DIRECTING ALL ELECTRIC UTILITIES IN DELAWARE TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ANALYSIS OF THE POTENTIAL FOR ADOPTION OF GRID-ENHANCING TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING BENEFITS, COST BURDENS AND COST SHIFTING, FEASIBILITY AND BARRIERS TO ADOPTION UNDERTAKEN BY THE DNREC STATE ENERGY OFFICE AND THE DELAWARE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY UTILITY.

Delaware utilities must study grid upgrades

All Delaware electric utilities must join a grid-upgrade study led by DNREC’s State Energy Office and the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility. The study examines customer benefits, costs, who bears those costs, technical feasibility, barriers, and ways to use the technologies. It covers both local distribution networks and larger transmission systems. Technologies studied include line and transformer ratings, power flow controls, network layouts, advanced wires, batteries, and demand response programs. It also examines vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid battery controls, possible customer incentives, and solar inverter settings that support the grid. Utilities must provide information and feedback, accounting for their operating standards and planning schedules. The agencies must work with utilities, utility regulators, the Division of the Public Advocate, and other interested groups. A progress report is due by December 31, 2025; the final report is due by July 31, 2026. The final report goes to the Governor and all state lawmakers, with copies to legislative research officials and Delaware Public Archives. The law does not require upgrades or change household rates; any future deployment requires approval from the utility’s regulator.