Ensuring Affordability Remains Top Priority 

ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC or Commission) and its staff arm — the Department of Public Service (DPS or Department) — marked the new year by taking note of the significant progress made in 2025 to ensure affordable, clean, safe, and reliable access to electric, gas, steam, telecommunications, and water services for New York State’s residential and business consumers. In 2025, the PSC focused on affordability, reliability, and safety in energy and telecommunications. Key initiatives included expanding energy affordability programs, lowering broadband costs for low-income households, and streamlining renewable energy project permitting. The agency also prioritized grid planning and public engagement. Despite challenges in federal policy, DPS is expediting renewable energy projects and promoting nuclear energy to meet clean energy goals and is well positioned to make further progress in 2026.

“In New York, we are proud of our staff and Public Service Commission’s efforts to deliver reliable, affordable and clean utility services across the State, but we still have much work to do in 2026 to address affordability and reliability concerns while advancing our nation-leading clean energy agenda,” said Department CEO Rory M. Christian. “Our energy bills are higher than we’d like, but we are below the national average. Our carbon emissions must continue to decline to address the climate crisis, but we have among the lowest emissions per capita of any state in the nation. Our systems are being strained by aged infrastructure, severe weather and unprecedented new energy demand, but we are home to one of the most reliable utilities in the country.  Through collaboration, innovation and a steadfast focus on the public interest, we will address our challenges in 2026 head-on while maintaining New York’s leadership on affordability, sustainability and reliability.”

Key highlights of the Commission and staff’s progress in 2025 include:

Affordability: The Commission adopted an Enhanced Energy Affordability Policy, extending eligibility to an additional 1.6 million households to provide discounts sufficient to keep energy burden to 6 percent or less of household income and paused dis-enrollments in the program for one year due to federal government funding uncertainty for the related LIHEAP program. The Commission also mandated that broadband providers offer affordable service to low-income households for a maximum of $15 per month.

Reliability and Safety: The DPS prioritized the reliability and safety of New York's energy system by refining existing rules to simplify permitting processes. The Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) issued eight permits representing 1,025 megawatts of renewable energy, or enough electricity for 214,000 average-sized homes, and advanced construction on renewable and transmission projects. The Commission also approved four natural gas utilities’ long-term plans to ensure the safety and reliability of natural gas systems as the State transitions to lower carbon heating solutions consistent with the Climate Act.

Clean Energy and Transmission: The Commission is actively involved in energy system planning and policies supporting New York's clean energy transition and economic development. PSC approved funding for large-scale renewable and transmission projects, initiatives to reduce building emissions and advance clean transportation, and efforts to scale up solar deployment. The Commission also advanced the Coordinated Grid Planning Process to identify generation and transmission solutions, expecting to complete the first planning cycle in early 2026.

Support for Businesses: The Commission launched POWER UP with Empire State Development, offering zero percent interest loans and grants to businesses to ensure shovel-ready sites have the necessary electric capacity. The $300 million initiative was first introduced in Governor Hochul's 2025 State of the State and was included in the FY26 Enacted Budget.

Rate Cases: The Commission approved new rate plans for four utilities in 2025, reducing the utility requests by more than $480 million.

Utility Management Compensation Audit: Earlier this year, Governor Hochul announced that the Commission had initiated a comprehensive review of utility management compensation following her direction on Tuesday for the Department of Public Service (DPS) to move forward with the audit. This audit follows years of work by DPS to examine utility management structures and seeks to align utility priorities with State objectives, including affordability, reliability, safety, and a cleaner environment. This is part of a comprehensive effort by the Governor to combat rising utility costs and protect consumers, and it builds upon her direction for the Department to reject Con Edison’s rate proposal and her demand that the New York Power Authority suspend its proposed rate increase.

State Energy Plan: In December, the State Energy Planning Board voted unanimously to approve a State Energy Plan. The Plan is based on findings from more than a year-long assessment of current systems and future energy needs through 2040, that will guide the State’s energy-related decision making. The approval of the plan advances multiple objectives of the State including ensuring affordable, abundant, reliable, and clean energy while supporting economic development, equity, and a healthy environment. The plan embraces the State's continued commitment to renewables while also noting that a variety of energy sources, like advanced nuclear and natural gas, will be needed to help New York meet its overall energy needs over the next 15 years.

Enforcement and Consumer Protection: The Department’s Office of Investigations and Enforcement held regulated utilities accountable by ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and orders of the Commission and secured $14.3 million in 2025 on behalf of ratepayers through enforcement actions and settlements; the Commission also revoked eligibility to conduct business in New York of 15 energy service companies, or ESCOs, for violating the state’s consumer protection regulations.

Public Engagement: In 2025, the Commission and the Department issued more than 900 orders and rulings and reviewed more than 32,000 written comments. Additionally, the Department’s Office of Consumer Services secured more than $21.5 million in refunds on behalf of customers who filed complaints through November alone, nearly $9 million more than was returned to customers in all of 2024. In addition, the Commission held 67 public statement hearings, and the Department engaged with thousands of consumers at 131 outreach events. This engagement helped secure nearly $60 million from utility shareholders for the benefit of ratepayers.