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If your energy bill has jumped recently — even though your energy use hasn’t — you’re not imagining it. Across New York, electric utility rates are rising fast.
At GreenSpark Solar, we analyzed real utility bills from homeowners in the Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) and New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) Western New York service areas— and what we found was alarming.
In addition, WXXI recently reported on an independent third-party audit of RG&E and NYSEG and discussed it in a recent Connections with Evan Dawson. The findings and anecdotal stories are quite eye-opening.
We’ll take a look at all of this as we address the big question many New York homeowners and small businesses ask: “Is solar worth it in New York?” Spoiler alert: The answer is a resounding “yes.”
Table of Contents
New York Utility Rates Are Surging — Here’s What We Found
Our GreenSpark Solar sales team has been fielding quite a few questions lately about sharp spikes in utility bills, even in the last few months when electricity use should have fallen from December’s hefty heating needs to April’s milder temperatures.
We dug into this deeper, analyzing utility bills from RG&E and NYSEG from the last 12 months from homeowners without solar in the Western NY region, and here’s what we found:
- Across all sample bills analyzed, families paid MORE in April than in December, even though they used fewer kilowatt-hours (kWh).
- The kWh rate from January 2025 to April 2025 jumped 15-22% between RG&E and NYSEG in just four months.
- The kWh rate jump from April 2024 to April 2025 is even more startling: a jump from 50-53% in kWh rate year over year.
🧾 Real Bills. Real Impact on Your Family’s Disposable Income.
Here are two real-life examples that show just how quickly utility costs are rising for New Yorkers — even as energy use drops:
Utility | Bill Date | Usage (kWh) | Bill Total | Cost per kWh |
RG&E | April 2024 | 2,375 | $342.97 | $0.14 |
RG&E | April 2025 | 2,007 | $424.47 | $0.21 |
NYSEG | April 2024 | 1,960 | $253.41 | $0.13 |
NYSEG | April 2025 | 1,000 | $201.05 | $0.20 |
💡 Bottom line: New York homeowners who rely on the grid for their home’s energy are paying more for less electricity.
How RG&E and NYSEG Put Profits Over People
A recent independent audit commissioned by the state has revealed what many frustrated New York homeowners already suspected: our utilities aren’t putting ratepayers first.
The audit, covering 2018–2023, paints a concerning picture of how RG&E and NYSEG are managed.
In short, utility decisions are being made based on corporate earnings, not the needs of New York homeowners.
New Yorkers are footing the bill — in more ways than one.
Key Audit Findings:
- No local decision-making or strategic planning — despite claims to the contrary
- Compliance issues with state regulations, including a “nonexistent” regulatory committee
- Delayed or manipulated billing practices, with over 70,000 bills withheld monthly from key performance metrics
- Compensation practices that reward corporate performance, even when RG&E and NYSEG underperform locally
What Small Business Billing Errors Tell Us About the System
The RG&E and NYSEG audit didn’t just uncover systemic problems behind the scenes — it validated what thousands of local residents and business owners have already experienced firsthand.
Local business owners in the Rochester region have shared shocking stories of billing errors, shut-offs, and financial setbacks caused by RG&E and NYSEG:
- 🎨 Rochester Contemporary Arts Center received a $2,000 overcharge during a time it was closed, based on an “estimated” meter read. That money wasn’t refunded — it was applied as a credit, tying up vital cash flow.
- ☕ Mad Hatter Restaurant experienced a $23,000 billing mistake, disrupting operations and threatening the livelihoods of the restaurant owners and staff.
- 🎬 Roc Cinema had $11,000 automatically withdrawn from its account due to a billing error, delaying a critical roof repair it had planned.
According to public reports, over 1,000 small businesses and 3,000 residents experienced utility shutoffs in 2024 alone—a year in which RG&E’s profits rose from $107 million to $122 million.
How Solar Protects You from Utility Volatility
The good news? You don’t have to stay at the mercy of utility companies.vGoing solar gives you the power to:
- ✅ Lock in your energy costs for 25+ years
- ✅ Avoid billing surprises and corporate mismanagement
- ✅ Generate your own clean, reliable energy — right from your roof
- ✅ Earn credits for the extra energy you produce through New York’s net metering program
- ✅ Save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your solar energy system (that you can invest in YOU)
In short: the higher utility rates climb, the smarter solar becomes.
Is Solar Worth It in NY? Here’s What Our Customers Save
So, let’s return to the question that so many New York homeowners and small businesses continue asking… “Is solar worth it?”
💵 At GreenSpark, our average residential customer saves over $100,000 over the lifetime of their solar energy system. That’s $100,000 they can invest in themselves instead of paying to the utility! With utility rates spiking, solar is not only your best protection against future rate hikes, it’s a smart investment.
📆 And with federal and state incentives at historic highs, there’s never been a better time to go solar. Current incentives are at their peak and offer homeowners an opportunity to recoup up to 50% of solar project costs within the 1st year.
With imminent changes coming to the Federal Residential Solar Tax Credit and NYSERDA solar grant opportunities running out, don’t wait. Get in touch with our team today to get the process started to maximize your savings and ROI and lock in your energy independence.
Why Go Solar with GreenSpark?
We’re not just one of the best-reviewed solar installation companies in New York—we’re your neighbors. We’ve proudly served Western New York since 2002 and are deeply committed to making the place we call home a better place to live and work.
- 🔧 We offer an unheard-of 90% production guarantee — or we pay the difference
- ⭐ We’re a NYSERDA Gold Quality Installer — a distinction held by fewer than 10% of installers statewide
- 💬 Our customers love our no-pressure consultations, our education-first approach, and full-service local support
Learn more about choosing the best solar installation company and how GreenSpark stacks up.
It’s time to take your power back — literally.
Get in touch with us today to see how much you can save. We’ll analyze your energy usage, design a custom system that meets your long-term energy goals, and give you an estimated savings and payback period — no pressure, no obligation.
👉 Request a quote using the form below or call us at 585-265-2384.
