National Grid forecasts higher electric, lower gas bills in upstate New York
National Grid expects typical upstate New York electric bills to rise this winter while natural gas bills decline slightly.
By Caleb Mercer, ClickNNY North Country Desk
National Grid expects electric bills to increase and natural gas bills to decrease during the 2026-27 heating season in upstate New York, which runs from Nov. 1 through March 31. The utility released its forecast Oct. 14, saying the estimates are based on typical winter weather and market information available at the end of September.
A typical electric customer is expected to pay 3% to 5% more than last winter, or about $22 to $39 more over the season, depending on the region. A typical natural gas customer using 713 therms is expected to pay about $9 less than last winter.
National Grid said actual bills will vary with temperatures, household energy use and changing market conditions. Supply charges reflect the cost of natural gas purchased in wholesale markets and are passed through without markup, the utility said. Delivery charges support the energy network, including its workforce, maintenance, storm response and system upgrades.
The gas comparison follows a larger increase forecast for the 2025-26 season. National Grid projected a $66 increase, or about 10%, for an average upstate gas customer using 713 therms last October. That increase was tied in part to a three-year delivery-rate agreement approved by the New York Public Service Commission in summer 2025.
The utility said its current upstate rate plan provides more than $290 million in discounts for income-eligible and vulnerable customers. Customers who are having difficulty paying their bills are encouraged to contact National Grid as soon as possible to ask about assistance programs.
National Grid also recommends setting thermostats back when leaving home for two hours or more and before bed. The utility says each one-degree reduction may save 1% to 3% on annual heating costs. Other suggestions include sealing drafts, improving insulation, using a smart thermostat and having heating systems serviced annually.
Regular Home Energy Assistance Program applications are scheduled to open Nov. 2 and close April 16, 2027. Emergency HEAP is scheduled to run from Jan. 4 through April 16, 2027; emergency applicants need a utility shutoff notice. Applications can be made through myBenefits New York or a local social services district. Customers 60 and older can apply through their county Office for the Aging. Customers should confirm current dates with the state or county before applying.
More information is available through National Grid’s upstate New York winter forecast and its HEAP assistance page.
Reported by ClickNNY and reviewed by an editor before publication.
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