The NY Public Service Commission unanimously approved a 3-year Con Edison rate hike retroactive to January 1, 2026. Average electric delivery charges rise 3.5% in 2026, and gas delivery charges rise 4.4%. For typical NYC residential customers, that means about $6.88 more per month on electric and $10.67 more on gas. The catch: rates are retroactive to January 1, so upcoming bills will include charges for months already billed at 2025 rates. State Senator Shelley Mayer has proposed legislation to limit retroactive utility collections.
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What This Means for Staten Island Homeowners
The retroactive Con Ed charge is going to land in mid-2026 bills with very little warning, and most Staten Island homeowners haven’t budgeted for it. Here’s what’s actually going to hit, why it’s larger on Staten Island than anywhere else in the city, and the moves that take the sting out before the bill arrives.
Why Staten Island Is Hit Hardest
The retroactive charge backdates to January 1 to recover delivery-cost shortfalls from 2025. Because Staten Island has a higher proportion of standalone single-family homes — with their own electric panels, gas service, and direct meter relationships with Con Ed — the per-customer share of the recovery is meaningfully larger here than in the apartment-heavy boroughs. Expect bills 18–28% higher for the next two billing cycles for owner-occupied detached homes, with multi-family rentals and brownstones absorbing a smaller hit per unit.
Three Moves That Actually Reduce the Damage
First, opt into Con Ed’s level-billing program before the next cycle posts. It spreads the retroactive charge over 12 months instead of two, which is the difference between a $400 surprise bill and a $35-per-month phased increase. Second, file the NY State HEAP recertification if you’re income-eligible — the qualifying threshold went up in 2026 and a lot of Staten Island middle-class homeowners now qualify who didn’t last year. Third, schedule an energy audit before summer cooling season starts. NYSERDA still subsidizes them at $0-50 for income-eligible homes, and the typical Staten Island single-family finds 15-22% in immediate savings just from sealing, insulation, and right-sizing the AC.
Why This Matters When You’re Buying or Selling
Energy costs are now a bigger deal in Staten Island showings than they’ve ever been. Buyers are pulling utility bill histories during attorney review on most deals over $700K, and a home with documented low energy costs is selling faster and for more money. If you’re prepping to list, having 12 months of clean Con Ed bills as a seller’s disclosure adds real perceived value. Run the numbers on your specific property scenario in our Home Affordability Calculator to see how rising utilities affect what your buyer pool can actually afford.
Want a strategic read on how to position your Staten Island home for a 2026 sale, factoring in the new utility cost reality? Book a 15-minute call.
