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SB276 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Hansen
Last action
2026-05-21
Official status
Passed 5/21/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Electric Utility Changes for Large Users

This act changes Delaware law so that electric cooperatives do not have to provide electricity to large users who need more than 50 megawatts of power each month, but they still must serve smaller customers.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the rules about when electric cooperatives in Delaware must supply electricity to big users.
  • Electric cooperatives no longer have to give service to users needing over 50 megawatts (MW) of power each month.
  • Cooperatives still need to provide electricity to all other customers within their area who use less than 50 MW.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Electric cooperatives in Delaware
  • Large electric users needing more than 50 megawatts (MW) of power each month

Terms To Know

Megawatt (MW)
A unit used to measure the amount of electricity, equal to one million watts.
Electric cooperative
An organization that provides electric service to its members or customers.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a large user needs less than 50 MW but still wants the cooperative's service.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect electricity prices for smaller users.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-21 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By House. Votes: 39 YES 2 ABSENT

  2. 2026-05-13 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Natural Resources & Energy) in House with 2 Favorable, 7 On Its Merits

  3. 2026-04-30 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Natural Resources & Energy Committee in House

  4. 2026-04-23 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  5. 2026-04-15 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 5 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits

  6. 2026-04-09 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES.
This Act amends Delaware law to provide that electric cooperatives are not required to provide electric supply service to large load electric users with a projected monthly demand of more than 50MW. Electric cooperatives remain obligated to provide supply service to all customers in its service territory using less than 50MW.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Hansen & Sen. Pettyjohn & Rep. Burns & Rep. Bush

Sens. Buckson, Hoffner, Huxtable, Mantzavinos, Pinkney, Seigfried, Sokola, Wilson; Reps. Gorman, Heffernan, Lambert, Morrison, Osienski, Phillips, Romer, Snyder-Hall

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 276

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 1, Title 26 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strikethrough and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 224. Regulations governing exempt electric cooperatives.

Notwithstanding any electric cooperative’s election to exempt itself from the regulatory authority of the Commission under § 223 of this title, during any such period of exemption:

(9) In the event such cooperative has implemented a restructuring plan that provides for retail competition in its Delaware service territory, such electric cooperative:

f.

1.

Shall

Except as provided in paragraph (2) hereof, shall

have the obligation to provide electric supply service, in accordance with the cooperative’s published rate schedules, terms and conditions of service to all customers within its Commission-designated territory who:

1.

A.

Have no choice regarding electric suppliers;

2.

B.

Do not choose another electric supplier; or

3.

C.

Have contracted for electric supply service that is not delivered

2. A cooperative shall have the right, but not the obligation, to provide electric supply service to any customer who will have a projected monthly demand of more than 50MW at any time during a 10 year load ramp period. Two or more customers under common ownership of a single entity or affiliated entities and located on one parcel of land or contiguous parcels may be treated as a single customer for purposes of this paragraph.

SYNOPSIS

This Act amends Delaware law to provide that electric cooperatives are not required to provide electric supply service to large load electric users with a projected monthly demand of more than 50MW. Electric cooperatives remain obligated to provide supply service to all customers in its service territory using less than 50MW.

Author: Senator Hansen