In short: Yonkers, White Plains and New Rochelle are Con Edison towns, where homes paid about 35.7¢ per kWh in 2024 (EIA). Across the river, Orange & Rockland charged about 23.3¢ but its customers averaged nearly four hours of outages. FEMA rates Westchester “very high” for strong wind and winter weather.
The Lower Hudson Valley splits among four utilities with very different prices, outage records and programs, so the first step is to check whose name is on your bill. This page covers what is local; for statewide rules (net metering, the state solar tax credit, NY-Sun and licensing), see our New York energy guide.
Lower Hudson Valley at a glance
- Con Edison: Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle and most of Westchester. About 35.7¢ per kWh for homes in 2024. Its company-wide outage figure, about 28 minutes per customer with major events, is dominated by New York City’s grid (EIA-861, 2024).
- Orange & Rockland: all of Rockland County. About 23.3¢ per kWh; outages about 231 minutes per customer with major events, 107 without; 1.6 interruptions a year (EIA-861, 2024).
- NYSEG: parts of northern Westchester and Putnam. About 18.3¢ per kWh; about 655 minutes of outages with major events, 148 without (EIA-861, 2024).
- Central Hudson: parts of Putnam and the counties to the north. About 25.1¢ per kWh; about 350 minutes with major events, 167 without (EIA-861, 2024).
- Supplier choice: in 2024 about one in five Orange & Rockland homes, one in seven Central Hudson homes and one in nine Con Edison homes bought supply from another company (EIA-861).
- Sun: about 3.9 kWh per square meter per day in White Plains (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,130 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Top hazards: FEMA’s National Risk Index (December 2025) rates Westchester “very high” for strong wind and winter weather and “relatively high” for hurricanes, ice storms, cold waves and flooding; Rockland is “relatively high” for strong wind, winter weather, cold waves and lightning.
- Public charging: 288 public ports in White Plains, 171 in Yonkers and 130 in New Rochelle (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
Your utility and what it means
Every utility here follows the statewide net metering rules on our state page. What differs is the monthly Customer Benefit Contribution charged to solar systems connected since 2022, and the local programs.
- Solar charge in 2026 (per kW of panels per month, NYSERDA): Con Edison $1.29, Orange & Rockland $1.00, NYSEG $1.19, Central Hudson $1.67. For a 7 kW system that is roughly $7 to $12 a month; the rates change every year.
- Batteries: each utility is starting a “Bring Your Own Battery” program that pays you when your battery helps the grid on summer peak days. Con Edison will pay $100 per kW of average output, with enrollment “available soon” (checked October 3, 2026). NYSEG already pays $50 per kW a year; Orange & Rockland’s program, also $50, was set to start in 2026, and Central Hudson’s later in 2026 (NYSERDA, January 2026). NYSERDA’s home battery incentive requires joining once your utility’s program is open.
- EV charging: SmartCharge New York pays for charging between midnight and 8 a.m.: 10¢ per kWh in Con Edison’s Westchester area and 7¢ in Orange & Rockland’s, plus bonuses for avoiding weekday afternoon charging in summer. Drivers on a residential time-of-use rate cannot join (Con Edison, Orange & Rockland).
- Buying supply elsewhere: you can buy supply from an energy service company (ESCO); state rules require variable offers to guarantee savings over the year, and you can cancel within three days (NY Department of Public Service).
Backup power in the Lower Hudson Valley
Outage risk depends on your utility. Orange & Rockland customers averaged almost four hours without power in 2024 once storms were counted, and NYSEG customers almost eleven hours, compared with under two and a half hours on normal days. Westchester’s “very high” rating for strong wind matters on tree-lined streets, where falling limbs bring down overhead lines. In the hills of Putnam and northern Westchester, a home on a well loses water as well as power when the grid goes down.
