Share Your Story! Protect Against More Electric Rate Hikes

Vote YES on HS1 for HB 233 and SB 326!

For years, Delaware ratepayers have been sounding the alarm about how much of a burden rising electric rates have been on their ability to keep the lights on. With further anticipated increases driven by data center demand and ongoing requests from some utility companies to raise rates on both the supply and distribution sides, now is the time to act. Please support House Bill 233 and Senate Bill 326 and stand strong against continued rate hikes. House Bill 233 builds upon the principle that residential rate payers and local businesses shouldn’t pay for the costs associated with data center development. The Substitute Bill 1 for HB 233, further amplifies the concepts being considered on the national and regional scale, through the Statement of Principles between the White House Council on Energy Dominance and the Governors of all PJM states and the Ratepayer Protection Pledge by large data center developers themselves. The bill sets clear guidelines for what costs should be included in the large load tariff, and even what actions these large energy use facilities can take that could result in their applications being considered positively. It secures bonding and other financial assurances while placing any project-associated costs for infrastructure, capacity, transmission, and interconnection in the rate for large energy use facilities. The bill would also require electric and transmission service agreements to be approved by the Public Service Commission before these facilities can connect to the grid. Furthermore, in alignment with the new PJM protocol, if these facilities don’t provide their own in-state generation, it requires the PSC to create a system for load shedding, or curtailment, during times of energy emergency or other critical times — to protect against blackouts at hospitals, senior living centers, and other vulnerable populations and emergency services! All of these features ensure that large energy-use facilities, such as hyperscale data centers, pay their own way and contribute positively to our energy system. While energy rate hikes can be partially attributed to data center development, Delaware has also seen a rise in rate hikes directly from utilities. Senate Bill 326 further expands customer protections that were created when we moved from the business judgment rule to the prudence standard. This bill is about transparency, oversight, and doing what is in our power to ensure that community members have access to reliable, reasonable, and affordable energy. By requiring regular audits and oversight, we add pressure to balance the position of a monopoly entity with guaranteed profits while regular folks struggle to pay their bills. It also requires that communications about updates be presented in a way that encourages and enables customers to meaningfully engage in the process without having to parse highly technical language. Together, these two bills address the same core concern that community members have been raising for years! We are in a crucial window where action, or inaction, before the end of the legislative session, where actions speak louder than words. Please stand with the many Delawareans who deserve protection from runaway energy costs and support Substitute 1 for House Bill 233 and Senate Bill 326.