ELECTRIC REGULATION IN DEL AWARE |
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ROLE OF THE COMMISSION
In 1999, the General Assembly passed legislation restructuring the electric industry in Delaware. Prior to restructuring, the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power by investor-owned utilities was fully regulated by the PSC. With restructuring, the generation of electric power became deregulated, leaving only distribution services under the regulatory control of the PSC. The pricing of electric transmission is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
In 2006, faced with significantly increase energy costs, the General Assembly passed a revision to the restructuring legislation entitled "The Electric Utilities Retail Supply Act of 2006." The Act provides that all electric distribution companies subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission would be designated as the standard offer service supplier and returning customer service supplier in their respective territories. The Act provided further opportunity for distribution companies to enter into long and short-term supply contracts, own and operate generation facilities, build generation and transmission facilities, make investments in demand-side resources and take any other Commission approved action to diversify their retail load supply. Additionally, Delmarva Power is required to conduct Integrated Resource Planning for a forward-looking 10 year time frame and to file such plan with the Commission, the Controller General, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Energy Office every two years starting with December 1, 2006. As part of the initial planning process, Delmarva Power is required to file a proposal to obtain long-term supply contracts. The proposal requires Delmarva Power to include a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the construction of new generation resources within Delaware. Delaware IRP/RFP
REGULATED UTILITIES
Delmarva Power - Delaware Tariff
CONSUMER INFORMATION
- Electric Choice - Customers of the Delaware Electric Cooperative and Delmarva Power may now have a choice in which company will provide their electric energy supply (distribution of electric will still remain with the respective utility). Electric suppliers must be certified by the Commission prior to offering electric supply service to consumers. The List of Certified Electric Suppliers provides the telephone numbers and websites of electric suppliers that may be offering services to residential, commercial or industrial customers. This list is updated as often as information becomes available, but the Commission would urge customers to contact all potential suppliers to determine if a company is offering service. Before switching, the Consumer Energy Education Group (CEEG) has created a list of questions to ask potential electric suppliers.
- General Information
- For general consumer information, including how to file a complaint, please visit our Consumer Assistance page.
- Delaware Public Service Commission Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Delmarva Power provides important consumer information on billing, customer service issues and safety.
- Energy Procurement for Standard Offer Service ("SOS") customers of Delmarva Power and Light
- Consumer Energy Education Group ("CEEG") - The Consumer Energy Education Group ("CEEG") is a group of state government and industry representatives with different areas of expertise but one common goal: to help Delawareans use available resources to save energy and manage their energy costs. CEEG recently completed a series of statewide community events to help consumers cope with anticipated energy rate increases.
- Consumer Reference - The following websites offer consumer information about electric issues:
- The Delaware Energy Office offers educational material on a wide variety of energy issues, including energy conservation, energy and the environment, green energy, and others.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
- U.S. Department of Energy
IMPORTANT OR PENDING CASES
A complete list of all electric related cases filed with the Commission is available on the Commission's Regulated Utility Filings page.
Following is a list of cases that have, or are likely to, generate a significant amount of public interest. To assist the public with participation in these matters, links to the application or formal complaint, the procedural schedule (if applicable), and Commission Orders entered in a case are provided here. In limited cases, additional documents are available for viewing from the website.
All case related documents are available for review by appointment at the Commission Office in Dover, Delaware, or at the Office of the Public Advocate in Wilmington, Delaware.
- PSC Docket No. 09-414 (Opened September 18, 2009) - DELMARVA POWER AND LIGHT: On September 18, 2009, Delmarva Power and Light filed with the Commission an application seeking an increase in its electric base rates.
- Application (.zip file)
- On September 23, 2009, The Commission issued a Request for Proposals ("RFP") for Consulting Services to the Delaware Public Service Commission. In the matter of the application of Delmarva Power & Light Company for an increase in Electric Base Rates in Docket No. 09-414. The Commission requested professional public utility consulting service to the PSC in regard to determining the justness and reasonableness of Delmarva Power & Light Company's filing for an increase in its Electric Base Rates for Distribution Delivery Service. The Commission will accept responses to the Commission's RFP up to and including Tuesday, October 13, 2009.
- PSC Docket No. 09-311 (Opened August 4, 2009) - DELMARVA POWER AND LIGHT: By Order No. 7620 (Aug. 4, 2009), the Commission opened a docket to further investigate the benefits to ratepayers of dynamic pricing and other options that may become available with the diffusion of Advanced Metering Infrastructure ("AMI"). After a holding a workshop on September 10, 2009, the Commission Staff will issue a report with its recommendation on or before November 30, 2009. Comments on the Staff report will be due by December 15, 2009, and on December 22, 2009, the Commission shall consider all recommendations and determine how to proceed with respect to dynamic pricing options going forward.