For a house, a home battery covers short outages silently; a standby or portable generator on a transfer switch covers multi-day ones and a well pump. Apartment households in Yonkers or White Plains are usually best served by a portable power station. Run a portable generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from windows and doors, never in a garage (CPSC); a licensed electrician must install any connection to house wiring. Compare options in backup power options and size them with the generator sizing tool or the battery backup calculator.
Solar in the Lower Hudson Valley
Westchester’s sun is close to New York City’s, about 1,130 kWh a year per kW by our rough estimate, and Con Edison’s prices make each of those kilowatt-hours valuable. EIA counted 13,036 net-metered home systems on Orange & Rockland’s grid in 2024. Unlike New York City, Westchester and Rockland homes do not get the city’s solar property tax abatement, but the state’s own credit and exemptions apply (see the state page). Check your roof with the solar potential tool and test a real quote in the solar savings calculator. More in solar installation and how net metering works.
Batteries in the Lower Hudson Valley
Orange & Rockland customers had 823 home batteries paired with solar in 2024 (EIA), more than Con Edison’s whole system. New York City’s strict battery location rules apply only inside the five boroughs; here your city or town applies the state building and fire codes, so ask your building department what it requires before you choose a spot. When comparing quotes, ask how the installer will enroll you in your utility’s battery program so you keep NYSERDA’s incentive. See home battery installation and home battery cost.
EV charging in the Lower Hudson Valley
White Plains alone lists 288 public ports at 41 locations (AFDC, October 3, 2026). At home, overnight charging with SmartCharge New York cuts the cost further. A Level 2 charger needs a 240 V circuit from a licensed electrician and a permit. Estimate your cost with the EV charging calculator and read EV charger installation.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in White Plains: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- Cities: Yonkers, White Plains and New Rochelle each issue their own building and electrical permits through their building departments.
- Towns and villages: elsewhere in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam, your town or village building department issues permits.
- Electricians: New York has no statewide electrician license; electricians are licensed locally, so ask your city or county for its list before you hire.
- Utility and HOAs: solar and batteries need your utility’s interconnection approval; installers usually file it. Condo boards and HOAs: get approval in writing first.
Cities we cover
- Yonkers
- White Plains
- New Rochelle
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Lower Hudson Valley energy FAQ
Which utility serves my home in Westchester or Rockland?
Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle and most of Westchester are Con Edison; parts of northern Westchester are NYSEG. All of Rockland is Orange & Rockland, and Putnam is split between Central Hudson and NYSEG. Your bill shows which one delivers your power.
Do New York City’s battery rules apply in Westchester?
No. The Department of Buildings and FDNY rules that keep home batteries out of basements apply only in the five boroughs. In Westchester, Rockland and Putnam your local building department applies the state building and fire codes; ask it where a battery may go before you sign a contract.
Can I get paid for charging my EV overnight in Westchester?
Yes, if you charge in Con Edison’s area: SmartCharge New York pays 10¢ per kWh for charging between midnight and 8 a.m., plus bonuses. Orange & Rockland runs the same program at 7¢. Drivers on a residential time-of-use rate cannot join.
What is the monthly charge on new solar systems here?
Systems connected since January 1, 2022 pay a Customer Benefit Contribution based on their size. For 2026 it is $1.29 per kW a month with Con Edison, $1.00 with Orange & Rockland, $1.19 with NYSEG and $1.67 with Central Hudson (NYSERDA). It changes each year.
Sources
Utilities, prices, outages, supplier customers, solar and battery counts: U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA-861 data for 2024 (Con Edison, Orange & Rockland and NYSEG report outages under their own standards; Central Hudson under IEEE). NYSERDA 2026 Customer Benefit Contribution rates and January 2026 storage webinar. Con Edison and Orange & Rockland SmartCharge New York pages and Con Edison’s Bring Your Own Battery page, read October 3, 2026. NY Department of Public Service, energy shopping page. Sun: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Charging: Alternative Fuels Data Center, October 3, 2026. Generator safety: CPSC.