5 steps to start NYSEG service
From confirming you are in NYSEG territory to picking a supplier on day one.
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1
Confirm you are in NYSEG territory
If the previous tenant's bill shows the NYSEG logo, you are in. If you cannot find a bill, call 1-800-572-1111 with the address. Some Rochester-area addresses are RG&E, not NYSEG, despite being a few blocks apart.
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Call or enrol online at least 3 business days before move-in
Online at nyseg.com under Start Service, or by calling 1-800-572-1111. A rural address that requires a physical meter set may need 5 to 10 business days; ask at enrollment.
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3
Have your documents ready
Government-issued ID, the exact service address (unit number matters), the date you want service started, a forwarding address for the final bill at your previous home, and a Social Security Number or driver's licence for the credit check. NYSEG can ask for a deposit if you do not pass the credit check, refundable after 12 to 24 months of on-time payments.
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4
Pick your supply: NYSEG default or an ESCO
By default NYSEG supplies your electricity and gas at the auction-set Price-to-Compare. You can pick an ESCO at move-in or later. Compare offers on the PSC Power to Choose tool.
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5
Set up My Account and (ideally) Auto Pay
Once your first bill arrives, register at nyseg.com using your account number, then enrol in Auto Pay to avoid winter delinquency. See the bill-pay page for every channel.
When a NYSEG move-in needs a physical site visit
In most of NYSEG territory the meter is read remotely (the AMI smart-meter rollout has been underway since 2022 and accelerated as part of the 2024 rate case). At a smart-meter address the move-in is a back-office switch and your service starts on the requested date without a technician on site.
At a non-smart-meter address (still common in rural Catskill, Adirondack and Southern-Tier zip codes), NYSEG needs a physical visit to read the index, verify the meter is live and place a tag. The visit is free but it has to be scheduled, which can push the move-in to 5 to 10 business days. If your new address is in a town with fewer than 5,000 residents and you do not see "smart meter" anywhere in NYSEG's notes, assume you are in the physical-visit pool and call early.
Deposits and the credit check
NYSEG runs a soft credit check at move-in. Customers with limited or impaired credit may be asked for a security deposit equal to roughly twice an average month's bill. The deposit is held interest-bearing under PSC rules and refunded after 12 to 24 months of on-time payments, or at account close.
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HEAP-eligible households are deposit-exempt. If you qualify for HEAP, NYSEG cannot demand a deposit; bring proof of eligibility to the call.
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Customers over 62 with annual income at or below 150% of federal poverty have additional protections under PSC rules; ask about senior protections at enrolment.
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If a deposit is requested, NYSEG must explain in writing the basis for the request and offer a payment plan for the deposit itself.
Frequently asked questions about moving in with NYSEG
At least 3 business days for a smart-meter address. Allow 5 to 10 business days for an address that needs a physical meter set, typically in rural NYSEG territory.
Yes, at nyseg.com under Start Service. The online flow handles most residential move-ins. Calls to 1-800-572-1111 are useful for complex cases (deposits, rural addresses, multi-unit buildings).
Only if the credit check flags you. HEAP-eligible customers and qualified seniors are deposit-exempt under PSC rules. If a deposit is requested it is roughly twice an average monthly bill and is refunded with interest after 12 to 24 months of on-time payments.
No. By default NYSEG supplies your electricity and gas at the Price-to-Compare. You can switch to an ESCO at any time, with no service interruption.
You still need to set up a NYSEG account in your own name. Without an account in your name, NYSEG can disconnect the address when the previous bill goes unpaid. The enrollment is back-office; no technician visit is needed.
A standard residential connection at an active address is free. Re-energizing a disconnected service or installing a new meter at a previously-unserved address can carry a one-time fee; ask at enrolment.
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