Wind and solar resources are providing more clean, low-cost electricity to the grid than ever before, but the intermittent nature of renewable generation requires careful planning.

In the latest episode of the Power Trends podcast, NYISO Director of Grid Transition Udayan Nair breaks down what the latest data reveals about wind and solar performance, and what it means for reliability in New York as electricity demand continues to grow.

Notably, the electric grid has seen remarkable growth in behind-the-meter solar capacity in recent years, surpassing the solar goal in the state’s Climate Leadership Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

“We had a goal in CLCPA to reach 6000 megawatts by 2025,” Nair said. “We were at over 6,800 megawatts of capacity last year and it’s grown by about 1,000 megawatts per year since 2020. That's a remarkable success in terms of the capacity that has been added to the grid.”

Front-of-the-meter solar, which refers to grid-connected solar installments that participate in the NYISO’s energy markets, has also seen increased capacity in recent years.

While no new wind installments were added in 2025, existing units performed better than usual due to stronger wind patterns, Nair said.

Nair discussed factors that contribute to renewable performance, including seasonal weather, demand patterns, and curtailments. He explained why solar and wind must be paired with transmission, storage, and flexible resources to keep the grid reliable, particularly during summer heat waves and winter cold snaps.

The latest renewables data showcases the growing contribution of renewables in the current fuel mix and underscores the need for an all-of-the-above approach to development as New York’s electric system continues to evolve.

More resources:

View the 2025 Renewables Report.

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A surge in natural gas prices this winter was a reminder of the relationship between fuel markets and wholesale electricity prices.

In the latest episode of our Power Trends podcast, U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Energy Economist Andrew Iraola and Industry Economist Lindsay Aramayo unpack what drove the recent electricity price spikes, natural gas constraints, and what we can expect in the months ahead.

Aramayo discussed recent price volatility, noting that wholesale electricity prices averaged about $70 per megawatt-hour (MWh) in New York prior to Winter Storm Fern.

“By the time we released our February Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), those prices had increased to $220 per MWh,” she said. “That helps you see how volatile wholesale prices can be, and how dependent they are on natural gas prices.”

New York relies on natural gas for residential heating and electricity production. Winter Storm Fern sharply increased heating demand while temporarily reducing natural gas availability. The disruptions to natural gas supply were caused in part by “freeze‑offs,” which occur during extreme cold when water and other liquids freeze and block the flow of natural gas.

The reduction in fuel availability contributed to record natural gas withdrawals and a jump in gas prices.

Iraola noted the behavior of the system in January and February often helps guide the rest of the year. If there is a large storage withdrawal, that can keep inventories below the five-year average, which puts upward pressure on prices. It also makes it more difficult to rebuild inventories during injection season, which runs from March through October.

The discussion underscored why natural gas remains a key driver of electricity costs, particularly in regions like New York that sit at the end of the natural gas pipeline system. This can create tighter constraints during peak demand.

According to Aramayo, data center buildout is a driver of electricity demand in other regions including the Mid-Atlantic and South. In New York, it’s electrification of the transportation and building sectors that’s driving demand. EIA’s reports note that natural gas will remain the dominant fuel for power generation and predict natural gas price increases, driven by stronger demand, will continue to place upward pressure on wholesale electricity prices in the coming years.

The STEO reflects an increasingly complex and uncertain energy environment, the economists said. When evaluating natural gas markets, analysts consider volatility shaped by weather, infrastructure constraints, and fluctuating demand.

Understanding these dynamics is essential for making sense of wholesale electricity prices and for planning a reliable, affordable grid.

Additional Resources

• U.S. Energy Information Administration Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO)
• NYISO Winter Electricity Pricing Resource Page

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Electricity prices are rising across New York, and understanding what drives those costs has never been more important. In this Power Trends podcast, NYISO Vice President of Market Structures Shaun Johnson breaks down the factors shaping today’s electricity supply charges and explains how wholesale markets produce the most cost-efficient solutions to meet consumer demand.

Wholesale electricity supply costs have been climbing as natural gas prices — New York’s primary fuel for electricity — have nearly doubled in the past year. Most of what customers pay goes toward utility delivery charges, taxes, and other non-supply components.

Electricity bills can be confusing, but Johnson breaks down the two primary charges:

• The supply cost makes up approximately one third of your bill.
• The other two thirds are the retail rates your utility company charges plus taxes and fees.

The physical composition of the gas pipeline infrastructure factors into retail delivery costs as well. Because New York and New England sit at the tail end of a pipeline network that originates in the Colorado Rockies and the Gulf Coast, delivery costs to northeastern states are among the highest in the nation.
As the state moves toward greater electrification and new large loads emerge, demand is expected to keep growing. At the same time, aging generation and long lead times for new resources are tightening supply. These realities put upward pressure on prices too.

“Our market philosophy has always been sort of simple,” Johnson notes, “how do we keep the lights on at the lowest cost via competition.”

Check out the complete podcast to explore how wholesale markets function, what’s driving today’s costs, and how NYISO works to maintain grid reliability at the lowest cost — even when fuel prices surge.

More resources

Please visit our new winter pricing resource page to explain what's behind rising costs.

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