New York Electricity Suppliers by Utility Territory: Con Edison vs NYSEG vs National Grid vs RG&E (2026)

Choosing an electricity supplier in New York depends heavily on which utility delivers power to your home. New York has four major investor-owned electric utilities — Con Edison, NYSEG, National Grid, and RG&E — and each operates in a distinct geographic territory. Once you know your delivery utility, you can shop among competitive electricity suppliers (ESCOs) that serve your area. This guide breaks down each territory, which ESCOs operate there, and how to compare your options in 2026.

How Electricity Deregulation Works in New York

New York deregulated its retail electricity market in the late 1990s, allowing residential and commercial customers to choose their electricity supplier while the local utility continues to deliver power. Your utility bill is split into two components: the supply charge (what you pay for the electricity itself) and the delivery charge (what you pay to the utility for transmission and distribution). You can only switch your supply charge — the delivery remains with your utility regardless of which ESCO you choose.

New York’s deregulated electricity market is overseen by the Public Service Commission (PSC) and implemented through NYSERDA and the utilities themselves. All licensed ESCOs operating in New York must register with the PSC and comply with strict disclosure requirements.

Con Edison Territory (New York City and Westchester)

Consolidated Edison serves approximately 3.3 million customers in New York City (all five boroughs) and most of Westchester County — making it the largest electric utility in the state and one of the largest in the nation. If you live in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, or in Westchester cities like Yonkers, White Plains, or New Rochelle, Con Edison is your delivery utility.

Con Edison’s service territory is the most competitive in New York, with dozens of licensed ESCOs offering supply contracts. Major ESCOs serving Con Edison customers include Constellation Energy, NRG Energy (trading as Cirro Energy and Green Mountain Energy), Direct Energy, Ambit Energy, and Commerce Energy. Because NYC has the highest electricity consumption density in the state, ESCOs compete aggressively here — you’re most likely to find promotional rates, green energy options, and bundled services in the Con Edison territory.

Con Edison customers who don’t choose an ESCO receive supply from Con Edison’s default service (called “firm transportation” for small customers), which changes monthly based on market prices. Locking in a fixed-rate ESCO contract provides price stability against these monthly fluctuations.

National Grid Territory (Long Island Sound, Upstate)

National Grid serves customers in New York City’s outer boroughs (primarily Brooklyn and Queens, overlapping with Con Edison in some areas), as well as a large swath of upstate New York including Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo, and Rochester. National Grid took over the former Niagara Mohawk service area upstate, making it the second-largest electric utility in New York.

In the National Grid upstate territory, popular ESCOs include Constellation, Sprague Energy, Verde Energy, and several smaller regional suppliers. Rates in the National Grid upstate area tend to be lower than in the NYC metro because transmission and distribution costs are spread over less-dense geography, and the proximity to Niagara Falls hydroelectric power keeps wholesale costs competitive.

NYSEG Territory (Southern Tier and Finger Lakes)

New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) serves customers across a large area of central and western New York, including the Southern Tier (Binghamton, Elmira, Corning), the Finger Lakes region, and parts of the North Country. NYSEG is a subsidiary of AVANGRID and operates in some of the state’s most rural territories.

ESCO availability in NYSEG territory is more limited than in Con Edison or National Grid areas due to lower population density. However, major national suppliers like Constellation, NRG, and Spark Energy do operate here. NYSEG’s default supply service (called “PSC Standard Offer”) is set periodically and can serve as a benchmark when evaluating ESCO offers — compare any ESCO rate to the PSC Standard Offer before signing a contract.

RG&E Territory (Rochester Area)

Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E), also an AVANGRID subsidiary, serves the Greater Rochester area including Monroe County and parts of several surrounding counties. RG&E is the smallest of New York’s four major electric utilities by customer count, serving roughly 375,000 electric customers.

Like NYSEG, RG&E has a more concentrated set of ESCOs operating in its territory. Constellation Energy, Verde Energy, and a handful of regional suppliers offer supply contracts here. Rochester-area customers should pay particular attention to contract length and early termination fees when shopping, as switching costs can offset savings if you need to exit a contract early.

How to Compare ESCOs in Your Territory

The New York PSC maintains an online tool called “PowerYourWay” that lists all licensed ESCOs by utility territory and shows current pricing information. To compare suppliers in your territory, you’ll need your account number and your service classification (residential or commercial). Key factors to compare include the supply rate (cents per kWh), contract length, whether the rate is fixed or variable, any introductory promotional rates and what they revert to, and early termination fees.

Variable-rate ESCO contracts in New York have a troubled history — multiple ESCOs were penalized by the PSC for switching customers to variable rates that exceeded Con Edison and National Grid default service rates by wide margins. The PSC now requires ESCOs to guarantee that variable-rate customers won’t pay more than the utility default rate in any given month, but fixed-rate contracts still offer better predictability.

Green Energy Options in New York

New York has one of the most ambitious clean energy mandates in the country, targeting 70% renewable electricity by 2030. Several ESCOs offer 100% renewable energy supply contracts using Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) sourced from wind and solar projects. Green Mountain Energy, Constellation’s green products, and CleanChoice Energy all operate in New York’s deregulated territories. Expect to pay a small premium — typically 1–3 cents per kWh above standard rates — for 100% renewable supply.

FAQ

How do I find my utility in New York?

Your utility is listed on your electric bill. Look for the company name in the header or the “delivery charges” section. If you’re unsure, your ZIP code can also identify your utility — Con Edison serves NYC and Westchester, National Grid serves Long Island Sound and much of upstate, NYSEG serves the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes, and RG&E serves greater Rochester.

Can I switch ESCOs if I’m unhappy?

Yes. New York ESCOs are required to allow customers to switch with no more than 30 days’ notice and no termination fee for month-to-month contracts. Fixed-term contracts may have early termination fees — check your contract terms before switching.

What happens if my ESCO goes out of business?

If your ESCO ceases operations, you automatically revert to your utility’s default supply service. There is no gap in service. The PSC has protections in place for this scenario.

Is the PSC Standard Offer always cheaper than ESCOs?

Not always. The PSC Standard Offer changes periodically and is set to reflect market costs. When market prices are low, ESCOs may offer competitive fixed rates. When market prices spike, the PSC rate adjusts up — customers on locked-in ESCO contracts are protected from those spikes.

Are there income-based electricity programs in New York?

Yes. The Electricity Reduction Program (ERP) and the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) both offer bill credits and assistance for income-qualified New York residents. These programs work alongside your choice of ESCO — you can receive HEAP benefits regardless of which supplier you use.

Bottom Line

Knowing your delivery utility — Con Edison, National Grid, NYSEG, or RG&E — is the first step to shopping New York’s deregulated electricity market effectively. Each territory has different ESCO options and competitive dynamics, but the core strategy is the same: compare fixed-rate offers against your utility’s standard offer, watch for promotional rates that balloon after the intro period, and use the PSC’s PowerYourWay tool to identify licensed suppliers before signing any contract.