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Posted on 09/29/2026 4:48:07 AM PDT by MtnClimber
Here in New York, our very-light-weight Governor Kathy Hochul is running for re-election. To her slight credit, she has noticed that New York is a high cost state, not the least for cost of energy, and that New Yorkers are upset about that.
New Yorkers are right to be upset about the cost of energy. According to this chart from the federal EIA containing most recent data for July 2026, the average price of electricity to the ultimate consumer in New York for that month was 29.9¢/kWh, compared to a national average of 18.31¢/kWh; and New York’s cost had increased more than 14% from 26.22¢/kWh in July 2025, versus a 4.9% increase in the national average over last year’s 17.45¢/kWh. New Yorkers are also right to be upset because the premium they pay for electricity is mostly to entirely the consequence of intentional government policies that drive up the cost.
What’s crazy is that Governor Hochul has decided to make “energy affordability” a theme of her campaign. The reason that is crazy is that at the same time that Hochul claims she favors more “affordability,” she also brags about maintaining and expanding the very policies that have caused the excess costs. The person most responsible for New York’s high energy cost is Kathy Hochul. But hey, this “energy affordability” theme seems to have worked in somewhat comparable circumstances for Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill, running respectively in Virginia and New Jersey last year. If the Virginia and New Jersey voters fell for it, maybe the New York voters will too.
On September 15, Hochul launched her latest “energy affordability” initiative with a big press release and a press conference. This latest initiative seeks to mask a portion of New York’s higher costs by distributing checks and discounts to the populace. From Hochul’s press release:
"As Washington Republicans keep driving up the cost of energy, gas and groceries, I’ll never stop working to help New Yorkers keep more money in their pockets,” Governor Hochul said. “That’s why I expanded access to our Energy Affordability Program – a move that will save residents across the state up to $500 annually on their energy bills. Right now, 2.5 million eligible New Yorkers are leaving money on the table and I'm on a mission to help keep the lights on and costs down by launching an all-of-government push to get them enrolled in this money saving program.”
As is usual for New York politicians, the playbook only extends as far as trying to bribe the people with some portion of their own money. So this becomes an IQ test for New Yorkers: Can we calculate whether ratepayers come out ahead or behind under Hochul’s proposal?
Again from the EIA, the average New York household uses about 8000 kWh of electricity per year. There is a difference of 11.59¢/kWh between the average New York electricity rate and the average rate in the rest of the country. That means the average New York household pays more than $900 per year for electricity in excess of what it would pay if our rates were equal to the national average. Now our very generous Governor comes along offering a discount of “up to” $500, to 2.5 million households (out of about 8 million households). Let’s see, have we come out ahead or behind? (Which is larger, $900 for each of 8 million households, or “up to” $500 for each of 2.5 million households?)
And then there is the issue of how New York’s rates came to be so much higher than the rates in other states. It can’t be geography — as an example, bordering Pennsylvania’s average rate for July was 21.72¢/kWh, fully 27% lower than our average rate. If you look at the EIA’s chart of average electricity rates by state, there is a remarkable (although not perfect) correlation between Republican-led states on the one hand (low rates) and Democrat-led states on the other (high rates).
And then consider some of the major New York energy policies that drive up rates. First there is the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 (CLCPA). Provisions of this statute drive up consumer costs in multiple ways. First, the statute imposes a mandate that by 2030 70% of electricity must come from renewable sources. That provision makes it impossible to build new and more efficient natural gas power plants, or to re-power existing inefficient natural gas plants to use far less fuel to produce the same amount of electricity. Second, substantial amounts of new wind and solar generation have been built to try to comply with the 70% mandate, but since those only operate intermittently, all of the old natural gas plants must be retained, and we end up paying for two redundant generation systems instead of one. Third, the new wind and solar generators are also sited in remote locations, requiring substantial additional and expensive transmission, all of which gets paid for in electricity rates.
And then there’s the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or “RGGI.” RGGI is a compact among eleven Northeastern states to force greenhouse gas emitters (i.e., electric power plants) to purchase allowances for every ton of CO2 that they emit. The quantity of allowances shrinks every year, thus forcing the auction price to increase. The auction clearing price has gone from $2.53/ton in 2017 to $37.65/ton in the most recent auction this month. And the cost of the allowances ultimately gets added into the electricity rates. In short, this is a program whose main purpose is intentionally to drive up electricity rates.
