wdel.com · Mark Fowser · September 8, 2026
Delmarva Power seeks court review of PSC rate action | The Latest from WDEL News | wdel.com
# Delmarva Power seeks court review of PSC rate action
- Mark Fowser
#### MarkFowser
WDEL News Reporter/Anchor
- Author email (mfowser@wdel.com) - Sep 8, 2026 - 4:00 am - Sep 8, 2026 - 4:00 am
Mike Phillips
Delmarva Power is going to Superior Court to seek a review of the Delaware Public Service Commission's recent directive regarding interim rates.
Delmarva said Friday that the order "does not reflect the amount that it is authorized to recover for the investments already made to support safe and reliable electric service under Delaware law."
The utility voluntarily implemented an interim rate which was half of the full amount allowed under the law, in order to mitigate the impact on customers' bills. It is Delmarva Power's position that the PSC "departed from Delaware statute by arbitrarily reducing the company’s interim rate further" and that the Commission’s "legal error significantly impacts Delmarva Power’s recovery for investments already made."
Delmarva Power released the following Statement Friday Sept. 4th:
We understand that higher energy bills are a concern for our customers, and we do not take any increase lightly. That is why we continue to work with policymakers and other stakeholders on efforts to address rising costs, including energy supply prices. We also remain committed to balancing affordability with our responsibility to provide the safe and reliable service our customers depend on every day.
Delmarva Power today filed an appeal with the Delaware Superior Court seeking review of a Delaware Public Service Commission directive regarding the company’s implementation of interim rates. The company believes the order does not reflect the amount Delmarva Power is authorized to recover for the investments already made to support safe and reliable electric service under Delaware law. In order to mitigate bill impact, Delmarva Power voluntarily elected to implement an interim rate that is half of the full amount authorized by law. However, it is Delmarva Power’s position that the Commission departed from Delaware statute by arbitrarily reducing the company’s interim rate further. The Commission’s legal error significantly impacts Delmarva Power’s recovery for investments already made.
The investments reflected in our rate request help us install more modern and reliable equipment, expand the local electric grid to meet growing demand, and improve the resilience of the system during increasingly severe weather. These are not future investments. They are investments already made and serving customers today. And they have helped drive measurable reliability improvements, including a 28 percent reduction in power outages over the past decade.
This week's severe storms provide a clear example of why those investments matter. Despite wind gusts exceeding 70 mph, intense lightning, and several inches of rain across many parts of Delaware, about 7 percent of Delmarva Power's Delaware customers experienced an outage. Without continued investment in strengthening and modernizing the grid, many more customers likely would have been impacted.
We recognize affordability remains a top concern for our customers. That is why we will continue working with policymakers, community leaders, and stakeholders on solutions that help moderate energy costs while ensuring customers continue to receive the safe and reliable service they expect and deserve.