New York households pay some of the highest electricity prices in the nation, raising affordability concerns, according to the Empire Center’s and the U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
In October 2025, the average residential electricity price in New York hit 26.95 cents per kilowatt-hour—about 50 percent higher than the U.S. average and among the top ten highest rates nationwide. Moreover, prices rose 7.6 percent compared to a year ago, faster than the U.S. average.
Unlike natural gas prices, which align more closely with national averages, electricity prices in New York have surged disproportionately, putting residents at a growing disadvantage. Since 2019–2020, the gap between New York’s and the rest of the country has widened, reversing decades of slow convergence.
“Affordability must become the guiding principle for New York’s energy policy,” said Zilvinas Silenas, president and CEO of the Empire Center. “If most of the country enjoys cheaper electricity, New York must not be doing something right.”
The Empire Center will continue publishing monthly updates through its Energy Data Bulletin, tracking electricity and natural gas prices across New York and neighboring states. The Center urges lawmakers to adopt policies that curb rising costs, and ensure a reliable, competitive, and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers.
