Why service classifications matter

A service classification is not just a label; it determines:

  • ·the customer charge (fixed monthly) and the per-kWh delivery rate;
  • ·whether you have access to HEFPA residential protections (15-day notice, cold-weather rule, medical certificate, deferred payment agreement);
  • ·eligibility for the EAP low-income discount;
  • ·which time-of-use and demand options you can elect;
  • ·which surcharges (SBC, RPS, transition charge) apply and at what rate.

RG&E places every new meter in the correct SC at activation, but reviews can be requested at any time. The rest of this page lists every active SC under PSC No. 19, then explains when re-classification actually saves money.

Active RG&E service classifications

Active RG&E electricity service classifications under PSC No. 19
SC Type of customer Typical use
SC-1 Residential service Single-family homes, apartments, most dwellings.
SC-2 General service - small use Stores, small offices, restaurants under defined demand thresholds.
SC-3 General service - 100 kW minimum Mid-sized commercial accounts with sustained demand.
SC-4 Residential service - time-of-use rate Households with a TOU meter shifting load to off-peak hours.
SC-5 Buy-back service Net metering for distributed generation (solar exports).
SC-6 Area lighting service Outdoor lighting on private property metered by RG&E.
SC-7 General service - 12 kW minimum Commercial accounts above SC-2 size but below SC-3 threshold.
SC-8 Large general service - time-of-use rate Large commercial / industrial with TOU metering.
SC-9 General service - time-of-use Mid-size commercial accounts on TOU metering.
SC-10 General service - individually negotiated contracts Large customers on individually negotiated service contracts.
SC-11 General service - economic development Discounted delivery rates for qualifying economic-development projects.
SC-12 Power for jobs Legacy NY economic-development electricity allocation program.
SC-13 Reserved Reserved by the tariff.
SC-14 Standby service Customers with on-site generation needing standby utility supply.

Source: NY PSC tariff schedule PSC No. 19 - Electricity, on file with the NY DPS Case Master. Gas-side service classifications follow a parallel structure under PSC No. 18 - Gas.

When re-classification can save money

Most RG&E customers are in the correct SC and there is nothing to do. The exceptions worth a phone call to RG&E:

  • Small business currently on SC-3 with reduced operations

    SC-3 (100 kW minimum) carries a heavier demand-based charge. A small business whose peak demand has dropped below 100 kW (downsized, COVID-era reduction, partial closure) may save by moving to SC-2 or SC-7. Request a demand review.

  • Household with electric heat or EV charging considering TOU

    SC-1 charges a flat per-kWh delivery rate regardless of when you use electricity. SC-4 (residential TOU) charges higher rates on-peak and lower rates off-peak. A household that runs the EV charger overnight, heats with a heat pump on a night schedule, or has high overnight load can save by switching to SC-4. Requires a TOU meter (RG&E installs).

  • Net-metered solar customer not yet on SC-5

    SC-5 (buy-back service) credits exports from rooftop solar against your usage. New solar installations should be set to SC-5 at interconnection; if a system was added later, confirm with RG&E that the meter is on SC-5 rather than a default residential SC.

  • Home-based business changing the load profile

    A home that runs an in-home day care, a salon, or other commercial activity may, in rare cases, exceed SC-1 thresholds. Continuing on SC-1 in violation of the tariff exposes you to back-billing at the higher SC-2 rate. If your daytime load grew significantly, request a review.

How to request a review. Call RG&E at 1-800-743-2110 and ask for a service-classification review. Provide your account number and describe the change in your usage profile. RG&E will review the meter data, the load shape, and the tariff eligibility rules, and either confirm the existing SC or move you (with a written notice).

Three common confusions

"My SC determines my supply price."

No. Your SC determines the delivery rate (the part that always goes to RG&E). The supply price is set monthly by RG&E's default-rate auction or by your ESCO contract, regardless of SC.

"Switching to an ESCO changes my SC."

No. The SC stays the same. Switching the supply portion to an ESCO drops the merchant function charge but does not change the SC, the customer charge, or the per-kWh delivery rate.

"SC-4 (TOU) is always cheaper than SC-1."

Not always. SC-4 charges higher on-peak rates and lower off-peak rates. It saves money only if a meaningful share of your load runs off-peak. For a typical household whose load peaks at dinner time, SC-1 is usually cheaper.

Frequently asked questions about service classifications

Your service classification is printed on every RG&E bill, usually next to the meter information. If you cannot find it, log into your online RG&E account or call 1-800-743-2110 and ask. For most households, the answer is SC-1.

SC-1 is the standard residential classification with a flat per-kWh delivery rate. SC-4 is the residential time-of-use classification: higher rates on-peak, lower rates off-peak. SC-4 requires a TOU meter and only saves money for households that can shift a meaningful share of their load to off-peak hours (overnight EV charging, electric heat on a night schedule, etc.).

Only with written notice. If RG&E's data shows your usage profile no longer fits the current SC (a residential meter consistently running a commercial load, for instance), they can reclassify the account, but they must notify you in writing and document the basis.

Yes. The 15-day disconnection notice, cold-weather rule, medical certificate, and deferred payment agreement apply to residential accounts (SC-1 and SC-4). Commercial accounts (SC-2 and above) are not covered by HEFPA's full residential protections.

Call RG&E at 1-800-743-2110 and ask for an SC review. Have your account number ready and be prepared to describe how your usage has changed.

More about RG&E

RGE RG&E utility profile Phones, outage numbers, Avangrid family and service area. RATES Rates & tariffs How the customer charge, per-kWh and surcharges stack up. BILL Understanding your bill Line-by-line decoder of every block on the RG&E PDF bill. TARIFFS NY state surcharges SBC, RPS, GRT and every other state rider on the bill. PAY Pay your RG&E bill Auto-pay, online, by phone, by mail and in-person options. CONTACT Contact RG&E Every customer-service line and mailing address in one place.
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