Why your Central NY National Grid gas and electric bill is skyrocketing

Syracuse, NY – Across central New York, National Grid electric and gas bills rose an average of $120 this winter, thanks to a blizzard that hit residential customers.

The winter weather is partly to blame. November and December were 19% colder than the same months a year earlier, according to National Grid. That’s 6 to 7 degrees colder this season than the past five winters, according to meteorological records.

But there are two other problems, and they are unlikely to dissipate once the weather warms up.

First, the price of electricity is rising for everyone, including National Grid, in large part because new electricity generation is stagnating while demand is rising. This means that National Grid is now paying more for energy, especially electricity. The company passes these costs on to customers.

Second, this is the first winter under the Grid’s latest rate hike. Those higher delivery rates took effect last fall. Within three years, grid costs are projected to permanently increase by approximately $600 per year for the average Northstate household.

All of this adds up to balloon costs in the cold winter, said Laurie Wheelock, the company’s executive director and consultant New York Public Law Projectconsumer watchdog.

“Higher supply costs, higher delivery costs and using more energy for cooling. That’s a recipe for a high, high bill,” Wheelock said.

From November to January, National Grid gas bills rose by $63 over last year for a typical home user.

That raised the average bill to $408 for a typical customer, according to Grid.

During the same three-month period, regular electricity bills on the grid rose $57.

All of this adds up to an average increase of $120 so far this winter for households using gas and electricity.

So what happens when spring comes? It is possible that wholesale electricity and gas prices could equalize, says a Grid spokesperson. That would bring some relief.

At the same time, higher National Grid supply rates are locked in until autumn 2028. These additional costs cannot be avoided.

Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard spoke with energy experts and National Network. Here’s what’s behind your higher bills:

It’s cold outside

National Grid says we are three months into a winter that has been snowier and colder than in recent years.

“We’ve been in a mild winter zone,” said Jared Paventi, National Grid’s communications manager. “But winter moved in this year.

The average temperature for November and December 2025 combined was 32.6 degrees, almost 3 degrees below normal. This is significantly colder than the previous five winters, which were all 3 to 4 degrees above normal.

Those cold days and nights increase demand, which drives up prices, Paventi said.

If the weather moderates, the bills could go down.

“If demand goes down, the bills will go down accordingly,” Paventi said.

But it could swing the other way.

“A supply chain issue, a cold snap in Texas, an Arctic polar blast with temperatures at or below zero for an extended period of time — anything like that will increase demand,” Paventi said.

Higher rates for energy supply

About two-thirds of your utility bill is tied to supply: the amount National Grid charges for bringing gas and electricity to homes.

Last summer, the state Public Service Commission approved a three-year increase in those delivery rates. National Grid argued that the money was needed to invest $5 billion in major system-wide improvements. The delivery side of your bill also includes Grid profits, which the PSC has calculated at 9.5%.

The higher rates were forecast to add $264 in the first year for households using both electricity and gas.

These higher rates will continue in good weather.

Rising energy costs

The other third of your bill comes from electricity costs based on actual temperatures or kilowatts each household uses. These prices fluctuate with broader market conditions.

The price of electricity is skyrocketing, in large parts to match demand for data centers and advanced manufacturing projects going online is sapping energy and putting pressure on utility systems across the country, according to the NYISO. The independent system operator found that new power sources were not coming online fast enough to keep things calm.

“The surge in projected demand poses a major concern for grid reliability in New York,” NYISO said last year.

In New York, the monthly average price of wholesale electricity jumped 67% last year, according to the New York Independent System Operator, the state’s power grid administrator.

Supply costs alone are up more than 20% over this year’s winter natural gas bills for typical residential Grid customers.

And supply costs charged to grid customers have risen even more dramatically this winter, by more than 30%.

what can you do

Wheelock said there are a few things you can do to lower your bill. She recommends lowering the thermostat by about 5 degrees when leaving home. Do not turn off the boiler completely, this requires more energy to reheat the house.

“It’s one of the most effective ways to save money,” Wheelock said.

Customers can save up to 10% on their heating bill by lowering their thermostat 7 to 10 degrees for just eight hours a day, she said.

It recommends using switches and unplugging cables to prevent constant or “vampire” power consumption. Keep the water heater at 120 degrees, she said, and switch ceiling fans to run clockwise in the winter to push warm air down.

Several assistance programs are available for customers struggling with higher bills. Federal HomeEnergy Assistance Programserves low-income families. National Grid also offers an Energy Affordability Program and a recently launched Expanded Affordability Program with income caps reaching $133,000 for a family of four on a sliding scale. Customers can sign up by calling 877-400-2501.

Customers who are behind on their payments can contact National Grid for financial assistance and payment agreements. Consumer advocates are available atConsumeradvocatesUNY@nationalgrid.comor 1-800-642-4272.

Will higher bills keep coming?

The short answer is yes, in large part because of these rate hikes.

National Grid originally estimated that natural gas bills would rise 10% and electric bills would rise 3% this year.

But electricity bills for November to January rose a combined 18% and natural gas bills rose 16%.

Paventi said the forecast is off because winter hit earlier and colder than in recent years. He added that the utility’s predictions could still be met.

TheNYISO reported in November that there is enough power available to meet demand this winter, but that too many very cold days could erode supplies.

Wheelock, of the energy watchdog group, said her organization has seen an increase in calls from customers trying to balance utility bills with other expenses such as mortgages, rent and food.

For some, this is a real dilemma.

“We’re getting a lot of calls these days,” Wheelock said. “We had a meeting and I heard from my team that people are struggling with what to pay – mortgage or rent, food, utilities. Some pay a little the first month and a little later to balance it all.”