- PSC Docket No. 09-9 (Opened January 6, 2009). The Commission opened this Docket to address the following issue: Whether the amound of uncollectible accounts, and other costs requested by Delmarva Power & Light COmpany to be recovered in the Reasonable Allowance for Retail Margin ("RARM") which is a component of the Standard Offer Service Supply Rate, are appropriate and consistent with the PSC Commission's policy and the Settlement Agreement previously approved by the Commission in PSC Docket No. 04-391
On January 6, 2009, Delmarva had filed an Application to increase the RARM charge by $.32 or .2% per month, for an average residential customer using 1,000 kWh. The Evidentiary Hearing is scheduled for Monday November 23, 2009 at the Commission's office in Dover. Please check this website the day before the hearing for any scheduling changes. - PSC Docket No. 09-276T (Filed June 25, 2009) - DELMARVA POWER AND LIGHT: On September 9, 2009, the Commission entered Order No. 7641, thereby opening a docket to examine the adoption of a modified fixed/variable rate design for Delmarva Power's electric business.
- PSC Docket No. 07-20 - DELMARVA POWER AND LIGHT: Delmarva Power's Third Updated Integrated Resource Plan filed November 3, 2008. On September 22, 2009, by Order No. 7661, the Commission voted to close this docket and directed Delmarva Power and Light to file an IRP which complies with the rules set forth in Regulation Docket No. 60 no later than May 31, 2010. In advance of that May 2010 filing, workshops have been scheduled to discuss and review inputs to the next IRP. Dates and topics are as follows: October 1, 2009 - Externalities; October 22, 2009 - DSM and Energy Efficiency; November 5, 2009 - Planned Scenarios
- PSC Docket No. 355-08 (filed October 15, 2008) - HORIZON POWER AND LIGHT, LLC: On August 18, 2009, the Commission entered Order No. 7626 approving a Settlement Agreement. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the Commission Staff and the Public Advocate have the discretion to determine how the settlement funds will be distributed and the amount that each customer will receive. The Staff and the Public Advocate have not yet determined how the settlement funds will be distributed or the amount that each customer will be received, or whether customers will have to do anything in order to receive payment. When such determinations are made, the information will be posted on the Commission’s website.
Current customers of Horizon Power should contact Horizon at 1-866-727-5658 (ask for Tiffany or Claudette) to have their accounts switched. (updated 08/19/09)
LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL ISSUES
- Only July 7, 2009, Dr. Willett Kempton made a presentation (view slides) to the Commission on 'Vehicle-to-Grid' (V2G) technology. An electric car was also on display in the parking lot outside the building.
- At the April 7, 2009 Commission Meeting, Chad Tolman made a presentation titled "Energy and Climate Change - Impact on De and our Response". Mr. Tolman also provided a list of Recommended Reading.
- PSC Docket No. 06-241 - Information and documents regarding Delmarva Power's RFP process for the construction of new generation resources in Delaware to serve it Standard Offer Service customers. This case ended in Delmarva Power entering into a long-term Power Purchase Agreement with Blue Water Wind, LLC.
- Electric Industry Restructuring in Delaware
- Regulatory Authority: 26 Delaware Code, Chapter 10
- As part of the Delmarva Power & Light Company merger with Potomac Electric Power Company (PSC Docket No. 01-194), the Commission, in PSC Order No. 5941, signed April 16, 2001, approved a proposed settlement which, among other things, extended the rate caps for customers of Delmarva Power & Light Company until May 1, 2006.
- Rate caps for residential customers of the Delaware Electric Cooperative ended on March 31, 2005.
- Rules for Certification and Regulation of Electric Suppliers PSC Order No. 7435
- List of Certified Electric Suppliers with additional contact information. Before switching, the Consumer Energy Education Group (CEEG) has created a list of questions to ask potential electric suppliers.
- Delaware Electric Supply Choice Enrollment Information: shows the number and classification of customers switching.
- Consumer Energy Education Group: The Consumer Energy Education Group is holding periodic meetings. Contact the Commission for additional information.
- Customer-Owned Generation: Interconnection standards for customers of Delmarva Power and the Delaware Electric Cooperative who own on-site generation under one megawatt (MW) and wish to interconnect with the utility electric grid.
- Electric Transmission: PJM Interconnection LLC (PJM) is the regional transmission organization (RTO) responsible for the transmission of electricity in the region that includes all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
- The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC): NARUC membership is comprised of the governmental agencies engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The NARUC website provides information about the issues facing the energy, telecommunications, and water/wastewater industries at the national level.
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