Important Information

Non-profit organizations may be eligible to have an energy assessment of their facilities at substantially reduced cost. An energy assessment is an important first step in understanding your energy usage and discovering ways to make your building more energy efficient and comfortable. The Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) will cover 90% of the cost of an assessment, which can run from $900 to $1,600 depending on energy usage. Visit Energize Delaware for more information, or contact the SEU Executive Director Tony DePrima at (302) 883-3038 or by e-mail.

First State Community Action Agency is offering cooling relief by providing energy-efficient air conditioners to eligible low-income households in Kent and Sussex County Delaware through its Summer Cooling Assistance Program (SCAP). Residents can now apply by appointment to see if they qualify to have an energy-efficient AC installed in their home.

As the temperatures begin to rise, it’s important to make sure your air conditioner is in peak operating condition for the summer. A properly maintained air conditioner can also help you save money on energy bills: just replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5% to 15%! Learn more about maintaining your air conditioner (central or window units). Energy.Gov offers more simple and easy Spring and Summer Energy-Saving Tips.

Biden warns consumers to be wary of aggressive door-to-door sales (released June 26, 2014) – “Attorney General Biden’s Consumer Protection Unit has learned of several incidents where Delaware homeowners have received unsolicited visits by salespersons who attempt to convince them to switch utility providers.” Continue reading…. If you have any questions or concerns about the supplier, contact the DPA at 1-888-607-2427.
Alert! Protect Your Account Information

The DPA has been advised that there has been a company going door-to-door claiming to be a contractor of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and asking for account information for Delmarva Power & Light customers in order to correct a billing error. That information is then used to switch the customers electricity supplier without their explicit consent. The PSC does not solicit, or contract with companies to solicit, customers on behalf of electric suppliers. If you are solicited in person or by phone by someone specifically claiming to represent the Public Service Commission or Delmarva Power & Light, do not divulge any personal information, including your utility account number, and contact the Public Service Commission at (302)736-7500 or (800) 282-8574.

Regulated Utilities

Delmarva Power and Light, Inc. (“Delmarva Power”) is the only electric distribution company (“EDC”) regulated by the Delaware Public Service Commission (“PSC”)

Utility Programs

Delmarva Power has a number of programs designed to help its customers, some of which are highlighted below. DPA is offering this information as a service to the customers we represent, but we do not administer or control any of the listed programs. Please contact Delmarva Power directly for more information.

• My Account: My Account is Delmarva Power’s online energy audit tool where you can: view and pay your bill; learn ways to save energy and money; compare and analyze your bills; understand why your bill has changed; and see where your dollars go. Watch the video My Account Tour to learn more about the benefits of My Account. If you’re ready to get started, register for My Account. If you’re already registered, sign in to My Account and see what’s new.
• Peak Energy Savings Credit (PESC): The Peak Energy Savings Credit lets you earn a credit off your bill when you reduce your electricity use on specially designated Peak Savings Days. No enrollment is needed, and you will automatically be notified when a Peak Saving Day is announced. On those days when events are called, simply reduce your usage during the time specified, and start earning credits! Learn More…
• Delaware Energy Wise Rewards: With this program, Delmarva will automatically cycle off and on participating central air conditioners and heat pumps to help reduce the demand for electricity during the peak electricity demand times. These Energy Wise Rewards conservation periods occur on Peak Savings Days, so this automatic reduction of your air conditioner energy use makes it easy for you to receive credits off your bill through the Peak Energy Savings Credit. You will also receive an installation credit of up to $80 off your bill and your choice of an energy-saving device, such as a programmable thermostat at no charge. Learn More…
• Take Control Delaware: By now, almost every home and small business has had their electric analog meter replaced with a new digital meter, or “Smart Meter.” To learn more about Smart Meters and how they may help you manage your energy costs, visit Delmarva’s Take Control Delaware web site.
• Emergency Medical Equipment Notification Program: Customers who rely on electricity to power life-support equipment such as respirators or kidney dialysis machines can register for Delmarva Power’s Emergency Medical Equipment Notification Program. Customers enrolled in the program receive notification of scheduled outages, such as for maintenance, in their areas. They also receive notification of severe storms that could lead to extended electrical outages. Because customers who rely on electricity to power life-support equipment are scattered throughout its service territory, Delmarva cannot give priority to these customers following storms. Also, note that participation in the program does not exempt customers from disconnection of electrical service for non-payment. Delmarva has created a brochure about the program that answers some frequently asked questions and offers important preparedness information.
• Budget Billing: Budget billing helps both electric and natural gas customers avoid seasonal spikes in their energy bills by dividing payments evenly over the course of the year. Customers on budget billing know in advance what their monthly payment will be, making budgeting for energy costs easier. Learn more about the program by visiting Delmarva’s Budget Billing web page.
• Extended Due Date Program: Designed for residential customers whose main source of household income is from government programs where assistance income may not arrive until around the 1st week of each month. By registering for the Extended Due Date Program, a qualified residential customer can ask to have their bill due date changed to fall in the middle of the month.
• Gift of Energy: With the cost of almost everything on the rise, many families struggle to afford paying their electric and natural gas bills. Through the Gift of Energy, you can make a financial contribution which is applied to a friend or relative’s Delmarva Power account. This program is now offered year-round instead of just during the holidays.
• Third-Party Notification: With this voluntary program, you can name a friend, relative, or social service agency who Delmarva Power will notify if your service is in danger of being disconnected. This service may be helpful for someone who lives alone, who may be away for an extended time, or senior citizens who live far from their family. A consent form, available on the Third Party Notification web page, must be completed and mailed to Delmarva Power’s Customer Care Department.
• Mobile App (for iPhone, iPad, Android and BlackBerry): Delmarva Power’s Mobile app makes getting information quick and easy. By entering your phone number and zip code or your Delmarva Power account number, you can: Report outages and get status updates; Use interactive outage maps to check the status of outages in your area; Get estimated restoration times; Pay your bill; and, Call Delmarva Power through a direct dial link. Visit delmarva.com/mobileapp on your mobile device to download the app.

