Delaware residents are feeling the financial burn this winter as electricity bills skyrocket to unprecedented levels. Some households report increases as high as 350 percent while Democratic lawmakers defend green energy mandates that critics say are fueling the crisis.
At a Glance
- Delaware electricity bills have increased dramatically, with some residents seeing hikes up to 350 percent
- Republican legislators blame green energy mandates for rising costs, while Democrats defend renewable energy goals
- The state requires 40% of power to come from renewable sources by 2035, yet 87% of its electricity currently comes from natural gas
- Delmarva Power has faced $26 million in fines for failing to meet green energy mandates
- The utility company has suspended late payment fees and disconnections for January and February 2025 due to the crisis
Green Energy Mandates Under Fire
As Delaware families struggle with astronomical winter heating bills, a heated debate has erupted between Republican lawmakers blaming the state’s aggressive green energy policies and Democrats defending renewable energy goals. The state’s mandate requiring 40 percent of power to come from renewable sources by 2035 is creating a stark disparity between policy and reality, as natural gas currently generates 87 percent of Delaware’s electricity while green energy accounts for a mere 6 percent.
Senate Republican Leader Gerald Hocker and Representative Bryan Shupe have proposed redirecting Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) revenues back to ratepayers and reviewing the Renewable Portfolio Standards that utilities must meet. The Republican lawmakers claim these environmental regulations are driving up costs for working families while failing to achieve their stated goals.
Democrats Defend Renewable Policies
Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee Chair Stephanie Hansen has forcefully rejected claims that green energy initiatives are responsible for the bill increases. Instead, she points to increased energy consumption, rising energy costs, and delivery expenses as the primary factors driving up consumer bills during an unusually cold winter.
“To say that green energy is the culprit for Delmarva customers seeing astronomical energy bills this winter is wrong. When you look at the actual cause of the increase, you see that it’s driven by the increase in the amount of energy used, the increase in the cost of that energy, and the increase in the cost of the delivery of that energy. Trying to pin this on renewables is disingenuous,” Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee Chair Stephanie Hansen said.
Hansen further claimed that a more diverse energy portfolio would eventually bring down consumer costs through market competition. However, this optimistic assessment seems at odds with the current reality facing Delaware residents who are seeing their utility bills consume an ever-larger portion of their household budgets.
Utility Company Scrambles to Respond
Delmarva Power, the state’s primary utility provider, appears caught between residents’ financial pain and state mandates. The company has already paid $26 million in fines for failing to meet green energy requirements while maintaining reliable service. Phil Vavala, Delmarva Power’s VP of External Affairs, acknowledged the “tremendous impact” of cold winter temperatures and peak electric load on customer bills.
“We were very surprised to see it go from like 90 bucks to nearly 400 and, we’re not in it—no one is using the house,” resident Leigh Rieley said.
In response to the crisis, Delmarva has implemented temporary relief measures, including stopping late payment fees for January and February 2025, extending repayment periods, and suspending disconnections for non-payment. The utility has also revised its bill format to show delivery charges separately, attempting to provide customers with more transparency about their escalating costs.
Growing Energy Supply Crisis
Delaware’s energy predicament exemplifies the consequences of pursuing aggressive green mandates without adequate planning. The state has stopped building new gas power plants and shuttered its last coal-fired facility, increasing dependence on out-of-state power imports. PJM, the regional grid operator, has warned that fossil fuel retirements are significantly outpacing green energy development, creating risks for both price stability and grid reliability.
While the utility company suggests customers explore energy assistance programs and home energy check-ups, these measures do little to address the fundamental imbalance between the state’s aspirational green policies and the economic reality faced by hardworking Delaware families. As winter temperatures remain low, the political temperature around energy policy in the First State continues to rise.
