Side by side (NY, EIA-861)
| Metric | National Grid (Niagara Mohawk) | NYSEG (New York State Electric & Gas) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 17.22 | 18.32 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 16.97 | 15.53 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,860 | $1,979 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 1,430,208 | 735,192 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Investor-owned |
| Fixed monthly charge (URDB) | $17.33/mo | $19.00/mo |
| Energy rate range, $/kWh (URDB) | 0.159 | 0.166 |
| Counties served in NY | 37 | 44 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: National Grid (Niagara Mohawk) · NYSEG (New York State Electric & Gas) · New York overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Allegany · Cattaraugus · Cayuga · Chautauqua · Chenango · Clinton · Columbia · Cortland · Erie · Essex · Franklin · Hamilton · Herkimer · Lewis · Livingston · Madison · Niagara · Oneida · Onondaga · Ontario · Orleans · Otsego · Rensselaer · Saratoga · Schoharie · Washington · Wyoming counties (NY, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; National Grid (Niagara Mohawk) and NYSEG (New York State Electric & Gas) do not compete for the same meters. New York does have retail supply choice: customers of either utility may buy the supply portion from a licensed third-party supplier, or stay on the utility's default supply rate. An offer only saves money if it beats your utility's price to compare (printed on the bill); compare offers at dps.ny.gov. The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is National Grid (Niagara Mohawk) cheaper than NYSEG (New York State Electric & Gas)?
- Yes — in 2024 National Grid (Niagara Mohawk) customers averaged 17.22 cents/kWh versus 18.32 for NYSEG (New York State Electric & Gas) (EIA-861). National Grid (Niagara Mohawk) was cheaper by 1.10 cents, about $119 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from NYSEG (New York State Electric & Gas) to National Grid (Niagara Mohawk)?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. New York does allow supply choice: either utility's customers can shop the supply portion at dps.ny.gov if an offer beats the utility's price to compare.
- Why is NYSEG (New York State Electric & Gas) more expensive than National Grid (Niagara Mohawk)?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between NYSEG and National Grid territory all feed the 1.10-cent gap.