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Department of State : Delaware Public Service Commission

ELECTRIC REGULATION IN DEL AWARE

 PSC logo

ATTENTION FORMER CUSTOMERS OF HORIZON POWER AND LIGHT, LLC.: Under the terms of a settlement agreement resulting from a formal complaint regarding certain business practices, Horizon Power and Light was required to pay an amount of $500,000. The Commission Staff and the Public Advocate have since worked together to determine the fairest and most equitable manner of dispersing the settlement funds to former Horizon Customers, and checks were sent on August 10, 2010. Enclosed with each check is a letter explaining the method of distribution. If you have any questions, please contact the Commission at (302) 736-7500 or the Public Advocate at (302) 577-5080.

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

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. 13-152 (Filed April 16, 2013) - On April 16, 2013 the PSC Staff filed a Motion requesting a docket be opened for the purpose of investigating Delmarva Power & Light's investment levels for its electrical distribution infrastructure.
    • On April 22, 2013, Delmarva Power filed a Response to Staff's motion.

  • PSC Docket No. 13-115 (Filed March 22, 2013) - On March 22, 2013, Delmarva Power and Light Company filed an application with the Commission seeking an increase in its electric base rates. Delmarva is seeking approval of a proposed increase in electric base rates of $42,043,757 or 7.38% in total revenues.
    • Delmarva Testimony
      • Testimony of Witnesses Boyle, Hevert, Maxwell and Ziminsky
      • Testimony of Witnesses Santacecilia, White and Tanos

  • PSC Docket No. 13-99 - Delmarva Power & Light Company's application for the approval to enter into a contract to purchase solar renewable energy credits ("SRECs") from Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. ("WGES"). Please see info on the Renewable Portfolio Standard's Webpage.

  • PSC Docket No. 12-526 - Delmarva Power & Light Company's Application for Approval of the 2013 Program for the Procurement of Solar Renewable Energy Credits. Please see info on the Renewable Portfolio Standard's Webpage.

    • PSC REGULATION DOCKET NO. 49 - IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF RULES AND REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF 26 DEL. C. CH. 10 RELATING TO THE CREATION OF A COMPETITIVE MARKET FOR RETAIL ELECTRIC SUPPLY SERVICE (OPENED APRIL 27, 1999; RE-OPENED JANUARY 7, 2003; RE-OPENED SEPTEMBER 22, 2009; RE-OPENED SEPTEMBER 7, 2010; RE-OPENED JULY 17, 2012): On July 17, 2012 the Commission entered Order 8187 re-opening the 26 Del. Admin C. Section 3001 "Rules for Certification and Regulation of Electric Suppliers" for further revisions.
      • Pursuant to PSC Order No. 8187, the first stakeholder workshop was held on Monday, August 20, 2012. Please see the Public Notice for more information.
      • The stakeholder workshop were held on October 11 and December 14, 2012. The next workshop will be held on Thursday, January 24, 2013, please see the Public Notice for more information.

    • PSC REGULATION DOCKET NO. 63 - IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF REGULATIONS GOVERNING ADMINISTRATION OF THE WATER UTILITY DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS CHARGE AND THE UTILITY FACILITY RELOCATION CHARGE PROVIDED FOR IN 26 DEL.C. SECTIONS 314 AND 315 (OPENED JANUARY 31, 2012)- Order No. 8103 approving for publication and comment new regulations to implement and administer the Distribution System Improvement Charge and Utility Facility Relocation Charge was approved by the Commission on January 31, 2012. A copy of Order No. 8013, as published in the March 2012 Delaware Register of Regulations, can be found here. On April 17, 2012, the Commission approved the regulations in Order 8138.

    • PSC Docket No. 11-528 (Opened December 2, 2011) - On December 2, 2011, Delmarva Power and Light Company filed an application with the Commission seeking an increase in its electric base rates. Delmarva is seeking approval of a proposed increase in electric base rates of $31,760,741 or 4.97% in total revenues. On March 2, 2012 Delmarva filed supplemental testimony and workpapers in support of of the 12+0 update.






      • Public Comment Sessions
        • The public comment sessions for this case were held on Monday, April 2, 2012 in New Castle County, Tuesday April 3, 2012 in Kent County and Wednesday April 4, 2012 in Sussex County. Please see the public notice for more information.


