This amendment restricts a public utility from recovering from customers organizational or membership dues but only to the extent that the organization engages in lobbying or similar activities intended to influence the outcome of legislation, rules, ballot measures, or regulatory decisions.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was stricken in the Senate and did not become law based on the provided status.

Limits on Utility Dues and Spending

This amendment stops public utilities from charging customers for membership dues used to lobby lawmakers and sets a spending limit for electric companies starting in 2029.

What This Bill Does

• Prevents public utilities from collecting money from customers for organizational or membership dues if the organization lobbies on laws, rules, ballot measures, or regulatory decisions.
• Allows utilities to recover costs only for parts of dues not used for lobbying activities.
• Caps non-mandatory spending by electric distribution companies at 5% of their approved rate base starting January 1, 2029.

Who It Names or Affects

• Public utilities that charge customers for membership dues
• Electric distribution companies operating under Public Service Commission approval

Terms To Know

Lobbying

Activities intended to influence the outcome of legislation, rules, ballot measures, or regulatory decisions.

Rate base

The value of assets approved by the Public Service Commission that a utility uses to calculate customer rates.

Limits and Unknowns

• This amendment was stricken in the Senate on March 20, 2025.
• The spending cap for electric companies would only take effect beginning January 1, 2029.

Official Summary Text

This amendment restricts a public utility from recovering from customers organizational or membership dues but only to the extent that the organization engages in lobbying or similar activities intended to influence the outcome of legislation, rules, ballot measures, or regulatory decisions. This amendment also caps an electric distribution company’s non-mandatory spending category, as defined in 26 Del. Admin. C. Ch. 3007, such that it shall not exceed 5% of its rate base approved by the Public Service Commission in its most recent distribution base rate case.

Current Bill Text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Hansen

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

SENATE BILL NO. 60

AMEND Senate Bill No. 60 by deleting lines 10 through 12 and substituting in lieu thereof the following:

“

(2) Organizational or membership dues, or other contributions, to any organization, association, institution, corporation, or other entity to the extent that it engages in lobbying or other similar activities intended to influence the outcome of any local, state, or federal legislation, ordinance, resolution, rule, ballot measure, or regulatory decision.

”

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 60 by adding the following after line 40:

“

(d) Beginning January 1, 2029, an electric distribution company’s non-mandatory spending category, as defined in 26 Del. Admin. C. Ch. 3007

(Electric Service Reliability and Quality Standards

), shall not exceed 5% of its rate base approved by the Public Service Commission in its most recent distribution base rate case.

”

SYNOPSIS

This amendment restricts a public utility from recovering from customers organizational or membership dues but only to the extent that the organization engages in lobbying or similar activities intended to influence the outcome of legislation, rules, ballot measures, or regulatory decisions. This amendment also caps an electric distribution company’s non-mandatory spending category, as defined in 26 Del. Admin. C. Ch. 3007, such that it shall not exceed 5% of its rate base approved by the Public Service Commission in its most recent distribution base rate case.

Author: Senator Hansen