Side by side (NY, EIA-861)
| Metric | National Grid (Niagara Mohawk) | Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 17.22 | 18.76 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 16.97 | 16.13 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,860 | $2,026 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 1,430,208 | 294,053 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Investor-owned |
| Fixed monthly charge (URDB) | $17.33/mo | $23.99/mo |
| Energy rate range, $/kWh (URDB) | 0.159 | 0.165 |
| Counties served in NY | 37 | 7 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: National Grid (Niagara Mohawk) · Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) · New York overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Allegany · Genesee · Livingston · Monroe · Ontario · 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 Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) 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 Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E)?
- Yes — in 2024 National Grid (Niagara Mohawk) customers averaged 17.22 cents/kWh versus 18.76 for Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) (EIA-861). National Grid (Niagara Mohawk) was cheaper by 1.54 cents, about $166 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) 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 Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) 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 RG&E and National Grid territory all feed the 1.54-cent gap.