Delmarva Power presenta solicitud de aumento de tarifas de $72,3 millones

Aumento de tarifa es uno de los más grandes solicitados por la empresa

El 15 de diciembre de 2022, Delmarva Power presentó una solicitud ante la Comisión de Servicios Públicos para aumentar sus tarifas de distribución eléctrica en $72,3 millones. De conformidad con la ley estatal, este aumento entrará en vigencia de manera temporal el 15 de julio de 2023, sujeto a reembolso, en espera de una decisión final de la Comisión de Servicio Público.

La solicitud de Delmarva Power de un aumento en las tarifas de distribución eléctrica se produce inmediatamente después de un aumento de $16,7 millones aprobado por la Comisión de Servicios Públicos el 5 de agosto de 2021.

Si se aprueba, los clientes residenciales y de calefacción eléctrica residencial de Delmarva Power experimentarán un aumento adicional de 8.35 por ciento y 13.2 por ciento, respectivamente, en sus cargos de distribución eléctrica. Un cliente residencial típico de calefacción que no sea de espacio que use 844 kWh por mes vería un aumento adicional de $10.41 por mes en su factura total, y un cliente residencial de calefacción de espacio vería un aumento adicional de más de $11 por mes en su factura total.

“Mientras los clientes luchan por pagar las facturas, Delmarva Power busca uno de los mayores aumentos en las tarifas de distribución eléctrica que jamás hayamos visto”, dijo Andrew Slater, Defensor Público de Delaware. “En pocas palabras, la confiabilidad es extremadamente importante, pero también lo es la asequibilidad. Ningún cliente debería tener que elegir entre pagar su servicio público o pagar otras necesidades esenciales. Ya es hora de que los costos se controlen tal como muchos de sus clientes están tratando de hacer”.

Este aumento solicitado en la tarifa de distribución de aproximadamente el 25 por ciento sigue a un aumento de casi el 60 por ciento en las tarifas de suministro de gas natural en los últimos dos años.

La confiabilidad de Delmarva Power se encuentra en el primer cuartil de todas las empresas de servicios públicos de EE. UU. en cuanto a confiabilidad. Aun así, Delmarva Power tiene la intención de gastar $ 430 millones en la planta durante los próximos tres años. Esto representa un aumento del 155 % con respecto al gasto de planta de Delmarva en 2019.

La Comisión de Servicio Público llevará a cabo una sesión de comentarios públicos una vez que se establezca un calendario de procedimientos. Los comentarios escritos pueden enviarse por correo a la Comisión de Servicios Públicos de Delaware, Expediente No. 22-0897, 861 Silver Lake Boulevard, Suite 100, Dover, DE 19904, o por correo electrónico a psc@delaware.gov, Attn: Expediente No. 22-0897.

Los habitantes de Delaware pueden ponerse en contacto con Energize Delaware acerca de sus programas Home Performance with Energy Star y Home Energy Counseling and Check-Up. Estos programas podrían potencialmente producir ahorros de energía. Los consumidores pueden obtener más información en: https://www.energizedelaware.org/.

Los programas adicionales, como la climatización y el Programa de Asistencia de Energía para Hogares de Bajos Ingresos (LIHEAP, por sus siglas en inglés) pueden ayudar a los clientes a ahorrar en costos de energía. Los clientes pueden revisar los requisitos de elegibilidad para ambos programas llamando al 302-504-6111 para el Programa de Asistencia de Climatización y llamando a Caridades Católicas para asistencia LIHEAP al 302-654-9295 (Condado de New Castle), 302-674-1782 (Condado de Kent), o 302-856-6310 (Condado de Sussex).

El papel del Defensor Público de Delaware es abogar por las tarifas razonables más bajas para los consumidores de servicios públicos residenciales y comerciales pequeños, en consonancia con una distribución justa de tarifas y manteniendo un servicio de servicios confiable. Para obtener más información sobre la División del Defensor Público, haga clic aquí.


Delmarva Power Files Request For $72.3 Million Rate Increase

Rate increase is one of the largest requested by the utility

On December 15, 2022, Delmarva Power filed an application with the Public Service Commission to increase its electric distribution rates by $72.3 million. Pursuant to state law, this increase will become effective on a temporary basis on July 15, 2023, subject to refund, pending a final decision by the Public Service Commission.

Delmarva Power’s request for an increase in electric distribution rates comes on the heels of a $16.7 million increase approved by the Public Service Commission on August 5, 2021.

If approved as requested, Delmarva Power residential and residential electric space heating customers will experience an additional increase of 8.35 percent and 13.2 percent, respectively, in their electric distribution charges. A typical residential non-space heating customer using 844 kWh per month would see an additional increase of $10.41 per month to their total bill, and a residential space heating customer would see an additional increase of more than an $11 per month to their total bill.