      • Evidentiary Hearing
        • The Evidentiary Hearing will be held on Tuesday, August 28, 2012. Please see the public notice for more information.

      • Proposed Settlement Agreement
        • The Parties have reached a settlement in this docket. Please see the proposed settlement that was presented at the August 28, 2012 hearing for full details.


      • Exceptions to the Hearing Examiner's Report
        • On November 13, 2012 Representative John Kowalko filed his response to the Findings and Recommendations of the Hearing Examiner.

      • Compliance Filings
        • On November 2, 2012, Delmarva Power submitted a Proposed Compliance Filing for Rates Effective January 1, 2013.
        • On December 18, 2012 the Commission entered Order No. 8266 granting Delmarva's request to implement rate changes in accordance with the Settlement Agreeement.


    • PSC Docket No. 11-399: On September 16, 2011 Delmarva Power & Light filed an Application with the Commission seeking approval of a pilot program for the procurement of solar renewable energy credits. For more information, visit the Commission's webpage on PSC Docket No. 11-399

    • PSC Docket No. 11-362: Delmarva Power - Bloom Energy Fuel Cell Application and official filings of the Parties.
      • The Qualified Fuel Cell Project tariff will change monthly. For more information please see the Bloom Energy Fuel Cell webpage.

    • PSC Docket No. 11-330: On July 29, 2011 Delmarva Power & Light filed an application with the Commission seeking approval of the Company's proposed Residential Direct Load Control Program. On August 23, 2011 the Commission approved Order No. 8015, which set September 23, 2011 as the intervention deadline. On October 17, 2012 Staff submitted a Report on Delmarva Power & Light's Proposal to Establish a New Residential Air Conditioning Cycling Program

    • PSC Regulation Docket No. 56 - Please see info on the Renewable Portfolio Standard's Webpage

    • Net Metering/PSC Regulation Docket No. 49 - Regulations Governing Service Supplied by Electrical Corporations: On September 7, 2010, the Commission entered Order No. 7832 reopening Regulation Docket No. 49 and proposing revisions to Regulations Governing Service Supplied by Electrical Corporations as a result of the recent passage of Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill No. 267 Order No. 7832, among other things, requested comments on the proposed rule revisions, and established a hearing date of December 7, 2010. Due to the comments filed, Staff is proposing to cancel the December 7, 2010 hearing. Additionally, Staff is requesting that any additional comments in reply to original comments filed should be filed by January 14, 2011. On January 14, 2011 comments were filed by the Delaware Solar Energy Coalition and joint reply comments from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and The Vote Solar Initiative. A workshop was proposed for Thursday, February 24, 2011. Additional procedural steps will depend on the results of the February workshop.

      Initial comments filed and a brief summary are as follows:

      • Washington Gas Energy Services Supportive of the proposed revisions.
      • Vote Solar Initiative Suggested revisions for clarification and suppported the comments as well as the rule revisions and modifications filed by the Intersate Renewable Energy Council.
      • Interstate Renewable Energy Council ("IREC") Suggested substantive rule revisions and modifications to provide certainty for customers seeking net metering and clarifications intended to ensure the provision of net metering consistent with SB267
      • Delmarva Power & Light Company ("DPL") Suggested substantive rule revisions and modifications to reflect, among other things, that DPL's billing system can not accommodate the automated billing of aggregated net metering accounts. A proposed tariff to implement net metering was also included in DPL's filing.

      • As a result of the February 24, 2011 workshop, a subsequent workshop was held on March 24, 2011. Staff proposed further revisions to the Regulations for the Commission to consider in its meeting of April 19, 2011. Staff's proposed further revisions to the Regulations are intended to reflect the issues raised by participants in filed comments and workshop discussions, as well as include additional modifications, clarifications, and revisions to incorporate existing provisions in the statutes. The Commission approved Staff's proposed further revisions in Order No. 7946 issued April 19, 2011 in Regulation Docket No. 49. The Commission's Order No. 7946 provided for the publication of the proposed further revisions to the Regulations in the Delaware Register of Regulations, as well as a publication of further notice that requires any comments to be filed by June 1, 2011 with a hearing scheduled for June 7, 2011. A copy of Order No. 7946, as published April 27, 2011 in the Delaware Register of Regulations can be found here.

