How Con Edison rates reached the top of the country
Consolidated Edison's average residential electricity price has risen from 26.3 cents per kWh in 2015 to 36.73 cents in 2025, an increase of about 40 percent, or roughly 3.4 percent per year. The chart shows Con Edison's average residential price by year. Hover any point for the exact figure.
Two things people get wrong about Con Edison solar
Current residential rates
Con Edison residential rates are shown below, from the utility's published tariffs and the public Utility Rate Database. Rates vary by plan, season, and usage and change over time.
| Plan | Energy charge | Fixed / basic |
|---|---|---|
| Residential (Service Classification No. 1), standard non-time-of-use | About 33 to 34 cents/kWh all-in in 2025: a variable market supply charge near 14 cents plus delivery near 18 cents plus roughly 1.7 cents in riders. The supply portion is a monthly Market Supply Charge that changes every month, and Westchester delivery runs higher than the city. | About $16.33/month basic service charge |
Figures are the 2025 New York City full-service SC-1 average, grossed up for taxes at about 300 kWh per month. The supply portion is a variable monthly Market Supply Charge, so the per-kWh energy rate changes month to month, and customers may instead buy supply from a third-party ESCO. Confirm current pricing on Con Edison's rate pages before making decisions.
How Con Edison credits your solar exports
New York residential rooftop solar with Con Edison receives traditional monthly net metering, meaning exported energy earns bill credits at the retail rate, but pays a monthly Customer Benefit Contribution of about 1.84 dollars per kW of installed capacity (2025 Con Edison rate). Customers may instead opt into the statewide VDER Value Stack, which compensates exports at their time and location based grid value rather than full retail. The framework is set by the New York Public Service Commission and administered through NYSERDA.
What the highest rates in the country mean for solar
Con Edison's rates are about the highest of any big utility in the country, which is exactly what makes solar valuable here: every kWh you generate and use yourself replaces power priced near 37 cents and still climbing. Over the past decade that price rose about 40 percent.
New York keeps retail-rate net metering, so exported solar is credited at close to what you pay, unlike Michigan or Illinois where exports now earn far less. The main wrinkle is the monthly Customer Benefit Contribution that new systems pay based on size. Whether solar pencils out depends on your roof, usage, and system size, so get a site-specific quote.
What rising Con Edison rates could cost you
Con Edison rates have risen about 3.4% per year. Enter your bill to see what that pace of increase could compound to over time, and what you have likely already absorbed. This is an estimate, not a guarantee.
Estimate only. Projects your current bill forward at Con Edison's historical average rate increase (3.4% per year, from EIA data); it assumes your usage stays the same except for any add-ons you select. Actual rates depend on your usage, rate plan, and the utility's future filings, and are not guaranteed. This is general information, not financial advice.
Con Edison service area
Con Edison serves All five boroughs of New York City except part of the Rockaway peninsula in Queens (served by PSEG Long Island), plus most of Westchester County. It is one of the densest electric load pockets in the United States..
To confirm whether a specific address is served by Con Edison, check your electricity bill. A ZIP lookup tool is coming to this site.
Full data and sources
Per-utility prices are computed from EIA Form 861 (bundled residential revenue divided by sales), which reconciles to the EIA's published figures. These are public-domain U.S. government data.
| Year | Con Edison (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 26.3 |
| 2016 | 24.91 |
| 2017 | 25.34 |
| 2018 | 26.36 |
| 2019 | 25.3 |
| 2020 | 26.15 |
| 2021 | 27.33 |
| 2022 | 28.76 |
| 2023 | 31.58 |
| 2024 | 35.66 |
| 2025 | 36.73 |
Sources: EIA Form 861, Sales to Ultimate Customers (2015 to 2024) · Con Edison, Historical Average Full-Service Electric Rates · NYSERDA, 2025 Utility Customer Benefit Contribution Rates · NYSERDA, Value of Distributed Energy Resources (Value Stack)
FAQ
How much have Con Edison electricity rates gone up?
Con Edison's average full-service residential price rose from about 26 cents per kWh in 2015 to about 37 cents in 2025, an increase of roughly 40 percent, per EIA Form 861 data. It is among the highest residential rates of any large US utility.
Does Con Edison have net metering?
Yes. New York keeps retail-rate net metering, so Con Edison credits exported solar at close to the retail rate. New residential systems also pay a monthly Customer Benefit Contribution of about 1.84 dollars per kW of installed capacity. Customers may instead choose the statewide VDER Value Stack.
What is the Customer Benefit Contribution?
It is a small monthly charge New York applies to new net-metered solar systems, about 1.84 dollars per kW of installed capacity in Con Edison territory for 2025. On a typical residential system it is a modest fixed fee that slightly reduces the value of net metering.
Is solar worth it with Con Edison?
Con Edison's very high rates make each offset kWh worth a lot, and New York still credits exports near retail, which is favorable. The main cost to weigh is the monthly Customer Benefit Contribution, along with your roof and usage. Get a site-specific quote rather than a general estimate.