Maryland, Delaware Governors Call on PJM to Support Request for FERC Rehearing

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor Carney on Thursday released a joint letter with Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to the Chair of PJM Interconnection’s Board of Managers, opposing the cost allocation of the $279 million Artificial Island transmission line project, which would continue to unfairly burden electric ratepayers in Delaware and across the Delmarva Peninsula.

Delmarva homeowners and businesses would see their electric bills rise to cover 90 percent of the cost of the project, while receiving little in the way of a direct benefit.

“This is a bad deal for electric ratepayers in Delaware and across Delmarva,” said Governor Carney. “I’m proud to stand with Governor Hogan to oppose the current cost allocation for this project, which would unfairly raise costs for businesses and families in Delaware and across our region. We will continue to work with the Public Service Commission, Delaware’s Public Advocate, members of the General Assembly and our congressional delegation to protect Delmarva ratepayers.”

“Since the beginning of this process, our administration has expressed our opposition, frustration, and disappointment about the burdensome costs associated with this project,” said Governor Hogan. “Delmarva Peninsula taxpayers should not have to disproportionately pay hundreds of millions of dollars in rate increases, especially given the majority of the benefits will go to other states.”

Delaware and Maryland have appealed the current cost allocation to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Governor Carney and Governor Hogan urged PJM to support a rehearing in their letter. According to the most recent cost estimates, Delmarva ratepayers would still pay approximately $250 million of the $279 million in the project’s total costs, while receiving little direct benefit.

“As a result, the average residential and commercial customer will pay significantly higher rates,” Governor Carney and Governor Hogan wrote in their letter. “For many families this simply will be unaffordable and for many businesses it could mean closures and job losses. This economic burden to Delmarva is unacceptable.”

Delaware’s Public Service Commission and Public Advocate also have urged the PJM Board to support a rehearing on the cost allocation.

For additional details:

Governor Carney and Governor Hogan’s Letter
Delaware Public Service Commission Letter to PJM Board
Delaware Public Advocate Letter

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DOVER – Delaware offers customer choice to Delmarva Power and Delaware Electric Cooperative customers when it comes to purchasing their energy supply. Among the over 50 suppliers certified by the Public Service Commission, Direct Energy Services has announced several new energy supply products with special multi-year fixed price offers and other customer benefits. The new offers are the result of recent efforts by the Delaware General Assembly and the Department of State to seek longer term contracts that can help save money for consumers.

Legislation passed in 2015 created a state Electricity Affordability Committee and tasked the committee to evaluate options for residential and small-business customers, including multi-year, fixed-price offers and other products and services that could help them manage their energy bills.

Pursuant to this legislation, the state issued a Request for Proposals seeking an energy provider that could meet these requirements. After reviewing all of the proposals, the Electricity Affordability Committee determined that Direct Energy submitted the best offers for consumers. The Secretary of State then entered into a contract with Direct Energy Services to move forward with offering these products.

Direct Energy Services is the only electric supplier contracted with the state to provide a designated fixed-rate offer and services to residential and small commercial customers for two years. The Direct Energy offering is one more tool that customers can use to manage their electric utility bills through the use of a third-party electric supplier. As innovation continues in the utility industry, customers are encouraged to research what options are available to reduce energy use and manage costs.

Delmarva Power and Delaware Electric Cooperative customers can still purchase their electricity from any PSC-certified suppliers making offers. A full list of Certified Electric Suppliers can be found here. Customers may choose to use a certified supplier or remain with their utility’s standard supply rate. Any customer receiving electricity from a third-party supplier will continue to receive a bill from their local utility (Delmarva Power or Delaware Electric Cooperative.) Customers experiencing power outages or emergencies should call their local utilities.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heather Contant, Ombudsman
302-736-7564, Heather.Contant@delaware.gov

Department of State Accepting Comments on Regulations until October 1st

Dover, DE (August 8, 2016) – The Delaware Department of State held three public hearings last week, one in each county, as part of Governor Jack Markell’s effort to modify or eliminate regulations that may be outdated or unnecessarily burdensome. Members of the public are still encouraged to submit comments online until October 1, 2016.
Department of State agencies with regulations subject to review include:
• Human Relations Commission
• Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
• Division of Arts
• State Banking Commissioner
• Boards and Commissions of the Division of Professional Regulation
• Public Service Commission
The public is also invited to comment on any policies or programs within the Department of State including the Division of Archives, Division of Corporations, Commission of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of State’s Office. Please see http://sos.delaware.gov/divisions.shtml for a complete listing of agencies associated with the Department of State.
Comments can be submitted online or by sending mail to:
Regulatory Comments
Office of the Secretary
Delaware Department of State
401 Federal Street
Dover, DE 19901
“It is extremely important that the public is involved in this process,” Secretary of State Jeff Bullock stated. “We want to hear from folks who have experienced the effect of these regulations and see how we can make the process more efficient.”

The Department of State’s regulatory review is being conducted in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (29 Del. C., Ch. 104, § 10407). This Act provides an opportunity for the Department to review regulations on the books, and streamline or eliminate those that might be outdated, inconsistent or no longer serve their intended purpose. After October 1st, when all comments are received, the Department will consider the public’s input in addition to its own evaluation and begin the process for amending or repealing regulations accordingly.

The Delaware Department of State announced today that it will hold public hearings next month in all three counties as part of Governor Jack Markell’s effort to strengthen Delaware’s economy by modernizing and streamlining regulations that may be outdated or unnecessarily burdensome, while maintaining the state’s commitment to improving public health and environmental performance.

The Department of State’s public hearings are being conducted in accordance with Regulatory Flexibility Act (29 Del. C., Ch. 104, § 10407). Agencies with regulations subject to review include:
• Human Relations Commission
• Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
• Division of Arts
• State Banking Commissioner
• Boards and Commissions of the Division of Professional Regulation
• Public Service Commission

The public is also invited to comment on any policies or programs within the Department of State including the Division of Archives, Division of Corporations, Commission of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of State’s Office.

The Department’s hearings are scheduled for:

· Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, 12:30pm, at the Carvel State Office Building, 4th Floor Conference Room, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington, DE 19803

· Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, 12:30pm, Secretary of State’s conference room, Townsend Building, 401 Federal Street, Dover, DE 19901

· Thursday, Aug 4, 2016, 12:30pm, at the Georgetown Public Library,123 West Pine Street, Georgetown, DE 19947

The Regulatory Flexibility Act provides an opportunity for state agencies such as the Department of State to review regulations on their books, and streamline or eliminate those that might be outdated, inconsistent or no longer serve their intended purpose. After formal comment, the Department will consider the input received in addition to its own evaluation and begin the process for amending or repealing regulations accordingly.

“This review process provides us with the opportunity to evaluate how we can make our existing regulations more efficient,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “We look forward to receiving specific and thoughtful comments from the public and business community in this effort.”

In addition to participating in the public hearings, members of the public are also encouraged to submit comments online. Comments relative to the Regulatory Flexibility Act will be accepted through October 1, 2016.