      On June 7, 2011 the Commission issued Order No. 7984 approving final revised rules to implement net energy metering pursuant to the requirements of SB267. Order No. 7984 provides, among other things, that Delmarva Power & Light Company would file revised tariffs, applicable Interconnection Standards for Generators, and such other forms as may be necessary to comply with Order No. 7984 within 30 days of the July 10, 2011 publication of these final rules in the Delaware Register of Regulations. A copy of Order No. 7984 can be found here.

      On July 22, 2011 Delmarva Power & Light Company filed tariffs and interconnection standards in compliance with Order No. 7984 . On August 9, 2011 Staff will propose to the Commission that a workshop be held to address potential issues with implementation of the proposed tariffs and interconnection standards.

      A Workshop To Address Questions And Issues Regarding The Implementation Of Net Metering Tariffs, Interconnection Requirements, And Other Forms Filed In Compliance With Order No. 7984 issued in Regulation Docket No. 49 will be held from 1pm to 5pm on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 in the Commission's Hearing Room located at 861 Silver Lake Blvd., Dover, Delaware. For questions or suggested topics for workshop discussion, send an email to john.farber@state.de.us.

      On November 17, 2011 Delmarva Power & Light Company submitted updates to its previous compliance filing of June 7, 2011 related to the tariffs, documents and other forms to implement the Section 8.0 Net Metering Rules approved by the Commission found here. The Company's updated submittal reflects issues addressed at the workshop of September 13, 2011, previously filed comments, as well as Commission discussions. The documents submitted by the Company can be found here.


    • PSC Docket No. 10-198 (Filed June 1, 2010): On June 1, 2010, Delmarva Power and Light Company filed an Application and supporting testimonies seeking Commission approval of two contracts for the purchase and sale of solar renewable energy credits, pursuant to 26 Del. C 1007(b).
      • Commission Orders
        • Order No. 7836 On September 7, 2010 the Commission issued Order No. 7836 that found the White Oak Contract and the SEU Contract, as revised to reflect the Agreement in Principle resolving the parties' concerns with the SEU contract, are in the public interest and should be approved.
        • Order No. 7788 (June 15, 2010) - Commission opens the docket to review Delmarva's application, and establishes a procedural schedule which provides for an evidentiary hearing before the Commission on Tuesday, August 17, 2010.
      • Report of the Commission Staff (filed August 6, 2010) - Based on project and other information, Staff's consultant concluded that the pricing, terms and conditions of the Delmarva/White Oak contract are reasonable and that the project is viable. Staff's consultant also found that it would be reasonable for Delmarva to purchase SRECs directly from White Oak at the Delmarva/White Oak Contract price that otherwise would have been purchased by the SEU and later resold to Delmarva at a higher price under the Delmarva/SEU Contract.
      • Response of Delmarva Power to the Report of the Commission Staff (filed August 10, 2010) - Delmarva requests Commission approval of the White Oak Contract and the SEU Contract in their entirety as both contracts are reasonable and in the public interest.
      • Response of the Division of the Public Advocate to the Report of the Commission Staff (filed August 10, 2010) - recommending that the Commission adopt Staff's Report and direct the parties to implement the recommendations therein. Further recommending that the Commission approve the White Oak-Delmarva contract and reject the Delmarva-Sustainable Energy Utility ("SEU") contract.
      • DSEC Comments by Dale Davis (filed August 10, 2010)- disagrees with Staff's report regarding the benefits of the SEU contract.
      • SEU Response To Staff Report (filed August 10, 2010) - Commission should approve the Delmarva/SEU contract and reject the conclusions of the Staff's consultants.
      • SEU Response To Staff Report by Dr. John Byrne (filed August 10, 2010)- The Delmarva/SEU contract for the purchase and sale of SRECs promotes the public interest.

    • PSC Docket 04-391 - On April 2, 2013, Delmarva Power filed an application with revised tariffs reflecting the new Standard Offer Service ("SOS") rates resulting from the 2012-2013 RFP procurement process, its revised Reasonable Allowance for Retail Margin ("RARM"), its revised Procurement Cost Adjustment ("PCA")and its revised RPS compliance costs, with a proposed effective date for the tariff changes of June 1, 2013. The Company reports that the proposed tariff and rate changes will result in a proposed monthly reduction to a 1000 kWh "typical residential" bill of $7.99 (a 5.4% monthly decrease). Please consult the calendar/agenda for dates and times of workshops and Commission meetings.

