Delaware lawmakers have introduced six bills aimed at increasing transparency within utilities and providing relief to energy bills as summer rate hikes approach. After noticing a significant increase in energy bills among Delmarva Power customers during the winter months, legislators have been working on various pieces of legislation to address immediate and underlying energy issues.
These efforts include creating an energy bill assistance fund for low to moderate income households, increasing scrutiny of the Public Service Commission when approving utility rate hikes, requiring disclosure of votes at meetings of the PJM Interconnection Regional Transmission Organization, and capping annual capital expenses for regulated utilities. State Rep. Deb Heffernan’s bill to create the Delaware Energy Fund has passed in the House and is now headed to the Senate.
While Democrats have been advancing bills to address energy costs, Republicans have proposed measures to cut Delaware’s renewable energy standards, including a bill to remove the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and a bill to repeal Delaware’s Advanced Clean Cars program. These proposals have faced opposition from Democratic legislators who are supportive of renewable energy initiatives.
The Renewable Portfolio Standard, which mandates the percentage of electricity that utilities in Delaware must source from renewables, also faces potential changes with a bill to scale it back to 10% for ten years. Despite robust discourse, the legislation has been tabled by the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee to allow for more time to answer questions. The ongoing debate over energy legislation in Delaware aims to strike a balance between promoting renewable energy and addressing rising energy costs for consumers.
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