Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Con Ed Brings New Yorkers Highest Electricity Rates In America
By
John Del Signore
Published Nov 12, 2013
Modified Nov 12, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
FreeVerse Photography on Flickr
By
John Del Signore
Published Nov 12, 2013
Modified Nov 12, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
You know what's fun? Pretending your outer-borough apartment is actually a tiny cabin in colonial times, illuminated by flickering candlelight and kept warm by failsafe sweater technology. When you think about it, it's a wonderful thing that New Yorkers are so enamored with the atavistic styles of yesteryear, because electricity is so brutally expensive here most of us can barely afford it.
Con Ed's prices are the highest of any major utility in America. The company's 2.1 million residential customers in NYC and Westchester County paid an average of 25.65 cents per kilowatt hour in 2012, which is more than twice the national average price of 11.88 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Of course, Con Ed wants to raise rates a lot more. The utility is asking the state Public Service Commission to approve $450.9 million in increases next year. Governor Cuomo is urging the Commission to refuse the increase, issuing a statement saying "New Yorkers need to get more value for the price they pay for utility service."
In its defense, Con Ed argues that up to 25% of customer bills are taxes and fees paid to the government. And it's a hard job! "We run one of the most complex and reliable electrical delivery systems in the world," a spokesperson for the utility said in a statement. "We invest in that system on a continuing basis to maintain the reliable service our customers need. At the same time, we aggressively manage our costs to protect our customers—a challenge, since New York is an expensive place to do business." YEAH NO SHIT!
Tagged
con ed
electricity
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 5:22 p.m. ET
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
Manhattan prosecutors say Ulrich’s predecessor at the buildings department will testify in the trial against him.
By
David Brand
News
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
Manhattan prosecutors say Ulrich’s predecessor at the buildings department will testify in the trial against him.
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
These are the NYC neighborhoods that will get free 2-K next fall
By
Karen Yi
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .