Con Edison of New York serves 3.3 million customers averaging a population of approximately nine million people throughout a 660-square-mile service territory.

Electric system
Gas system
Steam system

Electrical System

Con Edison operates one of the most complex electric power systems in the world. It is also the world's most reliable.

Graphic view of the electric distribution system (PDF format)

Graphic view of the underground network (PDF format)

Statistics

• Peak demand in 2010 was 12,963
• 2,270 primary feeders and 64 area substations
• Total delivered in 2010 was 58,693 (millions of kilowatt hours)

Fun Facts

• The 94,000 miles of underground cable in the Con Edison system could wrap around the Earth 3.7 times.
• If stretched from New York to Los Angeles, the 27,500 miles of overhead cables would make nearly five round trips.
• One megawatt is enough energy to power 1,000 average homes.
• One kilowatt of electricity can power a 10,000 BTU (large) air conditioner.
• The typical New York City customer's home uses about 350 kilowatt-hours each month.
• The typical Westchester customer's home uses about 500 kilowatt-hours each month.
• Read about Con Edison’s electricity history here.

Gas System

Con Edison distributes natural gas to 1.1 million customers in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and Westchester County, making it one of the larger gas distribution companies in the United States.

Graphic view of the gas distribution system (PDF format)

Statistics

• 4,340 miles of gas mains
• 385,396 service lines

Fun Facts

• Gas travels through the pipelines at approximately 15 miles per hour.
• Some of the gas transmission pipelines are as wide as 42 inches across.
• The Con Edison gas system has nearly 7,300 miles of pipes – if laid end to end, long enough to reach Paris and back.
• The average amount of gas that travels through Con Edison's gas system annually could fill the Empire State Building nearly 6,100 times.
• Read about Con Edison’s gas history here.

Steam System

Con Edison operates the largest district-energy steam system in the United States. The steam system provides service to approximately 1,800 customers in Manhattan, from the Battery all the way to 96th Street on the West Side and 89th Street on the East Side.

Graphic view of the steam distribution system (PDF format)

• Steam is used for heating, hot water, and air conditioning
• Con Edison has five steam-generating plants, three in Manhattan, one in Queens, and one in Brooklyn, along with receiving steam under contract from a steam plant at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
• 105 Miles of mains and service pipes
• Winter peak output was 8,924,000 (pounds per hour) in 2010
• Total steam supplied was 23,030,000 (thousands of pounds) in 2010
• Steam traveling through Con Edison's system is used to heat and cool some of New York's most famous addresses – the United Nations complex, the Empire State Building, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are just a few.
• Read about Con Edison’s steam history here.