Financial Resources

• If you need help paying your bill, you should first contact your utility provider which, in most cases, is willing to work with you to avoid termination of service. Financial assistance may be available by reaching out to the organizations listed below:
  • Delaware Helpline (or dial 2-1-1)
  • Catholic Charities
  • People who experience difficulty in meeting their basic needs of food, housing, utilities, medication and other necessities can get help and financial assistance by visiting their nearest Delaware State Service Center
• The Weatherization Assistance Program of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reduces the energy costs for low-income households by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes
• Energize Delaware, an initiative of Delaware’s Sustainable Energy Utility, offers residents a one-stop resource for sustainable energy solutions – many at little or no cost – to help Delawareans save on their energy bills and improve the environment. As Delaware’s one-stop resource for saving money, creating jobs and improving the environment, Energize Delaware offers new ways for commercial, industrial and other non-residential groups, including municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals to become full partners in Delaware’s sustainable energy future.
• The Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF) was created to help Delaware businesses make strategic investments in capital equipment and facility upgrades that will help decrease operating costs, reduce energy consumption, and improve environmental performance. The program offers funding for technical assistance, as well as competitively awarded grants and loans for implementation of energy efficiency projects.
• Delmarva Power’s Green Energy Program, administered by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) provides grant incentives for qualifying renewable energy systems installed in Delaware.

Energy Saving Tips

Listed below are links to a variety of resources that offer tips and advice on reducing your electric usage to save on your energy bill. We provide links to these sites as a convenience only, and linking to an external site does not represent DPA endorsement of that site. We cannot control the content or vouch for the accuracy of the information contained on other sites, and we are not responsible for any consequences of visiting such linked sites. However, should you discover inappropriate, offensive, or misleading materials on a site we have linked to, we would appreciate it if you would contact us at public.advocate@delaware.gov so that we may take appropriate action.

• Delmarva Power’s 85 Ways to Save
• Seasonal Energy Tips from DNREC’s Division of Energy and Climate
• Depending on the season, watch the video Knowledge is Power – Summer Tips or Knowledge is Power – Winter Tips video from Delmarva Power.
• In addition to the “Energy Saver’s Guide,” the US Department of Energy has compiled the comprehensive Energy Saver web site that contains tips, tools, calculators, and other resources for saving electricity and saving money.
• ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency. Find information on energy efficient products, as well as energy savings for homes and businesses at the Energy Star web site.

Consumer Protection

Termination of Service for Non-Payment:

Be Proactive! If you experience difficulty paying your utility bill, contact your service provider as soon as you realize there may be a problem. In most cases, your utility provider is willing to work with you to avoid terminating your service. Your service provider will also provide you with the contact information of organizations offering financial assistance, or you can contact the Delaware Helpline by dialing 2-1-1. If you do find yourself facing an unavoidable termination, you should know that there are certain consumer protections in place to avoid causing additional harm or distress:

• The PSC’s “Regulations Governing Termination of Residential Electric or Natural Gas Service by Public Utilities for Non-Payment During Extreme Seasonal Temperature Conditions” detail the process electric and natural gas utilities must follow when terminating a customer’s service for non-payment.
• Delaware state law contains restrictions pertaining to termination of services, including when termination may adversely affect an individual’s health or recovery.
• National Guard and military reserve members called to active military service may be entitled to additional protections from termination of service under provisions of state law approved in 2004.

Electric Choice

When it comes to electric supply, Delmarva Power customers have a choice. Delmarva Power will continue to delivery electricity to homes and businesses, but customers may choose the company that supplies the power that Delmarva delivers. Shopping for a supplier has the potential to save customers money on the largest portion of their electric bill – by the end of 2103, over 26,000 residential and non-residential customers were purchasing their electric supply from a provider other than Delmarva. Delmarva will continue to provide electric supply service to customers who choose not to shop through the Standard Offer Service (“SOS”) rate through a PSC regulated competitive process.

Before you shop, make sure have the following information:

• Know Delmarva Power’s Residential Price to Compare
• Understand your energy usage through Delmarva Power’s My Account
• A list of energy suppliers certified by the Public Service Commission
• A calculator

In general, if a supplier is offering a per kWh price that is lower than the Residential Price to Compare, you will save money… to calculate how much, multiply your annual usage by the difference between the Price to Compare and the supplier’s price to find your annual savings. If there is a monthly fee in addition to the per kWh charge, you’ll need to include that in your calculations. For example, say an electric supplier has an offer for $0.10 per kWh plus an additional $5.00 per month: if you use 500 kWh in one month, then the true per kWh charge from that supplier is $0.11 per kWh ($5.00/500kWh). If you use less than that, the price per kWh goes up and if you use more, the price per kWh will go down. Make certain that you fully understand all the terms, conditions, and charges before you switch. The PSC does not have jurisdiction over the rates and charges of third party suppliers.

Remember, if you do shop, it is only for the electric supply portion of your bill (about 60% of the total bill). There will be other charges on your bill related to the transmission and distribution of the electricity you use.

Energy Suppliers

Before offering electric supply services to consumers, electric suppliers must be certified by the Public Service Commission. The PSC has specific rules that suppliers must comply with in order to obtain, and keep, a certification. Any questions regarding certification of electric suppliers should be directed to the PSC.

List of electric suppliers, with contact information, currently certified by the PSC. Note: This list is updated periodically, but you are encouraged to contact providers to see if their offerings have changed.