“As customers are struggling to pay bills, Delmarva Power is seeking one of the largest electric distribution rate increases we have ever seen,” said Delaware Public Advocate Andrew Slater. “Simply put, reliability is extremely important but so, too, is affordability. No customer should have to choose between paying for their utility service or paying for other essential needs. It’s long past time costs are reined in just as many of their customers are trying to do.”

This requested distribution rate increase of roughly 25 percent follows a near 60 percent increase in natural gas supply rates over the past two years.

Delmarva Power’s reliability is in the first quartile of all U.S. utilities for reliability. Even so, Delmarva Power intends to spend $430 million on plant over the next three years. This represents an increase of 155% over Delmarva’s 2019 plant spending.

The Public Service Commission will hold a public comment session once a procedural schedule is established. Written comments may be sent by mail to Delaware Public Service Commission, Docket No. 22-0897, 861 Silver Lake Boulevard, Suite 100, Dover, DE 19904, or by e-mail to psc@delaware.gov, Attn: Docket No. 22-0897.

Delawareans can contact Energize Delaware about its Home Performance with Energy Star, and Home Energy Counseling and Check-Up programs. These programs could potentially produce energy savings. Consumers may learn more at: https://www.energizedelaware.org/.

Additional programs, such as weatherization and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may be able to help customers save on energy costs. Customers can review eligibility requirements for both programs by calling 302-504-6111 for the Weatherization Assistance Program and by calling Catholic Charities for LIHEAP assistance at 302-654-9295 (New Castle County), 302-674-1782 (Kent County), or 302-856-6310 (Sussex County).

The role of the Delaware Public Advocate is to advocate for the lowest reasonable rates for residential and small commercial utility consumers, consistent with a fair distribution of rates and maintaining reliable utility service. To learn more about the Division of the Public Advocate, click here.


Delaware Wins Federal Grant to Support Cleaner School Buses

The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) has been awarded an $809,000 federal grant to purchase one propane and three electric school buses for the Colonial School District through the federal Clean School Bus Rebate Program. Nationally, these awards are part of the first $1 billion of a five-year, $5 billion program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, championed by Delaware’s Congressional delegation of Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) and signed into law by President Joe Biden in November 2021.

 

The department — which qualifies the same as a school district as an applicant for this rebate because the state is a funder, purchaser and title owner of almost 500 school buses – submitted rebate applications for Colonial and four other districts. The award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was from a random generation of grant applications from around the country, and Colonial’s was the first on the lottery list among the Delaware districts.

 

“Reducing transportation-related emissions is a key part of our Climate Action Plan, and we need to expand cleaner types of transportation across our state,” Governor John Carney said. “Thank you to President Biden and our congressional delegation for supporting continued investments in cleaner transportation – an important step in our efforts to address greenhouse gas emissions.”

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Rebate program incentivizes both electric and propane school bus purchases since both are cleaner than diesel engine buses. Delaware school bus fleets already contain about 108 propane buses. These will be Delaware’s first electric school buses.

 

“Thanks to our historic investment in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, electric school buses are soon coming to communities across our nation,” said Senator Carper, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Today’s announcement means that the Colonial School District will be able to replace dirty school buses with cleaner alternatives. Importantly, these updates are going to result in cleaner air for students to breathe, more good-paying jobs, and a better future for our planet. I commend EPA Administrator Michael Regan and the Biden Administration for their continued commitment to deploying clean school buses, especially in disadvantaged communities.”

 

Senator Coons said he is grateful for the administration’s support in replacing diesel-burning school buses and creating good-paying jobs in manufacturing nationwide: “Investments in the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to modernize our school bus fleets will help us combat climate change and bring down fuel costs for schools, all while ensuring students in Colonial School District and every state across the country ride to class without breathing in harmful pollutants.”

 

Said Rep. Blunt Rochester, “With the transportation sector representing the single largest source of carbon emissions in the United States – we know that we have a tremendous opportunity with fleet and large capacity vehicles to help in our mission to reach net zero emissions. That’s why the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program – which I was proud to vote to create through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – is such a critical tool to modernize the vehicles that bring our kids to and from school every day while reducing our carbon footprint. I want to commend the Colonial School District for putting together a compelling plan to win this grant from the EPA – and I look forward to seeing these low and zero-emission school buses out on the roads of Delaware.”

 

The Clean School Bus Program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money for school districts and produce cleaner air. Diesel air pollution is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health and cause them to miss school, particularly in communities of color and Tribal communities. Phasing out these diesel engines will ensure cleaner air for students, bus drivers, and school staff working near the bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day. The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from these bus replacements will also help to address the outsized role of the transportation sector in fueling the climate crisis. The program will also save school districts money as they upgrade school bus fleets, replacing older, heavily polluting buses with brand new clean school buses, while freeing up needed resources for schools.