The number of these “allowances” for FY 2026-27 is set at 25,356,513. At $37.65 each, that means that the State adds close to $1 billion per year to end-user electricity bills. Divide by the number of households, and it’s about $120/year each, which represents about 5% of the aggregate of consumer electric bills. And, unless the RGGI structure gets changed, this figure is almost certain to rise.
On August 5, two New York State agencies, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Energy Research & Development Authority, finalized regulations relating to implementation of the RGGI compact in New York. In a press release of that date, the agencies claimed that New York had received $2 billion cumulatively from the auction receipts built into RGGI program to that time, but they said they were using the money to make “investments” that would return $12 billion, or six times as much:
The updated cap trajectory is designed to achieve affordable emissions reductions more quickly, while ensuring long-term availability of allowances under the program. Net savings are expected to reach nearly $12 billion (PDF) over the lifetime of the investments, providing a nearly 6-to-1 benefit based on investment of about $2 billion to date.
Note that the $2 billion of receipts and $12 billion of “benefits” are only as to receipts to date. Receipts going forward are projected to increase dramatically, to a cumulative total of $4.7 billion by FY 28/29.
So where do they come up with this $12 billion of supposed “benefits,” not now, but supposedly over the lifetime of the programs funded by the $2 billion spent so far. There is no real information available on that. In a document called the “New York’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Operating Plan Amendment for 2026,” the agencies have provided a long list of entities and programs that either have or will be getting large cash handouts from the program. (To access that document, go to my colleague Roger Caiazza’s blog here, and follow the link for “Operating Plan Amendment” in the first line of that post.) There are dozens of recipients and programs listed, many getting funding of tens to hundreds of millions of dollars cumulatively over multi-year periods. Here are some examples of larger items listed: “Green Jobs Green New York (Fund)” — $517 million; “Clean Transportation” — $450 million; “UPA Efficiency and RE” — $389 million; “Retrofit Challenges” — $464 million; “Clean Energy Communities” — $144 million. And these are just a few examples of some of the larger allocations. So what exact entities are getting these vast sums, and what exactly are they going to do with the money to provide the claimed benefits? There are no details offered beyond the brief descriptions quoted.
In other words, these have the total appearance of being enormous slush funds passed out to friendly but unnamed NGOs. The idea that there will be $12 billion of benefits to the ratepayers from the $2 billion disbursed so far is pure speculation with no backup of any kind. Are there any actual “green jobs” emerging from the $500+ million handed out to the “green jobs fund”? Go ahead and try to find any of them. What is the “clean transportation” that we are supposedly getting for $450 million? If anyone knows they are not saying.
Do New Yorkers have sufficient IQ to figure out that they are getting scammed with this “energy affordability” mantra from Governor Hochul. I guess we will find out in the upcoming election. But let’s face it — New York voters are very likely to fail this test.
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Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
New Yorkers will fail the IQ test. You may find a place where you really can bet on it.
Manhattan Contrarian ping
If there were ever a place to double down on stupid, it’s New York.
FLORIDA POWER&LIGHT
RESIDENTIAL SERVICE RATE SCHEDULE: RS-1
In all areas served.
For service for all domestic purposes in individually metered dwelling units and in duplexes and triplexes, including the separately-metered non-commercial facilities of a residential Customer (i.e., garages, water pumps, etc.).
Also for service to commonly-owned facilities of condominium, cooperative and homeowners’ associations as set forth on Sheet No. 8.211, Rider CU.
SERVICE:
Single phase, 60 hertz at available standard distribution voltage. Three phase service may be furnished but only under special arrangements. All residential service required on the premises by Customer shall be supplied through one meter.
MONTHLY RATE:
Minimum:
$30.00
Base Charge:
$10.52
Base Energy Charge:
First 1,000 kWh
7.865¢ per kWh
All additional kWh
8.865¢ per kWh
Additional Charges:
Residential Load Management Program (if applicable), See Sheet No.8.217
BILLING ADJUSTMENT RATES [added]
FUEL
1st 1,000 kWh 2.893¢/kWh
all addn kWh 3.893¢/kWh
CONSERVATION
0.148¢/kWh
CAPACITY
0.052¢/kWh
ENVIRONMENTAL
0.345¢/kWh
STORM PROTECTION
0.995¢/kWh
https://www.fpl.com/content/dam/fplgp/us/en/rates/pdf/electric-tariff-section8.pdf
The difference from New York rates is amazing.
