For New York families, utility bills can be a monthly stressor. When bills rise suddenly, the spike is usually due to the energy system, not due to household behavior.
Why do energy costs fluctuate?
Energy price volatility in New York is often driven by reliance on oil and natural gas prices, which are determined by global markets. During cost snaps and heatwaves when New Yorkers increase their reliance on home heating or air conditions, energy demand increases. And when supply tightens and demand surges, prices can rise quickly. Even short-lived spikes can have lasting effects on household budgets.
Nuclear energy keeps costs stable
Nuclear power provides long-term cost stability because its economics are predictable.
Once a nuclear plant is operating, most of its costs are fixed. Nuclear fuel makes up a relatively small portion of total expenses and is purchased years in advance, insulating prices from daily market volatility.
Asa result, average generation costs at nuclear plants are less than 3.1 cents per kilowatt-hour, and those costs remain steady over time.[1] This consistency contrasts with fossil fuel generation, where fuel prices fluctuate based on weather and global conditions.
Additionally, the New York State Public Service Commission recently cited that nuclear power reduces emissions at a lower cost than many other options, meaning it delivers clean energy benefits efficiently and without unnecessary added costs. [2]
Nuclear power also helps stabilize the overall cost of electricity, insulating NewYorkers from fuel price swings. With more nuclear energy and other sources of local, homegrown energy, utilities can rely less on natural gas during high-price periods, reducing pressure on household bills. And because nuclear plants produce large amounts of electricity from compact sites and operate around the clock, they deliver that stability without requiring vast amounts of land or constant fuel purchases to help keep system costs predictable.
A proven, long-term asset for New York
New York’s nuclear plants have delivered reliable electricity for decades, operating through fuel crises, economic downturns, and extreme weather events.These facilities are licensed to continue providing clean power for many years to come.
That means New Yorkers will continue benefiting from cost-stable, carbon-free electricity produced by infrastructure that is already built — an important advantage as energy costs rise.
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