Are you feeling the sting of your National Grid bills this winter in New York? Brace yourself, because the situation is about to get even more challenging.
- Business (https://www.syracuse.com/business/)
- Published: Feb. 09, 2026, 7:00 a.m.
By
- Tim Knauss | tknauss@syracuse.com (https://www.syracuse.com/staff/tknauss/)
Syracuse, N.Y. — Households in Upstate New York relying on gas and electricity from National Grid are projected to receive February bills exceeding $360 on average. This sharp increase stems from skyrocketing energy prices spurred by the unseasonably cold weather conditions.
The bills seen from November through January were already concerning, but February's charges are anticipated to be even harsher.
Residential customers should prepare for an average rise of about $75, marking a staggering 26% increase compared to their energy bills from February 2025. If the current frigid temperatures persist throughout the month, households may face even steeper charges due to heightened energy consumption.
This substantial bill for February, which most residents will receive in March, follows an already steep increase where average residential customers reported spending $120 more than they did last winter (https://www.syracuse.com/news/2026/01/why-your-national-grid-gas-and-electric-bill-in-central-ny-is-soaring.html).
The primary driver behind these elevated February costs is the escalating wholesale prices for both electricity and gas, which have surged due to high demand during this particularly cold winter. In New York, natural gas serves not only as the predominant heating source but also significantly impacts electricity prices within the market.
As a result, National Grid will set the natural gas supply rate at approximately 70 cents per therm for February, excluding delivery fees. This figure represents an alarming 45% increase from the previous year.
Electricity supply rates will climb to around 12 cents per kilowatt-hour this February, reflecting a notable 29% rise compared to February 2025.
Additionally, it’s important to consider the recent hike in rates approved by National Grid (https://www.syracuse.com/news/2025/08/state-approves-national-grid-rate-hike-that-will-increase-many-household-bills-by-600-a-year.html). The state-sanctioned increases in delivery rates, which began to take effect in September, contribute to the higher bills expected this month. The New York State Public Service Commission has established a series of increased rates that will see delivery charges rise approximately 31% for electricity and 40% for natural gas, phased in over three years.
According to National Grid, households can expect their natural gas bills to be roughly $52 higher this February compared to a year ago. While much of this increase is attributed to elevated supply prices—passed on to customers without profit—$13.50 of this increase can be traced back to delivery fees, which do include company profits.
On average, households should anticipate an increase of about $23 on their electric bill in comparison to February 2025. This includes approximately $16 stemming from supply charges and $7 from higher delivery fees.
In total, factoring in delivery charges, residents should prepare to pay about 25 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity and $1.20 per therm for gas in February. For a typical household using 600 kilowatt-hours and 180 therms, this translates into a monthly bill of around $367.
Tim Knauss can be contacted via email or phone at 315-470-3023.
Tim Knauss serves as a watchdog reporter for the public affairs team at Syracuse.com, bringing with him four decades of experience reporting on Central New York. Recently, he has covered various topics, including issues of fairness in energy pricing.
