National Grid gas customers in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island face higher winter bills

Natural gas is cheaper heading into this winter, but many households in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island will still pay more to heat their homes.

National Grid said Wednesday that a typical New York City residential gas customer using 720 therms over the heating season should pay about $1,765 from Nov. 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027 — about $87 more than last winter for the same amount of gas, according to the utility's winter forecast. The increase applies to roughly 1.2 million customers in parts of the three boroughs, Gothamist reported.

Why bills are going up

A gas bill has two main parts. The supply charge is the cost of the gas itself, which National Grid says it passes on to customers without markup. That part is projected to fall by about $124 this winter. The delivery charge covers maintaining and operating the pipe network, and it is rising by about $211 as a result of a rate plan the state Public Service Commission approved in 2024, the company said. National Grid's rate increases also cover upgrades to aging infrastructure and expanded capacity, Gothamist reported.

Lower supply prices reflect gas the company locked in at fixed prices ahead of the season, spokesperson Brian Sapp told Gothamist. An American Gas Association official told the outlet that U.S. production is at a record, about 4% above last year, with prices down 24% from last winter.

Customers on Long Island and in the Rockaways are forecast to pay about $1,461, or $5 more than last winter, as a $120 drop in supply costs nearly offsets a $125 rise in delivery charges, according to National Grid. Gothamist put that group at about 570,000 customers.

The estimate can change

The forecast is based on market information at the end of September and assumes typical winter weather; individual bills will vary with temperatures, household use and market swings, National Grid said. Sapp noted that last winter was "much colder than normal," which pushed bills above forecast. The National Weather Service expects a less frigid winter this year, Gothamist reported.

The forecast comes the same day a Columbia University study estimated that leaking gas costs New York City customers about $300 million a year.

Where to get help

• HEAP: the state's Home Energy Assistance Program opens in November and offers grants that don't have to be repaid; apply through your local social services office.
• Bill credits: National Grid says more than $290 million in bill discounts are available under its downstate rate plan, including its Energy Affordability Program and an Enhanced Energy Affordability Program for households at or below the state median income.
• Budget Plan: open to all residential customers, it spreads payments more evenly across the year.
• Weatherization: NYSERDA's EmPower+ program offers free energy assessments and upgrades to eligible households.
• Call early: customers having trouble paying can reach National Grid at 1-800-642-4272.