New York City has resigned from America and doesn’t matter
I just calculated my rate from my last electric bill from Duke Energy for my house in Central Florida: 14.5 cents/kWh and with all taxes and fees: 16.9 cents/kWh.
Up here in NH we have Eversource. They supply the lines and transmission. However, I am contracted with a different company for over twenty years at a fixed KHW rate. I believe the current is $.11. Yet, when I get the bill the amount of taxes, delivery charges, fees, etc adds up to the almost same amount as my KHW usage. Meaning, IF I have $100 in KHW usage, I have another $100 in taxes and fees.
We in NH also generate more than enough power to serve the 1.3 million NH residents. About 55% from burning natural gas, 25% from the Seabrook nuclear plant, about 8% hydro, 3% from burning trash, 3% from wood waste, 2-3% from solar and 2% from wind.
Yet, we would be much better off IF we separated ourselves from MA, RI, CT because those states DO NOT generate enough power to meet consumption. So, the Republican government of NH is trying to separate our electric from the other New England states. This is because those other states with the exception of CT all shut down their nuclear power plants with nothing but solar panels and wind mills to replace the generation capacity.
PLUS, both the people of MA and NH rejected the proposed Kinder Morgan 3’ diameter natural gas line they wanted to build from PA, through NY, into MA, NH and then back into MA. That would have brought stable supply of NG here. Instead, they have to depend on LNG tankers coming from TX.
Which prices go up and down with demand in Europe.
The NIMBY effect defeated this pipeline.
Another example of the NIMBY was the Northern Pass transmission line. Which was proposed to run from the NH/Quebec border and bring electricity down from Quebec Hydro plants on the St. Lawrence River. It also got defeated by people who didn’t want these transmission lines ruining their view in the White Mountains.
So, they approached one of the largest land owners in the state of Maine. Mr James D Irving. He said, sure you can build it over my forest land. As long as you pay me a lease.
JD Irving also owns several lumber mills in Maine and New Brunswick. Plus he owns the largest petroleum refinery in Canada(St Johns, NB). Plus a few hundred gas stations in Canada and New England. Plus the tanker distribution network. He is one of the richest men in Canada. He is the largest supplier of lumber to Home Depot in the eastern USA.
Is this covering the entire state or just NYC? It would make a difference who the suppliers are, I suspect.
I thought that “green energy” would have helped by now...or did it just make things worse?
Clearly they do not. NYS is in severe decline. People who can are moving out at a record level. I myself would love to change my nys residency to another state as things will predictably get worse under a majority leftist government.
Ha! You think folks in New York are dumb. In interior Alaska residents pay the member owned COOP, Golden Valley Electrical Association, 34.5588 cents per KWH plus a 22.50 dollar a month charge to be connected. All this in a place where we have energy falling out of our you know what.
Come to NH. We need more Conservatives.
We are the Second lowest tax burden state in the USA.
Only second to Alaska. Where they pay you to live there.
NH has ZERO income tax, ZERO capital gains, dividend or interest income tax.
We do have a rooms and meals tax of 8%.
We do have higher than average real estate taxes. 80% go to fund your local schools. There is currently a Property Tax Cap proposal to be voted on in November. Almost ALL Republicans in the state are for it. As it would force the reduction of spending in running our schools. Dems HATE the idea. As do RINOS.
NH currently had a GOP controlled State House, State Senate, Executive Council, Governor. Both(only 2) US Congress Reps and US Senators are Dems. Although, John Sununu and Chris Pappas are tied for the US Senate race.
NH also has the third lowest crime rates in the country. Behind VT and ME (#1 & 2). This is because NH is NOT a welfare state. Unlike all the states surrounding us. It is not easy to stay on government assistance in NH. We also have a balanced budget amendment. We are required to CUT spending at a state level if revenues are down. We have a very well run state. That is why our economy is typically the number one in the north east US. We almost always have the lowest unemployment.
President Obama: “Electricity prices will necessarily skyrocket.”
Wait until after the mids if we don’t do well. 😵🤔
They could build a couple of nuclear plants.
Like the German version of the HilaryHAg (Merkel) she shut down NY’s nukes.
So, die in the dark, yah fools.
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