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Paterson Electricity Rates: How to Cut Your PSE&G Bill in 2026
By the My Utility Search Editorial Team · Last updated June 2026
Paterson electricity rates are about 26¢ per kWh all-in for 2026. PSE&G delivers power to every Paterson address, and its default supply rate — the “price to compare” — is roughly 19.9¢/kWh.
Because New Jersey is deregulated, Paterson residents can shop the supply portion: the lowest competitive rates are around 17.6¢/kWh, about 11% cheaper than PSE&G’s default. The biggest summer savings on Paterson electricity rates come from shopping that supply rate on NJPowerSwitch.com and managing usage during the new 4–9 p.m. peak window.
TL;DR — key takeaways
- Paterson electricity rates run about 26¢/kWh all-in for 2026; PSE&G’s supply rate (the price to compare) is about 19.9¢/kWh.
- PSE&G is Paterson’s delivery utility, but New Jersey has real supplier choice — the lowest competitive supply rate is around 17.6¢/kWh, roughly 11% below PSE&G’s default.
- Shop suppliers free on the state’s official site, NJPowerSwitch.com; watch for teaser rates that flip to high variable prices.
- New for summer 2026: PSE&G’s optional time-of-use rate charges the most from 4–9 p.m. weekdays — exactly when air conditioning peaks.
What are the current Paterson electricity rates?
PSE&G is the delivery utility for Paterson, so your bill combines PSE&G’s regulated delivery charge with a supply charge — and in New Jersey you can choose who provides that supply. PSE&G’s default supply rate is called Basic Generation Service, and the rate it publishes for shoppers is the “price to compare.” That number is the key to reading Paterson electricity rates correctly.
📊 PSE&G’s Basic Generation Service (price to compare) is about 19.9¢/kWh for the supply portion in 2026 (Source: PSE&G Price to Compare).
📊 All-in Paterson electricity rates — supply plus delivery — sit near 26¢/kWh in 2026 (Source: PSE&G; NJBIZ BGS auction coverage).
📊 The February 2026 BGS auction trimmed the typical PSE&G residential bill about 1.8% — from roughly $183.46 to $180.23 a month at 650 kWh (Source: NJBIZ).
📊 The lowest competitive supplier rate in PSE&G territory is around 17.6¢/kWh — about 11% below the default supply rate (Source: NJ competitive market data).
Definition: price to compare (BGS)
Basic Generation Service (BGS) is PSE&G’s default electricity supply for customers who don’t choose a competitive supplier. The “price to compare” is that supply rate stated per kWh, so you can measure any competitive offer against it.
Why do Paterson electricity bills spike in summer?
With temperatures running 90–100°F across the Northeast this summer, Paterson electricity rates hit hardest for the same reason every PSE&G customer’s bill does: air conditioning. But 2026 adds a new wrinkle — PSE&G’s optional time-of-use rate — that makes when you use power matter, not just how much.
- On the time-of-use plan, on-peak power (4–9 p.m. weekdays) is priciest; mid-peak covers most daytime hours; off-peak overnight (12–6 a.m.) is cheapest. Weekends and holidays have no on-peak.
- If you can shift laundry, dishwashing, and pre-cooling away from 4–9 p.m., time-of-use can lower a summer bill — PSE&G lets you try it risk-free for the first 12 months.
- If your usage is heaviest at dinnertime and you can’t shift it, the standard flat supply rate plus a competitive supplier is usually the safer summer bet.
Can you switch electricity suppliers in Paterson?
Yes — New Jersey has strong retail energy choice, and as a deregulated state it lets Paterson residents pick a competitive supplier for the supply portion while PSE&G keeps delivering power and handling outages and billing. New Jersey suppliers can price meaningfully below the utility default, which is why the ~11% gap between 17.6¢ and 19.9¢ is real money off your Paterson electricity rates.
Shop on the state’s official, free marketplace, NJPowerSwitch.com (run by the NJ Board of Public Utilities), so you compare verified offers against PSE&G’s price to compare — not a door-to-door pitch. Before you switch, check the contract for the rate after any introductory period and any cancellation fee.
Paterson electricity rates: supply options compared
| Supply option | Approx. supply rate | Structure | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSE&G default (BGS) | ~19.9¢/kWh | Flat, resets each June | Doing nothing / simplest option |
| Competitive fixed supplier | ~17.6¢/kWh | Locked 6–24 months | Lowest reliable supply cost (~11% off) |
| PSE&G time-of-use | ~21–31¢/kWh by hour | Peak 4–9 p.m. weekdays | Households that can shift load off-peak |
What’s the best way to lower a Paterson electricity bill?
New Jersey gives you more supply-side savings than New York, so the playbook for Paterson electricity rates is shop first, then manage usage:
- Compare your PSE&G price to compare (~19.9¢) against fixed offers on NJPowerSwitch.com and lock a competitive supplier below it with clean terms — the clearest ~11% saving.
- Decide on time-of-use honestly: only choose it if you can move real load out of 4–9 p.m.; otherwise keep the flat rate.
- Cut summer cooling cost: smart thermostat, higher setpoint, pre-cool before 4 p.m., and seal windows.
- Ask PSE&G about budget billing and efficiency rebates to smooth and reduce the total.
Paterson electricity rates: frequently asked questions
What is the average electricity rate in Paterson? Paterson electricity rates are about 26¢/kWh all-in for 2026. The supply portion — PSE&G’s price to compare — is roughly 19.9¢/kWh, and the rest is regulated delivery.
Who is the electricity provider in Paterson, NJ? PSE&G delivers electricity to Paterson and handles outages and billing. Because New Jersey is deregulated, you can choose a competitive supplier for the supply portion while PSE&G still delivers the power.
Can I save money by switching electricity suppliers in Paterson? Yes. The lowest competitive supply rates in PSE&G territory are around 17.6¢/kWh versus PSE&G’s ~19.9¢ default — about 11% off the supply portion. Compare offers on NJPowerSwitch.com and avoid teaser rates.
What is PSE&G’s price to compare? It’s PSE&G’s default supply rate stated per kWh — about 19.9¢/kWh in 2026 — so you can measure any competitive supplier’s offer against it.
Should I switch to PSE&G’s time-of-use rate for summer 2026? Only if you can shift usage out of the 4–9 p.m. weekday peak. PSE&G lets you try it risk-free for 12 months, so it’s testable.
Related My Utility Search guides
Want to go deeper on Paterson electricity rates? See our NJ/NY summer heat-wave hub, our Newark electricity rates guide, and the deregulated energy states map. (An Paterson internet guide is publishing in this wave.)
