Delaware lawmakers are pushing forward with additional bills to provide relief to residents struggling with rising utility costs. Building on previous efforts, House Bills 59, 60, and 61 aim to tackle the root causes of soaring energy prices while adding new safeguards against sudden price hikes.
State Senator Stephanie Hansen, the primary sponsor of the legislation, emphasized the lack of competition for Delmarva Power, a public utility monopoly, as a key factor behind the increasing rates.
She noted that while public utilities like Delmarva Power are not subject to competition, they should still be held accountable to ensure consumers are not unfairly burdened by rising prices.
The proposed SB 59 seeks to modify how utility costs are determined by the Public Service Commission (PSC), replacing the current business judgment rule with a prudence standard.
This change would allow the state to reject certain costs passed onto consumers that could have been avoided. SB 60 would limit Delmarva Power’s ability to recover capital expenses and exclude certain costs, like lobbying and political contributions, from being passed onto customers. SB 61 focuses on increasing transparency within PJM Interconnection, the regional electric grid operator, particularly regarding private rule-making processes that impact energy rates and grid reliability.
While Democratic lawmakers push for these reforms, Republicans have also voiced concerns over the rate hikes, calling for measures to address the issue.
To help residents cope with their energy bills, several assistance programs are available, including LIHEAP, the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, and the Delaware Weatherization Assistance Program.
These efforts aim to provide immediate relief while ensuring greater oversight of utility companies to prevent unfair rate increases in the future.