PRIA Logo™
DelawareHB 50153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 7 AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ENERGY ASSISTANCE.

Sponsored By: Debra Heffernan (Democratic)

Failed

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Low-income energy help with weatherization rules

The law directs 15% of carbon allowance auction proceeds to energy programs for low-income residents. It assigns 10% to the Weatherization Assistance Program and up to 5% to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Residents must qualify for the program providing help; the law sets no household payment amount. People receiving bill assistance funded by this allocation must also participate in weatherization within 2 years. That requirement applies only when weatherization funding is available.

New household energy help requires efficiency participation

The new Delaware Energy Fund provides energy-cost help to residents with household income below 350% of the federal poverty level. Applicants who qualify for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program are redirected to state service centers. Fund recipients must participate in energy-saving and efficiency programs offered by the Sustainable Energy Utility, which runs the Fund. The Utility must start the Fund within 30 days of enactment, report receipts and payments annually to legislative officials, and can adopt operating rules. The law takes effect upon enactment and expires 3 years later unless the General Assembly extends it.

Backup energy aid for Delmarva customers

When low-income energy assistance funding falls short, state environmental and health agencies must coordinate transfers from the Green Energy Fund. Only specified alternative compliance payments, including solar payments, are transferred, and they must benefit Delmarva Power electric customers only. Transfers are excluded from Green Energy Fund deposit and spending calculations; the health agency must report their use annually. The State Energy Office administers remaining money through grants and loans for efficiency and renewable or alternative energy, consulting environmental and consumer-advocate officials. The law sets no transfer amount or household payment amount.

Carbon auction money supports energy savings

The law sends 65% of carbon allowance auction proceeds to the Sustainable Energy Utility. That money supports conservation, efficiency, renewable energy, financing, and allocations to the Delaware Energy Fund. Allowed public-benefit uses also include reducing electricity rate impacts from the regional carbon trading program or other causes. They include distributed renewable and other non-carbon energy, promising carbon-cutting technologies, and program administration. These uses support energy-cost relief but do not guarantee a payment or bill reduction for each household.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Debra Heffernan

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Stephanie T. Bolden

    Democratic • House

  • Darius J. Brown

    Democratic • Senate

  • Frank Burns

    Democratic • House

  • William Bush

    Democratic • House

  • William J. Carson

    Democratic • House

  • Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha

    Democratic • House

  • Franklin D. Cooke

    Democratic • House

  • Daniel Cruce

    Democratic • Senate

  • Krista Griffith

    Democratic • House

  • Stephanie L. Hansen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kerri Evelyn Harris

    Democratic • House

  • Kyra L. Hoffner

    Democratic • Senate

  • Russell Huxtable

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kendra Johnson

    Democratic • House

  • Kimberly Williams

    Democratic • House

  • Kamela T Smith

    Democratic • House

  • Larry Lambert

    Democratic • House

  • S. Elizabeth Lockman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Spiros Mantzavinos

    Democratic • Senate

  • Melissa Minor-Brown

    Democratic • House

  • DeShanna U Neal

    Democratic • House

  • Josue O Ortega

    Democratic • House

  • Edward S. Osienski

    Democratic • House

  • Trey Paradee

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sophie Phillips

    Democratic • House

  • Marie Pinkney

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nicole Poore

    Democratic • Senate

  • Cyndie Romer

    Democratic • House

  • Melanie Ross Levin

    Democratic • House

  • Ray Seigfried

    Democratic • Senate

  • Claire Snyder-Hall

    Democratic • House

  • David P. Sokola

    Democratic • Senate

  • Laura V. Sturgeon

    Democratic • Senate

  • Bryan Townsend

    Democratic • Senate

  • John "Jack" Walsh

    Democratic • Senate

  • Madinah Wilson-Anton

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. HS 1 for HB 50 - Signed by Governor

    7/16/2025Governor

  2. HS 1 for HB 50 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 6 NO

    6/30/2025Senate

  3. HS 1 for HB 50 - Passed By House. Votes: 27 YES 13 NO 1 VACANT

    6/26/2025House

  4. HS 1 for HB 50 - - Passed In House by Voice Vote

    6/26/2025House

  5. Substituted in House by HS 1 for HB 50

    6/25/2025House

  6. HS 1 for HB 50 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 6 NO

    6/24/2025Senate

  7. HS 1 for HB 50 - - Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

    6/24/2025Senate

  8. Substituted in House by HS 1 for HB 50

    6/5/2025House

  9. HS 1 for HB 50 - Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits

    5/7/2025Senate

  10. HS 1 for HB 50 - Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate

    4/15/2025Senate

  11. HS 1 for HB 50 - Passed By House. Votes: 27 YES 12 NO 2 ABSENT

    4/15/2025House

  12. HS 1 for HB 50 - - Passed In House by Voice Vote

    4/15/2025House

  13. Substituted in House by HS 1 for HB 50

    4/15/2025House

  14. Substituted in House by HS 1 for HB 50

    4/10/2025House

  15. Reported Out of Committee (Natural Resources & Energy) in House with 5 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits, 1 Unfavorable

    3/12/2025House

  16. Introduced and Assigned to Natural Resources & Energy Committee in House

    2/19/2025House

Bill Text

  • Current

    2/19/2025

    HTML

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation