12-month average rate is higher than 4 of its 5 neighbors.
| State | 12-mo avg rate | Avg monthly bill | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 28.60¢ | $168 | #6 |
| Connecticut | 27.42¢ | $193 | #7 |
| Massachusetts | 30.39¢ | $183 | #3 |
| New Jersey | 23.74¢ | $160 | #12 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.86¢ | $174 | #15 |
| Vermont | 23.90¢ | $141 | #11 |
| Appliance | Typical wattage | Cost per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Space heater | 750–1,500 W | $0.21–$0.43 |
| Refrigerator | 725 W | $0.21 |
| Clothes dryer | 1,800–5,000 W | $0.51–$1.43 |
| Washing machine | 350–500 W | $0.10–$0.14 |
| Dishwasher | 1,200–2,400 W | $0.34–$0.69 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500–5,500 W | $1.29–$1.57 |
| Microwave | 750–1,100 W | $0.21–$0.31 |
| Window fan | 55–250 W | $0.02–$0.07 |
All appliance costs · Appliance cost calculator for New York
New York has retail electricity choice: in many areas, households can buy their electricity supply from a competitive retail provider instead of the utility's default rate. Your local utility still delivers the power and handles outages. Availability depends on your utility area. Compare the plan rate, contract length, fees and any cancellation charge before you switch.
Each kW of solar panels in New York City produces about 1,291 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts). Sized for an average New York home, a 5.6 kW system would cost about $14,392 before any incentives and pay for itself in about 7.2 years. See the full New York solar estimate.
Switching ProvidersCompare ESCO offers with official NY DPS tools, understand the PSC's limits on fixed, variable and renewable products, and know your three-day rescission right.
Switching ProvidersFixed plans lock your supply price per kWh for a term; variable plans can change monthly. Here is how each works, state rules, and how to choose.
Saving EnergyPractical ways to lower your electric bill, from free thermostat and standby-power fixes to LEDs, insulation and rate plans, each backed by DOE, EPA or EIA guidance.
SolarThe 25D federal credit ended for systems installed after 2025. Here is what now decides whether solar pays off, and how to estimate your own payback.
The average residential electricity rate in New York was 28.65¢ per kWh in August 2026. Over the past 12 months it averaged 28.60¢ per kWh.
The average residential customer in New York paid $212 for 742 kWh in August 2026, based on EIA revenue, sales and customer counts.
In August 2026, New York's average rate of 28.65¢ was 58% higher than the US average of 18.16¢.
Yes, New York has retail electricity choice, so many households can buy supply from a competitive provider. Your utility still delivers the power.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Form EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue data. Latest month: August 2026. Recent months may be preliminary and revised by EIA. See how we calculate.