How electricity choice works in New York
In New York, eligible customers of investor-owned electric utilities may purchase electricity supply from an Energy Services Company (ESCO) that is eligible to serve in that utility’s territory. The New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) oversees retail access. The utility still delivers the power, maintains the lines, and handles emergencies. If you do not choose an ESCO, you generally continue to receive supply from your utility.
The official DPS shopping page is How to Shop for Energy Services. DPS also publishes a Power to Choose comparison tool; that tool is designed for residential service classifications, so commercial offers typically need to be reviewed directly rather than on that board. Eligibility and product rules can differ by utility and account size. Peoples Power Choice can review a recent bill and present current fixed-rate options. We do not publish rates here, and we do not quote variable or teaser prices.
Which utilities are in the competitive market
The DPS retail-access contacts identify these investor-owned electric utilities:
- Con Edison (Consolidated Edison Company of New York)
- Orange & Rockland
- National Grid (Niagara Mohawk / upstate)
- NYSEG (New York State Electric & Gas)
- RG&E (Rochester Gas and Electric)
- Central Hudson
PSEG Long Island, which operates the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) system, has a separate Long Island Choice program for eligible customers. That program is not identical to the retail-access program of the investor-owned utilities listed above. Confirm eligibility with PSEG Long Island or tell us in the chat.
Municipal electric systems and some other providers may not offer the same retail-access choice. If your bill is from a municipal utility, tell us in the chat or call 855-330-3580 and we will be clear about what we can and cannot do.
What your utility still does
Your electric utility remains responsible for delivering electricity, maintaining the local system, metering, billing for delivery, and emergency or outage response. If the lights go out, you call the utility, not the ESCO. An ESCO provides the supply portion of the bill, not outage response. You may receive one combined bill or two bills, depending on the supplier.
How a broker helps with shopping and renewals
Peoples Power Choice is independent. We shop eligible ESCOs for fixed-rate contracts, help you compare an offer with your current supply arrangement, and watch contract end dates and automatic-renewal terms. New York customers should always ask whether a price is fixed or variable, how long the term lasts, whether the contract auto-renews, and whether there is an early-termination fee. We quote fixed rates only.
Start a chat with Optimus — it will open already set to New York — upload a recent bill, or call 855-330-3580. A specialist follows up with current fixed-rate options only. Leads go to info@peoplespowerchoice.com.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose my electricity supplier in New York?
Yes, if you are an eligible customer of one of the investor-owned electric utilities that participate in New York’s retail-access program, or if you are eligible for Long Island Choice with PSEG Long Island. You may choose an eligible Energy Services Company (ESCO) or remain with your utility for supply. Municipal electric systems may not offer the same choice. Eligibility and product rules can differ by utility and account size.
What happens if I do not choose an ESCO?
You generally continue to receive electricity supply from your utility. Delivery of the power still comes from that same utility either way.
If I switch suppliers, who do I call for an outage?
Call your electric utility — for example Con Edison, National Grid, NYSEG, RG&E, Central Hudson, Orange & Rockland, or PSEG Long Island. The utility still delivers the electricity and handles emergencies. An ESCO provides the supply portion of the bill, not outage response.
How does a New York energy broker help, and do you show rates here?
Peoples Power Choice reviews your bill and current contract dates, then presents fixed-rate options from eligible suppliers. We do not publish or invent rates on this page or in the Ask Optimus chat. Start a New York chat, upload a bill, or call 855-330-3580.
Official sources
These are the government and utility references used for this page. They are the best place to confirm whether your address can shop.
- NY DPS — How to Shop for Energy Services — official overview of shopping for an ESCO, and that the utility still delivers power and handles emergencies
- NY DPS — Power to Choose — residential supply comparison tool; commercial offers are typically reviewed separately rather than on that board
- NY DPS — retail access general information — identifies the investor-owned utilities that participate in retail access and their retail-access contacts
- PSEG Long Island — Long Island Choice — separate Long Island Choice program on the LIPA system operated by PSEG Long Island