New York households are paying the fourth-highest electricity prices in the country, according to the Empire Center’s Energy Data Bulletin. In April 2026, residential electricity prices in New York averaged 29.45 cents per kilowatt-hour – 56 percent above the national average of 18.83 cents.

New York’s electricity costs rose 3.1 percent from March and were 14.6 percent higher than a year earlier – nearly four times the rate of inflation. Since 2019, the state’s average residential electricity price has climbed nearly 68 percent.

“New York’s electricity prices show that Albany’s energy policies are not working,” said Zilvinas Silenas, President of the Empire Center. “Electricity demand is rising across much of the country, yet most states have significantly lower prices.”

New York’s prices were well above those in several large and neighboring states. Residential ratepayers paid 15.38 cents per kilowatt-hour in Florida and 16.99 cents in Texas. New York’s average was also higher than Pennsylvania’s 21.47 cents and New Jersey’s 23.53 cents, though below California’s 35.25 cents and Connecticut’s 32.34 cents.

New Yorkers also paid above-average prices for residential natural gas, which were 16 percent higher than the national average and ranked 15th highest among the states.

The Empire Center’s Energy Data Bulletin tracks monthly electricity and natural gas prices using data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The bulletin allows residents, policymakers, and journalists to compare New York’s energy costs with those in other states. The full report – including state rankings, historical trends, and downloadable data – is available through the Empire Center’s Energy Data portal.