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New York · Updated October 2026
National Grid rates in 2026
What National Grid customers are actually paying, where the number comes from, and what it means for your bill. Serving Syracuse, Albany, Utica, Watertown, Buffalo and parts of Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. Supply alone is 14.90¢ — the all-in figure adds delivery and riders.
20.0¢All-in residential rateRanked #1 by Solar Power World · Inc. 5000 · 20,000+ installations
Estimate what solar does against your National Grid bill
Enter your bill and we’ll size the array that would cover it, and show the gross value of that production at your rate. It does not net off the customer charge, taxes or what you would still draw at night — for that, use the bill savings calculator. Nothing is sent anywhere; this runs in your browser.
An estimate from your own numbers, not a quote, and not a savings figure. It assumes 400 W panels, an 80% system derate and no roof constraints. Your real number depends on orientation, roof area and your utility’s export credit. Savings are not guaranteed.
The numbers
Where National Grid stands right now
| Measure | Current | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rate Year 2 electric increase | +5.6% | Effective Sept 1, 2026 — year two of the three-year plan the PSC approved Aug 14, 2025 (3.4% / 5.6% / 4.6%) |
| Rate Year 1 typical bill impact | +$17.24/mo | Residential at 625 kWh, from Sept 1, 2025 (PSC) |
| Default supply rate | 14.90¢ | April 2026 |
| All-in residential estimate | ~20¢ | Supply + delivery + riders |
| Upstate wholesale vs Zone J | 25–35% lower | NYISO Zones A–F |
| NY statewide residential average | 28.55¢ | EIA, March 2026 |
Figures as published August 2026. Utility rates change on published schedules — check your own bill for the rate that applies to your account.
Why the number is what it is
This is a three-year plan, not a single reset
In August 2025 the New York Public Service Commission approved a three-year Upstate rate plan for National Grid. That matters because the increase does not arrive once and finish — delivery charges step up in phases across the plan.
The April 1, 2026 step raised electric delivery about 7.3% and gas delivery about 11.7%. That step is already in your bill. Further steps follow under the same approved plan.
Most of the increase sits on the delivery side rather than supply, which is the part you cannot shop away by switching suppliers. Every kilowatt-hour your roof produces is one you do not pay delivery charges on.
In early 2026 Governor Hochul announced a ratepayer protection plan and a PSC proceeding examining whether large-load users, including data centers, should carry more of the infrastructure cost they create. That proceeding is ongoing and has not changed the approved schedule.
What is actually driving this
Upstate buys cheaper power than downstate
National Grid's supply charges change monthly with wholesale conditions in NYISO's upstate zones, which generally clear 25 to 35% below downstate Zone J. That is why Syracuse and Albany pay meaningfully less per kilowatt-hour than New York City.
A pending rate case
National Grid has increase requests before the Public Service Commission. The PSC approved multi-year plans for Con Edison, National Grid, Central Hudson and Orange & Rockland during the 2025–26 cycle.
Affordability pressure statewide
As of December 2024, more than 1.3 million New York households were sixty days or more behind on energy bills, collectively owing over $1.8 billion. That backdrop shapes every rate case in the state.
The honest cost picture
Two ways to pay for solar, and they are very different
If you buy the system
You own the equipment, you keep any renewable energy credits, and you carry the maintenance responsibility. Installed pricing varies by roof, shading and system size.
If you use a PPA
$0 upfront. We install and own the system; you buy the power it produces at a rate set in your agreement, and you only pay for what it actually generates. The system owner carries maintenance for the life of the agreement.
How $0-down solar works in New York → · What solar costs in New York →
Cities we cover in this utility area: Solar in Albany → · Solar in Buffalo → · Solar in Syracuse →
The residential federal tax credit (25D) ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.
You will still see ads promising a 30% credit that “ends December 31.” Read the date on them. If you buy a system today as a homeowner, you cannot claim that credit. What remains applies to the owner of the system — which, under a PPA, is us. SolarAmerica does not provide tax advice; talk to your tax professional about your situation.
Going solar with National Grid
National Grid net metering and solar programs
When your panels make more power than your home is using, the extra flows onto National Grid’s grid and is credited on your National Grid bill under New York’s net metering rules. How much each exported kilowatt-hour is worth is set by those rules, and it is one of the biggest factors in how your system should be sized. How net metering works in New York.
Does National Grid have a solar program?
National Grid connects home solar systems to its grid and credits the power you send back, but it does not install panels. State incentives are covered in our New York solar incentives guide, and SolarAmerica handles the National Grid interconnection application for you.
How do I sign up for net metering with National Grid?
There is no separate sign-up. It is set up as part of the interconnection application your installer files with National Grid before your system is turned on, and SolarAmerica files it for you.
$0-down solar in New York → · Solar panel installation cost in New York → · Net metering credit calculator →
Who you would be working with
SolarAmerica
We design your system and manage the project; installation is performed by vetted licensed partners in your area.
National Grid questions
The things people actually ask
Is National Grid cheaper than Con Edison?
On the all-in number, considerably — roughly 20¢ upstate against 33.83¢ in New York City. The supply rates are close; the difference is delivery, which costs far less outside the dense urban core.
Does National Grid allow solar?
Yes. New York requires investor-owned utilities to offer net metering, and National Grid interconnects residential solar and credits exported power.
Is there a New York solar tax credit?
Yes — 25% of system cost, capped at $5,000, form IT-255. It applies to power purchase agreements of ten years or more, which is unusual. Ask your tax professional.
See what your roof and National Grid actually add up to
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