DelawareSJR 3153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)Senate

DIRECTING ALL ELECTRIC PUBLIC UTILITIES IN DELAWARE TO PARTICIPATE IN A STUDY TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE DELAWARE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY UTILITY TO ASSESS AND ANALYZE THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF THE ADOPTION OF ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS IN DELAWARE, AND DIRECTING THE DELAWARE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY UTILITY TO CONDUCT A PILOT PROGRAM WITH THE PARTICIPATION AND COOPERATION OF CERTAIN ELECTRIC UTILITIES TO DEVELOP AND DEPLOY PILOT PROJECTS INVOLVING BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEMS IN DELAWARE.

Sponsored By: Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Delaware launches funded battery storage pilots

The Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility must coordinate battery storage pilots with three utilities and one independent power producer. The utilities are Delmarva Power & Light Company, the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, and the Delaware Electric Cooperative. Each of the four participants must develop and deploy at least one project in Delaware. Projects should reduce peak demand, improve reliability, and help the grid handle more connected energy sources. Projects already being designed, built, or operated can qualify, but funding covers only costs the utility has not yet incurred. The agency must give the three utilities guidance and funding; it chooses the amounts, with no dollar figure specified. It must set reporting timelines that allow useful data collection for future program design. This funding supports utility projects, not direct household payments, and does not guarantee lower electric bills.

Delaware utilities must study energy storage

The Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility must study energy storage costs and benefits, with help from all Delaware electric public utilities. The study covers storage on the utility side and customer side of electric meters. It examines peak demand, reliability, voltage control, delayed grid upgrades, and added benefits when storage is paired with renewable energy. It must use clear methods to measure these values. The study also examines storage locations and uses, land use, environmental and community effects, and legal and regulatory barriers. It explores competitive purchasing under different ownership models, storage credits, and market incentives for participation across income and demographic groups. The agency must work with state energy officials, regulators, consumer advocates, University of Delaware experts, utilities, and other stakeholders. It must encourage utility outreach about battery storage benefits and incentives. It must assess additional projects and estimate storage capacity, in megawatts, by December 31, 2030, or another reasonably projected delivery year. A preliminary study and pilot status report is due December 31, 2025; a comprehensive findings report is due June 1, 2026. Reports go to the Governor and all lawmakers, with copies to Legislative Council research officials and the Delaware Public Archives. The law does not guarantee household savings or storage incentives.

Delaware utilities can recover pilot costs

Utilities regulated by the Delaware Public Service Commission are entitled to recover all reasonable battery pilot costs. These include designing, building, and operating projects, plus administrative costs and information technology and equipment-control systems. Funding received from the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility must be subtracted from recoverable costs. The law does not state the total cost or how recovery affects individual customer bills.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Stephanie L. Hansen
Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

Frank Burns
Democratic • House
Kyra L. Hoffner
Democratic • Senate
Russell Huxtable
Democratic • Senate
Larry Lambert
Democratic • House
S. Elizabeth Lockman
Democratic • Senate
Eric Morrison
Democratic • House
DeShanna U Neal
Democratic • House
Brian Pettyjohn
Republican • Senate
Bryant L. Richardson
Republican • Senate
Ray Seigfried
Democratic • Senate
Claire Snyder-Hall
Democratic • House
David P. Sokola
Democratic • Senate
John "Jack" Walsh
Democratic • Senate
David L. Wilson
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 57 • No: 0

House vote • 7/1/2025

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/27/2025