Green Energy in NYC: What It Is, What It Costs, and How to Switch

A lot of NYC residents want clean energy but assume it costs significantly more. In New York, you can choose who sells you electricity, like choosing a phone carrier. That competition means some renewable suppliers are currently priced at or below ConEd's standard rate.

What "green energy" actually means

The electrons in your apartment are the same electrons from the same grid, no matter who your supplier is. The physical infrastructure doesn't change.

What changes is this: your supplier purchases renewable energy certificates (RECs) to offset your usage. For every kilowatt-hour (kWh, the unit your meter counts) you use, they buy a matching unit from a wind or solar project somewhere on the grid. That unit is verified, tracked, and retired so it can't be counted twice.

This is the standard mechanism for green energy accounting in the US, not a workaround. It's how the market was designed.

You're not directly connected to a specific wind farm. Instead, you're participating in a system where clean energy is added to the grid on your behalf, and that matters at scale. The mechanism is real. Be clear-eyed about what it is.

Is it real? How to verify

The most reliable signal is Green-e certification, an independent nonprofit standard that verifies RECs are real, additional, and not double-counted. Look for the Green-e logo on a supplier's website or in their contract.

NYSERDA (the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) also runs a program called NY-Sun that tracks renewable energy in the state. Suppliers can reference NYSERDA verification as additional proof.

Before signing with any green supplier, ask two questions directly: Are the RECs Green-e certified? What is the percentage of renewable sourcing? Any reputable supplier will answer both questions clearly.

If a supplier is vague about their green credentials, move on.

What green energy costs in NYC right now

The honest answer is: it varies by month, supplier, and market conditions. But the range is narrower than most people expect.

The premium for going 100% renewable in NYC is currently between -5% and +8% versus ConEd's standard rate, depending on the supplier and timing. Some months it's cheaper than ConEd, some months it carries a small premium, but it's rarely the large markup people expect.

Right now, in March 2026, there are suppliers offering 100% renewable electricity at around $0.092/kWh^{(EIA, March 2026)}. ConEd's standard rate is approximately $0.14/kWh. That means you can go fully green and cut your supply bill by about 34% at the same time.

That won't always be the case, and market conditions do shift. But it's the situation right now.

Which suppliers offer renewable options in NYC

See our March 2026 rate comparison for the current list. We update it monthly and flag which suppliers offer Green-e certified renewable options.

When evaluating green suppliers, look for:

• Green-e certification on their RECs
• Clear disclosure of the renewable percentage (100% vs. partial blends)
• The per-kWh rate after any introductory period ends
• The contract term and any early termination fees

Natural gas: what about that?

Natural gas is harder to make green, with options limited to biogas and renewable natural gas (RNG), both produced from organic waste rather than fossil fuel extraction. These products exist, and some NYC suppliers offer them.

Most of the green energy switching opportunity in NYC is on the electricity side, where options are better and pricing is competitive. Natural gas green alternatives are less common, often carry a real premium, and we're tracking that market to add gas comparisons as it matures.

For now: if your priority is reducing your carbon footprint, start with electricity. The options are better and the savings are real.

How to switch to green energy in NYC

The process is the same as switching to any electricity supplier: about 10 minutes online, nothing shuts off. See the full how-to guide for a step-by-step walkthrough.

Short version:

• Find your current ConEd supply rate on your bill
• Compare green suppliers using the SwitchNYC calculator
• Pick a supplier that's Green-e certified and competitively priced
• Sign up online with your ConEd account number
• The switch takes effect on your next billing cycle

That's it. No truck, no outage, no appointments. Just a different line item on your next bill.