    • PSC Docket No. 10-2 - On or before May 31, 2010 Delmarva Power and Light ("Delmarva") will file an Integrated Resource Plan ("IRP") which complies with the regulations adopted by the Commission on August 18, 2009, by Order No. 7628, Regulation Docket No. 60. In advance of the anticipated Delmarva filing, the Commission is holding several workshops and Public Comment Sessions to allow for public input which may be considered by Delmarva in development of its IRP. Once the IRP is filed with the Commission, additional Public Comment Sessions will be held regarding the actual content of the IRP. Please check the Calendar of Events for dates, times, and locations of workshops and Public Comment Sessions (look for Delmarva 2010 IRP or PSC Docket No. 10-2).
      • Order 7755 extends the deadline for Delmarva's filing of the IRP until no later than October 31, 2010

    • PSC Docket No. 09-311 (Opened August 4, 2009) - 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. On March 22, 2011 Delmarva Power filed its proposal to implement Dynamic Pricing.
    • NRG Blue Water Wind/Delmarva Power PPA (PSC Docket No. 06-241): On August 5, 2010, Delmarva Power filed for the Commission's consideration copies of a modified Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with NRG Blue Water Wind. The purpose of the modifications is to allow for extensions to certain deadlines contained in the previously approved PPA. View a summary of the modifications, as well as the revised PPA (Note: Exhibit 3 has been made public since the date of the filing). For information regarding Delmarva Power's RFP process for the construction of new generation resources in Delaware to serve it Standard Offer Service customers, which ended in the long-term PPA with Blue Water wind, visit the Delmarva Power RFP webpage.

    LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL ISSUES

    • Revenue Decoupling: On March 20, 2007, by Order No. 7153 the Commission initiated Regulation Docket No. 59 to consider whether to implement a revenue decoupling mechanism for the electric and natural gas distribution utilities subject to its jurisdiction, consistent with the provisions of the settlement of Delmarva Power & Light Company's ("Delmarva") gas base rate case approved in Order No. 7152 (Mar. 20, 2007) in which it proposed a Bill Stabilization Adjustment ("BSA"). Simultaneously, the Commission opened Docket No. 07-28 to consider the "Blueprint For the Future Application and Plan" ("Blueprint"), submitted by Delmarva on February 6, 2007, that proposed, among other initiatives, demand-side management ("DSM"), advanced metering, and energy efficiency plans (see Order No. 7154. After a number of public workshops and meetings in each proceeding, Staff raised concerns regarding duplication in the examination of issues in Regulation Docket No. 59 and Docket No. 07-28 (together "the Dockets") in light of the close relationship between DSM proposals and revenue decoupling mechanisms. On March 17, 2008, the parties from both dockets convene to discuss common issues and the viability of continuing both dockets, and later submitted comments and recommendations to the Hearing Examiner regarding the path forward in consideration of Delmarva's Blueprint and revenue decoupling. After holding additional workshops and accepting additional written comment, the Hearing Examiner issued a report of Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Recommendations ("Report") to the Commission. During its meeting of August 19, 2008, the Commission heard oral argument regarding the Hearing Examiner's Report and filed Exceptions. Order No. 7420 (Sep. 16, 2008) memorializes the Commission's deliberations and decision.
    • Electric Reliability: Under the Commission's Rules Governing Electric Service Reliability and Quality Standards, adopted by PSC Order No. 7725 (Jan. 7, 2010), Delmarva Power must file an annual performance report: 2011 Annual Performance Report. 2012 Reliability and Planning Studies Report.
    • Electric Industry Restructuring in Delaware
    • Customer-Owned Generation: Interconnection standards for customers of Delmarva Power who own on-site generation under one megawatt (MW) and wish to interconnect with the utility electric grid. Delmarva Power submitted its Annual Small Generator Interconnection Report As of December 31, 2012. Delmarva Power submitted their Net Metering Report for the 2012 calendar year as required by 26 Del. Admin. C. Section 3001-8.11.
    • 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.


    Last Updated: Monday, 11-Mar-2013 07:47:27 EDT
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