Best Electricity Rates in Newark 2026: PSE&G Price to Compare & Suppliers

Newark sits in the heart of PSE&G territory, New Jersey’s largest and most densely populated utility footprint — and like the rest of the state, Newark residents can shop for their electricity supply instead of paying the utility’s default rate. As of the June 2026 reset, PSE&G’s residential Price to Compare is 12.674¢ per kWh, with the all-in residential rate (supply, delivery, and adders combined) landing near 26¢ per kWh. New Jersey is a deregulated electricity state, so the supply piece is yours to control. This guide explains the Price to Compare, what the 2026 Basic Generation Service auction means for your bill, and how to shop smart in Newark.

How Electricity Choice Works in Newark

New Jersey deregulated its retail electricity market in 1999, separating power delivery from power supply. In Newark, Jersey City, Elizabeth, and the 300-plus municipalities in PSE&G’s service area, PSE&G remains the regulated delivery utility — it owns the wires, maintains the grid, restores outages, and sends your bill. None of that changes when you switch suppliers.

What you can change is the generation supply. If you don’t pick a third-party supplier (called an electric power supplier, or EPS, in New Jersey), PSE&G provides default supply called Basic Generation Service (BGS). You can replace BGS with a competitive offer, and the supplier’s rate simply substitutes for PSE&G’s default supply charge on the same bill. Power flows identically, and if a supplier fails, PSE&G keeps you connected on BGS automatically.

PSE&G Price to Compare — 2026

The Price to Compare is the number that matters most. It’s the supply rate you pay on BGS if you do nothing — and it’s the benchmark every competitive offer must beat to save you money. As of the current period, PSE&G’s residential Price to Compare is 12.674¢ per kWh, set to run through September 30, 2026. Any fixed offer below that figure cuts your supply cost; any offer above it costs more.

New Jersey sets default supply rates through the annual Basic Generation Service auction. The February 2026 BGS auction produced a modest decrease for PSE&G — the relevant clearing result fell about 1.8%, from roughly $183.46 to $180.23 — which took effect June 1, 2026. That helped keep the Price to Compare relatively stable year over year. But “stable” still means high: New Jersey’s all-in residential rate sits near 26¢/kWh once delivery and adders are included, among the pricier markets in the country, which is exactly why shopping the supply portion is worth the few minutes it takes.

Why the All-In Rate Looks So High

It’s easy to be confused when the Price to Compare is 12.67¢ but your effective rate looks closer to 26¢. The difference is delivery. PSE&G’s delivery charges — distribution, transmission, the societal benefits charge, and other adders — sit on every bill regardless of who supplies your power, and in New Jersey they roughly equal the supply portion. When you shop, you are only competing against the 12.674¢ supply rate. A competitive supplier can lower your supply charge but cannot touch delivery, so set your savings expectations against the supply half of the bill.

How to Find the Best Newark Electricity Rate

New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities runs an official shopping portal (NJ Power Switch) listing licensed suppliers, and comparison marketplaces aggregate the same offers. The approach is straightforward:

Pull your usage. Find your average monthly kWh on a recent PSE&G bill. Newark’s dense mix of apartments and multi-family homes means usage varies widely; your number determines real savings.

Benchmark against 12.674¢. A fixed offer below the Price to Compare saves money on supply immediately. Shoppers who compare during spring and fall windows frequently find fixed offers 10–20% below the prevailing BGS rate.

Lock a fixed rate and read the terms. A 12- to 36-month fixed plan protects you from the next BGS auction and removes repricing risk. Watch for monthly fees, early termination fees, and post-term variable rates that can spike if you forget to re-shop.

Fixed vs. BGS: Which Should You Choose?

If you value rate certainty, a competitive fixed-rate plan is the strongest play — it locks your supply price for the full term and shields you from the annual BGS auction reset. If you prefer not to shop, BGS is a safe default but carries a small risk premium and reprices once a year on the auction’s schedule rather than yours. Because New Jersey’s overall rates are high, even a one-to-two-cent reduction on the supply half of the bill is meaningful over a year of usage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PSE&G Price to Compare in 2026?
The residential Price to Compare is 12.674¢ per kWh, set to run through September 30, 2026.

Why is my PSE&G rate around 26¢ if the Price to Compare is only 12.67¢?
The Price to Compare covers only supply. Delivery charges and adders make up the rest of the bill and stay the same regardless of your supplier, pushing the all-in residential rate near 26¢/kWh.

Is switching electricity suppliers in Newark safe?
Yes. PSE&G still delivers your power and restores outages. If a competitive supplier fails, you are automatically returned to Basic Generation Service with no interruption.

What is Basic Generation Service (BGS)?
BGS is PSE&G’s default supply for customers who haven’t chosen a third-party supplier. Its rate is set through New Jersey’s annual BGS auction.

Did New Jersey electricity rates go up or down in 2026?
The February 2026 BGS auction produced a modest decrease for PSE&G — about 1.8% — effective June 1, 2026, keeping the Price to Compare relatively stable year over year.

Will I get a separate bill from a third-party supplier?
No. You continue to receive one bill from PSE&G; the supplier’s charge replaces PSE&G’s default supply charge.

New Jersey Bill Assistance and Savings Programs

Newark has one of the highest concentrations of households eligible for energy assistance in the state, and several programs can lower what you actually pay regardless of which supplier you choose. The Universal Service Fund (USF) provides monthly credits for income-qualified PSE&G customers, and LIHEAP (the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) offers seasonal help with heating and cooling costs. New Jersey’s Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric (PAGE) program can help moderate-income households facing shutoff. These benefits attach to your utility account, so they apply whether you stay on Basic Generation Service or switch to a competitive supplier.

For budgeting, PSE&G’s Equal Payment Plan averages your annual usage into level monthly payments, smoothing out summer air-conditioning spikes — useful in a market where the all-in rate sits near 26¢/kWh. And because New Jersey’s rates are so high, pairing a competitive fixed supply rate below the 12.674¢ Price to Compare with the state’s free efficiency rebates through New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program is the most reliable way to cut the total bill, not just the supply line.

Rates cited are current as of June 2026 and reset on New Jersey’s annual BGS auction schedule. Confirm the live Price to Compare on your most recent PSE&G bill before signing a competitive supply contract.