 

“We are constantly looking for ways to improve our services to our students and families, while making the bus environment more appealing for our drivers,”  Colonial Superintendent Jeffrey Menzer said.

 

The EPA rebate program requires that the new clean buses replace older school buses that are currently in service, with the primary category for replacement being diesel buses from 2010 or before. Delaware has engaged in a concerted effort to replace older school buses over the last few years with newer, cleaner ones, and 99 percent of the state-owned buses were already newer than 2010, with 76 percent 2016 or newer.

 

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006


Delaware Seeks Federal Grant to Support Cleaner School Buses

The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) hopes to help five school districts fund a total of 14 electric school buses and 17 propane buses through the federal Clean School Bus Rebate Program.

 

The department — which qualifies the same as a school district as an applicant for this rebate because the state is a funder, purchaser and title owner of almost 500 school buses – submitted the rebate applications for:

 

  • Brandywine – 7 propane
  • Caesar Rodney – 2 propane
  • Capital – 3 electric, 1 propane
  • Colonial – 3 electric, 1 propane
  • Red Clay Consolidated – 8 electric, 6 propane

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Rebate program incentivizes both electric and propane school bus purchases since both are cleaner than diesel engine buses. Delaware school bus fleets already contain about 108 propane buses, and the additional requested propane bus rebates continue that transition effort. The 14 electric school buses requested would be Delaware’s first.

 

“We’re grateful for the support of the Delaware Department of Transportation and the Loudoun County School District in Virginia on this project. The expertise and advice of these partners helped us draft a strong proposal that, if successful, will help us continue our transition to a cleaner school bus fleet,” Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said.

 

DART, the state’s transit operator within the Delaware Department of Transportation, began its transition into electric transit buses with six buses, and Loudoun County School District in Virginia began with five in a 700-plus fleet. Representatives of both entities told DDOE of the need to understand the operational limits, maintenance, worker training, charging and other logistics before making electric buses a larger part of a fleet that must remain fully reliable. Because the Clean School Bus program requires getting rid of older buses when the new ones are purchased, neither the old nor new buses can simply be treated as “spares” in a fleet – they must be operated daily.

 

The EPA rebate program requires that the new clean buses replace older school buses that are currently in service, with the primary category for replacement being diesel buses from 2010 or before. Delaware has engaged in a concerted effort to replace older school buses over the last few years with newer, cleaner ones, and 99 percent of the state-owned buses were already newer than 2010, with 76 percent 2016 or newer. The Delaware rebate applications, if all granted, would replace all state-owned school buses that are 2012 or older.

 

The EPA expects to make award announcements in October with plans for future application rounds in the coming years that could allow the state to further expand its cleaner bus fleet.

 

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006


Delaware Public Service Commission Releases Final Report on Delmarva Power’s Electric Supply Auction

Today, the Delaware Public Service Commission (PSC) released The Final Report assessing the conduct and results of Delmarva Power’s electric Standard Offer Service (SOS) reverse auction process for the 2021-2022 procurement year; the PSC was assisted by its technical consultant, Siemens PTI. Delmarva Power successfully secured all of the outstanding needs for full-requirement service for their electric customers who have not chosen an alternative electric supplier.

The procurement process used a reverse auction process that relies upon bidders’ awareness of the auctions of other bidders in an attempt to drive prices down for both Delmarva Power and customers. Of the twelve companies interested in this year’s Request For Proposals (RFP), eight were eligible to bid: all eight were actual bidders and all eight won a portion of Delmarva Power’s SOS needs. The winning supplies were AEP, Axpo, DTE, Exelon, Hartree, NextEra, TransAlta, and Vitol.

Delmarva held two separate auctions, one in November 2021 and one in January 2022 and acquired approximately 565.8 MWs. The average winning bid for the Residential Small Commercial and Industrial (RSCI) 2-year contract was approximately 20.9% higher than last year. For the Medium (MGS), Large (LGS), and Primary (GS-P) general service customers, the average winning bids ranged from an increase of 28.5% to 46.4% compared to last year’s bids.

Based on the bid prices alone, the approximate change in the average monthly bill by customer class is as follows:

  • 0.67% increase for RSCI class;
  • 1.82% to 2.08% increase for the SGS class;
  • 12.41% to 15.41% increase for the MGS class;
  • 17.32% to 18.55% increase for the LGS class; and
  • 2.77% to 28.52% increase in the GS-P class.

These are only power costs and do not include various other costs that are subject to change on the bills. The full version of the Technical Consultant’s Final Report can be found on the PSC’s website by clicking here.

###

Media Contact: Samantha Hemphill at (302) 736-7564