The OBSERVER’s View: No stopping rising power prices
No stopping rising power prices
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Every month, the electric bill brings a bit more pain to New York state residents. According to the Empire Center's Energy Data Bulletin, households are paying the fourth-highest electricity prices in the country. 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% from March and were 14.6 percent higher than a year earlier - nearly four times the rate of inflation, the Center reported. Since 2019, the state's average residential electricity price has climbed nearly 68%.
"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.
So much for the affordability catch phrase we keep hearing from Albany. As for our weekly poll that asked: "Are rising electricity prices starting to impact your budget?" About 83% said that was the case while 17% said "no."
This week's poll: Are high gas prices impacting your summer vacation plans?