New York Power Bills Jump 50% in Five Years

New Yorkers are paying about 50% more to keep the lights on than five years ago, according to figures reported by the Albany Times Union. The climb in residential electricity bills has become a household budget issue in the final stretch before the Nov. 3 election, where voters will choose between Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, and Republican Bruce Blakeman.

The size of the jump varies by utility and by where a customer lives. New York State Electric & Gas saw average residential bills nearly double between 2021 and 2025, the Times Union reported. Utilities point to costs tied to infrastructure upkeep, power delivery and grid upgrades. Supply costs also shift with fuel prices and demand.

Hochul has promoted utility-bill discounts and other financial assistance for households facing higher costs. Her administration has also backed steps to address electricity demand created by large data centers.

Blakeman has criticized state energy policy, arguing that limits on natural gas development and renewable-energy requirements have pushed expenses higher. He has pledged to cut bills in half but has not laid out a timeline for when such reductions could take effect.

Election Day falls on Nov. 3, and energy costs sit alongside housing and grocery prices as issues families are weighing.