Electricity and natural gas service in New York is determined mainly by location. A Manhattan resident, a Long Island homeowner and a business in Buffalo may all be connected to different utilities, even when they purchase energy from an outside supplier.
A utility’s responsibilities can include maintaining power lines, repairing gas pipes, reading meters, restoring outages and delivering energy to customers. The following companies were selected for their service reach, infrastructure role, customer facilities and importance to New York’s energy system. Let’s check out our top picks.
1. Con Edison
Con Edison is the principal energy-delivery company for New York City and Westchester County. Its electric, natural gas and steam systems provide energy used by around 10 million people across its service territory.
Electric service covers New York City and most of Westchester County. Natural gas service is available in Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens and sections of Westchester, while its underground steam system serves many large Manhattan buildings.
Customers can start or stop service, pay bills, report outages and apply for assistance online. Con Edison also supports electric vehicles, heat pumps, solar installations and energy-efficiency improvements for residential and commercial customers.
Why Con Edison is included: Its enormous New York City network and unusual combination of electric, gas and steam delivery make it the state’s most recognisable utility.
- Corporate address: 4 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003
- Official website: https://www.coned.com/
2. National Grid
National Grid operates major electricity and natural gas networks across New York. Its Upstate territory includes communities around Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse, Niagara Falls and other northern, central and western areas. It also supplies natural gas in parts of New York City and Long Island through separate service regions.
The company provides billing, outage reporting, gas-emergency support, energy-efficiency programmes and rebates. Customers can also explore heat-pump, electric-vehicle and natural-gas conversion programmes where available.
National Grid’s Upstate Upgrade programme includes substantial work on transmission lines and substations to strengthen the grid and connect additional clean-energy resources.
Why National Grid is included: Its extensive Upstate electricity system and major downstate and Upstate gas operations give it one of New York’s broadest utility footprints.
- New York regional office: 300 Erie Boulevard West, Syracuse, NY 13202
- Official website: https://www.nationalgridus.com/
3. New York State Electric & Gas
New York State Electric & Gas, commonly known as NYSEG, is an Avangrid utility headquartered in Binghamton. It supplies electricity and natural gas across numerous communities in Upstate New York. The New York Department of Public Service lists NYSEG among the state’s major electric utilities.
Its service territory includes parts of the Southern Tier, Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, Capital Region and Western and Central New York. Services include electric and gas delivery, meter management, outage restoration, energy assistance and efficiency programmes.
NYSEG also owns and operates hydroelectric facilities and other energy infrastructure. Recent state-approved grid projects include additional capacity intended to support industrial electrification.
Why NYSEG is included: Its geographically diverse service territory makes it an important utility for smaller cities, suburbs and rural communities outside New York’s largest metropolitan areas.
- Corporate office: 18 Link Drive, Binghamton, NY 13904
- Official website: https://www.nyseg.com/
4. Long Island Power Authority and PSEG Long Island
The Long Island Power Authority, or LIPA, is a not-for-profit public utility that owns the electric transmission and distribution system serving Long Island and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. It serves approximately 1.2 million customers.
Most customer-facing operations—including billing, power delivery, account support and outage response—are provided under the PSEG Long Island brand. LIPA retains ownership and ultimate control of the electrical system.
Customers can access outage maps, report problems, manage accounts and explore programmes for solar power, electric vehicles and home energy efficiency through the PSEG Long Island website.
Why LIPA/PSEG Long Island is included: This publicly owned system provides electricity across almost all Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaways, making it central to life and business on Long Island.
- LIPA address: 333 Earle Ovington Boulevard, Uniondale, NY 11553
- Customer website: https://www.psegliny.com/
- LIPA website: https://www.lipower.org/
5. Central Hudson Gas & Electric
Central Hudson Gas & Electric serves New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley. Its territory stretches from the northern suburbs of New York City toward the Capital District near Albany.
The company reports approximately 315,000 electric customers and 90,000 natural gas customers. Its website provides online billing, usage history, outage reporting, text alerts, energy-assistance programmes and incentives for electric vehicles and heat pumps.
Central Hudson also works with municipalities, businesses, solar developers and contractors. Its smaller regional focus can be useful for customers who prefer programmes designed around Hudson Valley communities.
Why Central Hudson is included: Its combined electric and gas services make it one of the Mid-Hudson region’s most important infrastructure providers.
- Corporate headquarters: 284 South Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
- Official website: https://www.cenhud.com/
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can New York residents choose their utility company?
A: Generally, no. The delivery utility is assigned according to the property’s location. Customers may be able to choose an Energy Services Company for their electricity or gas supply, but the local utility continues delivering the energy and responding to emergencies.
Q: Why does a utility bill show separate supply and delivery charges?
A: The supply charge covers the electricity or gas purchased for the customer. Delivery charges cover the wires, pipelines, meters, maintenance, customer service and other infrastructure used to transport that energy.
Q: Should customers call their electricity supplier during an outage?
A: No. Contact the local delivery utility because it owns or operates the power lines and restoration system. An outside energy supplier cannot repair damaged poles, transformers or local wiring.
Q: What should someone do after smelling natural gas?
A: Leave the building or area immediately without operating switches, phones or appliances nearby. From a safe location, call 911 and the utility’s gas-emergency number.
Q: Where can customers complain about an unresolved utility issue?
A: Contact the utility first and give it an opportunity to resolve the problem. When the response remains unsatisfactory, customers can file a complaint with the New York State Department of Public Service.