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.

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.

Dover, Del—Natural gas prices have spiked in the past six months and are up more than 30 percent since the end of August 2021. This is largely due to increased U.S. demand and the ongoing energy crisis in Europe.

According to the Energy Information Administration, about 43 percent of Delaware households rely on natural gas for home heating.

“Due to the increase in wholesale natural gas prices, end-use customers will see an increase during the winter months,” said Delaware Public Advocate Andrew Slater. “However, there are ways to reduce your usage and keep utility bills reasonable. Energy utility bills are some of the only bills where amount owed is dependent on usage.”

Chesapeake Utilities recently filed changes to its Gas Sales Rate (GSR), a passthrough cost to customers, to reflect the higher natural gas prices. According to its filing in PSC Docket No. 21-0677, an average Residential Service 2 (RS-2) customer “using 700 CCF per year will experience an annual increase of approximately 6.03% or $62.30.”

Delmarva Power’s application to change its Gas Cost Rate (GCR), PSC Docket No. 21-0672, also reflected an increase in costs for residential customers. According to its filing, “a typical residential customer using 83 CCF in a winter month would be an increase of $5.64 or 6.1%.” Both rates will become effective, November 1, 2021, subject to refund, while the rates are reviewed by both the Division of the Public Advocate and Public Service Commission Staff.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating accounts for the biggest portion of consumers’ utility bills. Savings tips include turning your thermostat down a few degrees, replacing dirty furnace filters, weather stripping doors and windows, opening shades on sunny days, and closing vents and doors of unoccupied areas.

Delawareans can contact Energize Delaware about its Home Performance with Energy Star, Home Energy Counseling and Check-Up programs. These programs are designed to find areas that may need weatherization and could potentially produce savings.

For additional tips on lowering your gas bill, please contact your local utility. Chesapeake Utilities provides such tips at https://chpkgas.com/for-the-home/energy-savings-tools/lower-your-gas-bill/. Delmarva Power provides such tips at https://www.delmarva.com/Documents/Ways%20to%20Save%20Delmarva_2.20_ADAcomp.pdf.

Low-income Delawareans who are in need of financial assistance to meet their home energy costs may be eligible for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a program administered jointly by the Delaware Division of State Service Centers (DSCC) and Catholic Charities, Inc. Beginning October 1^st through March 31^st, eligible households can apply to receive grants to help pay for fuel assistance for home heating, which includes electricity, natural gas, kerosene, propane, coal, or wood. Grants are made to both homeowners and renters.

Additionally, there is crisis assistance funding available to help households in crisis during the winter months. Income eligibility for LIHEAP is defined as 200% of the federal poverty level. For more information on LIHEAP or to apply, click here.

If you been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Catholic Charities may have Utility Bill Relief Funding available for utility and fuel bill payments. Potential clients should contact Catholic Charities for more information. This funding was made available through Energize Delaware.

DOVER – The Delaware Division of the Public Advocate and the Delaware Public Service Commission are urging medium and large businesses that get their electricity from Delmarva Power to contact the utility immediately and ask if they qualify for lower billing rates.

This call to action is a result of a recent investigation conducted by the Public Advocate and staff of the Public Service Commission (PSC), which revealed that more than 5,000 commercial customers of Delmarva Power may be paying higher rates for electricity than their usage warrants.

“Delmarva Power’s commercial customers who qualify for a lower rate are entitled to that rate. Until there is a long-term solution in place, it is extremely important that customers contact Delmarva Power to find out if they are eligible,” said Public Advocate Drew Slater.

The Public Advocate and PSC staff are working with Delmarva on a plan to resolve this issue. However, at this time, it is recommended that all commercial customers receiving Medium General Service (MGS) or Large General Service (LGS) from Delmarva Power call the utility at 1-800-375-7117. When speaking with a customer service representative, customers should be sure to ask, “Do I qualify for a lower rate?” Rate classifications typically can be found on page two of a customer’s electric bill, under “Details of Your Electric Charges.”

“This issue came to light a few months ago and has the potential to impact businesses of all sizes throughout Delaware. We look forward to working collaboratively with Delmarva Power to resolve this issue as soon as practicably possible,” said Matt Hartigan, deputy director of the PSC.

The rate classification issue was first identified in a formal complaint to the PSC filed by a Sussex County business owner last year. The PSC ruled in favor of the customer in December.

The ruling generated news coverage from the Associated Press and additional customer complaints were received by the Public Advocate and PSC staff in recent months.

Upon further investigation, the Public Advocate and PSC staff learned that as many as 5,200 businesses served by Delmarva – more than 35 percent of all the utility’s MGS and LGS customers – may be eligible for lower rates. It is estimated that these commercial customers may be entitled to hundreds of dollars in savings on their electric bills each month.

The Delaware Public Service Commission regulates investor-owned public utilities and works to ensure safe, reliable and reasonably priced service.

The Delaware Division of the Public Advocate advocates for the lowest reasonable utility rates, principally on behalf of residential and small commercial consumers, consistent with the maintenance of adequate utility service and an equitable distribution of rates among all classes of consumers.

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DOVER – Over the past week, the Delaware Public Service Commission (PSC) and Delaware Division of the Public Advocate have received numerous complaints of third-party electricity suppliers “spoofing” phone numbers in an effort to sign up households for new service contracts.

Customers report that the phone calls appear to come from the Delmarva Power emergency line or customer service department. Without identifying themselves, the callers will attempt to persuade customers to change their electricity supplier, promising savings on their utility bills.

“Spoofing is the act by which an unscrupulous company uses a phone number other than its own to call and make solicitations to customers who may not otherwise answer the phone,” said Public Advocate Drew Slater. “Spoofing phone numbers from Delmarva Power, especially the emergency number, is a dangerous and dishonest practice that must stop immediately. However, we can only do that with your help.”

The PSC and Public Advocate can pursue formal action against the company or companies engaged in this activity, but only if the name of the company is known.

If you receive a call like this, do not provide any personal information, including your account number. Ask the caller for the name of the company they are representing, and report it immediately by calling the Public Advocate at 302-241-2555.

Do not agree to accept any offers or change your electricity service until you have had the opportunity to thoroughly review the terms in writing.

“These actions reflect poorly on legitimate third-party electric suppliers serving Delaware,” said Raj Barua, Executive Director of the PSC. “I strongly encourage all suppliers to comply with the Public Service Commission’s rules and regulations regarding solicitation of customers before more formal action is taken.”

Under Delaware law, households and businesses are entitled to choose their electricity supplier from an approved list of companies that are licensed by the PSC. These third-party suppliers offer a variety of pricing plans and structures; consumers are encouraged to compare and choose the best option for them.

The Delaware Public Service Commission regulates investor-owned public utilities and works to ensure safe, reliable and reasonably priced service.

The Delaware Division of the Public Advocate advocates for the lowest reasonable utility rates, principally on behalf of residential and small commercial consumers, consistent with the maintenance of adequate utility service and an equitable distribution of rates among all classes of consumers.

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