Energy

This House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 50 creates the Delaware Energy Fund to provide assistance to consumers whose household income is less than 350% of the federal poverty level. Under 2025 federal guidelines, 350% of the federal poverty level for a single person is $54,775 and for a family of four is $112,525. The Delaware Energy Fund will be administered by the SEU and recipients of assistance from the fund will also be required to participate in energy savings and efficiency programs. Only one assistance payment may be made per application. The Act also directs the Department of Natural Resources Environmental Control to transfer 30% of the funds generated by alternative compliance payments and solar alternative compliance payments to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The Substitute also changes existing code language to require, rather than allow, 5% of CO2 allowance proceeds to be directed to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The Act sunsets 3 years after its enactment.

This Act strikes the provisions in § 1014 (d) and (e) of Title 26, which allow Commission-regulated electric utilities, municipal electric companies, electric cooperatives, and electric distribution companies not to reimburse, credit, or otherwise remunerate net energy metering customers for any Excess kWh Credits at the end of the annualized billing period. Under the current provisions of § 1014 (d) and (e) of Title 26, Excess kWh Credits revert to the commission-regulated electric utilities, municipal electric companies, electric cooperatives, and electric distribution companies, which denies net metering customers the benefit of the Excess kWh Credits. This Act requires Commission-regulated electric utilities, municipal electric companies, electric cooperatives, and electric distribution companies to credit or carry over any Excess kWh Credits for net energy metering customers so that the customers receive the benefit of the Excess kWh Credits.