Your tariff, set by the state.
NYSEG does not bill every customer the same way. Its tariff schedule, filed with the NY DPS and approved by the Public Service Commission, splits customers into Service Classifications. Your SC determines three things: the per-kWh delivery rate, the fixed monthly customer charge and the policy riders attached.
NYSEG covers a vast geographic area — the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, Catskills, North Country, parts of the Lower Hudson. That low population density means delivery costs per customer are structurally higher than downstate utilities. Your SC reflects that.
The classifications most NYSEG customers will see.
SC-1
Single-family homes and apartments. Flat-rate by default, optional voluntary time-of-use, and a separate net-metered variant for rooftop solar.
SC-2
Shops, small offices, places of worship below the demand-metered threshold. Different fixed charge and per-kWh delivery rate than SC-1.
SC-3 / SC-7
Larger commercial and industrial. Bills include a kW demand charge based on the highest 15-minute draw of the month — a serious incentive to flatten peak load.
SC-5 / SC-6
Street and outdoor lighting tariffs. Mostly relevant for municipalities and HOAs.
Exact SC numbering and rates differ for NYSEG electric vs NYSEG gas. Always check your own bill or the official tariff.
When the wrong SC quietly costs you money.
NYSEG does not automatically move you to a different SC when your usage pattern changes. Three common triggers to ask for a review:
- You converted oil or propane heating to electric heat pumps. Some SCs offer a winter heating discount;
- You installed rooftop solar. The net-metered SC-1 has its own credit mechanism via VDER;
- Your home business has crossed the small-commercial threshold. SC-2 may have a lower per-kWh rate even with the higher fixed charge.
Call 1-800-572-1111 and ask for a Service Classification review. It is free.
Common NYSEG SC questions.
It is printed at the top of every bill, near your account number. If you cannot see it, call 1-800-572-1111 and ask for your current Service Classification.
Both belong to Avangrid and the categories are similar, but each utility files its own tariff with the PSC. SC numbers and dollar amounts are NOT identical — always check your own bill.
Sometimes. If your usage has materially changed (electric heat, EV, solar, small home business above the residential threshold), ask NYSEG for a free Service Classification review.
No. The SC sets the delivery rate and fixed customer charge only. The supply side stays with whichever provider you chose, default or ESCO.
NYSEG publishes its full electric and gas tariffs at the NY DPS document portal documents.dps.ny.gov.
Keep learning about NYSEG
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Same playbook, different utility. Pick another deregulated state to compare utilities, suppliers and switching rules.
