Aging New York Generators Drive Up Power Costs
Long Island's generators are about 60 years old, raising maintenance needs, reliability concerns and bills at a conference in Manhattan.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Utilities
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Long Island generators are about 60 years old, according to PSEG of Long Island, and speakers at the Advanced Energy Conference in Manhattan discussed how aging equipment is raising costs. New York City is reported to have the oldest generators in the state.
Why it matters
Older generators operate less efficiently and require more maintenance, which pushes up the cost of producing power that flows to customers. Electricity prices were the single biggest issue in last year's gubernatorial election, keeping the topic politically salient.
Long Island's power supply charge on utility bills has grown about 7% year over year, while the delivery side has been flat. The source does not say what replacing the aging generators would cost.
The players
PSEG of Long Island
Public Service Enterprise Group's Long Island operation, the utility that estimated its generators are about 60 years old.
Stony Brook University
A public research university on Long Island whose Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center hosted the conference.
Con Edison
New York City's principal electric utility, referenced in the context of the state's generation landscape.
The details
At the Advanced Energy Conference, hosted by the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at Stony Brook University and held at the Hilton Midtown in Manhattan, participants discussed challenges in the energy industry. Replacing aging generators involves compliance policy questions and the need to fill the gap left by older units.
Timeline
Last year: Electric prices were the top issue in the gubernatorial election.
Last week: The Advanced Energy Conference was held in Manhattan.
Market Landscape
Long Island's generator fleet is roughly 60 years old according to PSEG of Long Island, placing the region's aging plants at the center of cost debates. The conference framing ties the age of this equipment to the broader push to modernize New York's power supply.
Long Island customers may see continued growth in the power supply portion of their bills, which has risen about 7% annually. Electricity pricing remains a central concern for households and businesses in the region.
The takeaway
Aging generation equipment affects both reliability and the monthly cost of electricity, so bill changes on Long Island are tied to decisions about plant upkeep and replacement.
Further reading
For broader context on regional power infrastructure, see Utilities coverage across New York.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WSHU.
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