Electric bills in New York have climbed to a level that ranks among the highest in the country, with the average residential price just under 30 cents per kilowatt-hour, as Warwick Valley Dispatch reported.
Only Hawaii and California posted higher household electricity rates, adding to the pressure on families already dealing with expensive housing, groceries, insurance, and other necessities.
Here's what to know
The Empire Center for Public Policy used U.S. Energy Information Administration data to determine that New York's average residential electricity price in May was 29.93 cents per kilowatt-hour, third highest in the nation.
Compared with May 2025, that average was up by about 12%, and the Empire Center said the increase was roughly twice the national pace in a press release. New York's May price also stood about 62% above the U.S. average.
Empire Center President Zilvinas Silenas sharply criticized the trend.
"Third highest in the nation is not where New York should want to be on electricity prices," he wrote in the release. "If this is affordability, New Yorkers cannot afford it."
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Rates in nearby states were lower. Empire Center added that New Jersey averaged 23.27 cents per kilowatt-hour and Pennsylvania averaged 21.55 cents.
More background
The statewide average does not mean every customer is paying exactly 29.93 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Around Warwick, the paper noted most households are served by Orange & Rockland Utilities, and customer bills separately show electricity supply, delivery, and tax charges.
Warwick Valley Dispatch reported that Orange & Rockland projected a summer 2026 bill of about $156.32 for a typical residential customer using 550 kilowatt-hours each month, including supply and delivery. The utility said that estimate was 0.8% higher than summer 2025.
In other words, the federal number is intended to reflect what customers actually pay across states, not just a posted utility rate, per the paper. The EIA calculates average residential prices by dividing utilities' residential electricity revenues by the amount of electricity sold.
Natural gas prices are also elevated. In the Empire Center's analysis, New York ranked 19th nationwide for residential prices, at roughly 15% above the U.S. average.
What can be done?
The political debate over what is driving higher energy prices is likely to continue. The Empire Center argues that the state is part of the problem.
"New York's energy policy is contributing to the higher costs we have warned about for years," Silenas declared.
Warwick Valley Dispatch reported New York officials and clean-energy advocates counter that spending on renewable power, transmission, and grid modernization is necessary for reliability, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and to reach climate goals.
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