As the temperatures rise over the dog days of summer, you may notice your Con Ed bill follows the same pattern.

An electricity-guzzling air conditioner may be a culprit. The other factor could be a recent rate hike from the utility.

Because cooling relies on electricity, usage shoots up in the summer. The more energy you use, the more you pay for. 

In New York City, fossil fuels generate the vast majority of our electricity. Natural gas, which powers most of the plants that generate the electricity Con Ed buys and delivers, is a global commodity whose price goes up and down with supply and demand. 

Last July, the state Public Service Commission approved 12% rate hikes over three years for Con Ed customers. Those increases help pay for the programs (like efficiency incentives), staffing and infrastructure Con Ed needs to deliver electricity, but not the power itself that it purchases.

But they’re also driving New Yorkers’ electricity bills to some of the highest charges around the country.

People in the New York City region pay much more on average for electricity than elsewhere. Here, electricity prices have increased almost 17% from June 2023 to June 2024 — outpacing the nationwide electricity price increase of just over 4%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rate at which electricity prices rose is also more than the prices of other items in the New York City area, from food to recreation.

This June, electric costs per kilowatt were nearly 62% more than the national average, and over the last five years, June costs were at least 44% higher than the national average, according to the BLS.

For more information about rising energy costs and how to navigate the rate-setting process in New York state, check out this guide by New York Focus.

How can I get financial help with my Con Ed bill, or lower my bill?

If you’ve got a huge electric bill, there are some things you can look into, and ways you can try to control your costs going forward:

• Con Ed offers payment plans and other forms of assistance for qualifying households.
• If you think you have an erroneous bill, file a complaint with the state Department of Public Service if you cannot resolve the issue with Con Ed directly.
• Low-income New Yorkers could apply to  get help paying utility costs through the Home Energy Assistance Program starting April 15, but the last day to apply this season already ed.
• The Utility Assistance Program (UAP) provides people who are elderly, blind, disabled or mentally impaired, or living “in a neglected or hazardous environment” with financial assistance with energy bills. Find out more here or call the city’s Department of Social Services helpline at (718) 557-1399.
• Customers can use less electricity by keeping shades drawn and installing efficient LED lights, among other measures recommended by Con Ed.
• Con Ed also offers financial incentives for customers to use less energy and to help property owners weatherize their homes.
• Enroll in a program to earn money when you reduce your energy use during certain times over the course of the summer. You can find a program here.