Con Edison has attributed the rise in electric bills for New York City residents largely to escalating property taxes imposed by the city government. The utility company highlighted that property taxes accounted for about 21% of the total monthly electric bill, reflecting its status as the city’s largest taxpayer with $2.6 billion paid in property taxes last year.

Including additional state taxes and fees, the portion of the bill attributable to various taxes rises to approximately 30%, according to Con Edison officials. The company also noted a sharp increase in its property tax obligations, which surged by 45% between 2019 and 2024.

John Howard, a former chairman of the New York State Public Service Commission, criticized the high tax burden. He described the utility tax level as “outrageous” compared to other municipalities in the state and stressed that these costs are not clearly disclosed to customers, hidden instead within the overall bill.

City Hall responded to Con Edison’s statements by urging greater transparency from the utility regarding the factors contributing to rising electric bills. Jeremy Edwards, a city spokesperson, said that misleading customers about the components driving costs only compounds public frustration as rates increase.

The debate over utility costs in New York City underscores the complex interaction between municipal tax policy and consumer utility rates. Con Edison’s position ties the elevated bills primarily to the substantial tax payments that the company must remit to city and state governments, a claim met with calls for clearer communication to ratepayers.