Three times as many Upstate New York business customers in January and February were at risk of losing power because of unpaid National Grid bills compared with last year. Last year, 1,475 nonresidential electric and natural gas accounts were eligible for shutoffs in January and February across Upstate. This year, 4,437 were – a 200% increase.
And in those first two months of 2026, the utility actually shut off gas and electricity to twice as many commercial customers as last year, according to reports National Grid filed with the Public Service Commission. Out of the thousands of nonresidential accounts eligible to be turned off, just 202 were terminated. But that was more than twice the 93 terminations in early 2025.
The rising number of businesses facing shutoffs is yet another sign of how this frigid winter, combined with rising power costs and a state-approved rate hike, are blanketing customers with higher bills and tougher choices.
Consider Reeves Farms, which grows strawberries, blueberries and a rotating crop of vegetables. In warmer months, they rent out acreage to farmers growing soybeans and corn. In the winter, they use greenhouses to jumpstart the growing season.
Read more at Syracuse.com
