Delaware

Delawareans rage against high utility bills. Blame the weather

Published

11 months ago

March 5, 2025

Delawareans rage against high utility bills. Blame the weather

Role of green energy and the region’s power grid operator

While some blame the skyrocketing utility bills on fees associated with renewable energy programs, Vavala argues that both those fees and rising natural gas prices contribute to only a small fraction of a person’s bill.

While Delmarva paid almost $13 million into the state’s renewable energy portfolio last year, charges related to renewable compliance makeup around 3% of a customer’s bill, according to those reviewed by WHYY.

“Yes, there is a component of the bill that’s related to transmission costs and supply costs. Yes, there’s a component of the bill that’s related to green energy and programs to support that,” Vavala said. “But it is not the key driver in what we’ve seen in terms of this phenomenon occurring for our customers.”

Adding to confusion among ratepayers, Delmarva last November began to include a breakdown of delivery and supply charges on its bills.

Customers have always paid these charges, but they weren’t previously explained on their bills. Delaware residents said they were shocked to learn for the first time that these distribution fees account for more than half of their bill.

Though customers have always paid for delivery and supply, Delmarva bills indicate Delaware residents paid slightly more for the supply of gas in January, which had nothing to do with green energy, but rather cold temperatures.

“Weather does cause increased demand, and so supply-demand crunch, price goes up. So, the reason that people’s bills are going up so high is that, in part, they’re using more, and, in part, the price that is set by the wholesale market, which is also increasing,” said Shelley Welton, presidential distinguished professor of law and energy policy at Penn Carey Law and the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy.

The supply price increase for Delmarva customers in January shows a hike of about 1 cent per 100 cubic feet over December’s bills.

A spokesperson for Delmarva Power said it purchases about half of what it projects it will need in the summer when prices are low.

“Locking in prices, also known as hedging, seeks to limit the impact of wholesale price volatility that may occur throughout the year,” said spokesperson Zach Chizar. “We also continue to make upgrades to our Liquefied Natural Gas Plant in Wilmington, replacing and upgrading systems that give customers a more predictable gas cost rate so that we can secure more natural gas and avoid challenges during peak periods.”

Adding to the shocking cost could be that some January bills encompassed 36 days, rather than the typical 30 days.

One of Meyer’s proposals includes working to expand the state’s renewable energy portfolio.

“The more we get — solar, offshore wind, various alternatives — will help us expand the diversity of energy sources, increase the supply of sustainable energy sources, and in many cases, sources that are good for the environment for the long term,” he said.

Welton said decreasing reliance on natural gas could help control prices. States that rely heavily on natural gas are facing greater energy costs than in areas that use more renewable energy, she said. Like many, she points to the region’s power grid operator, PJM Interconnection.

“You have tons of new resources lined up asking to connect to the grid — and these are mostly clean energy resources. And if you’ve got these resources online, if you’ve got a lot more capacity in the region, you would see prices start to come down. But PJM has been very slow to help these resources connect to the grid,” Welton said.

While freezing temperatures and the resulting usage drove up utility bills in January, costs of electricity are also determined by a complex pricing system overseen by PJM and are expected to climb for Delawareans starting in July, regardless of the weather. That’s because of an increase in certain electricity generation fees, called capacity costs, that the grid operator announced last year. The move will impact 65 million residents in the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions. In January, PJM agreed to a price cap after Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sued.

Delmarva’s Vavala said it’s important PJM incentivizes and encourages all forms of generation — whether that’s renewables, nuclear or traditional forms of power such as natural gas. He also calls for improved transparency in the rate-making process and about investment portfolios.

Source link

Click to comment

Delaware

Delaware basketball teams support mental health services in the ‘SL24 Basketball Classic’

Published

7 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Press Room

Delaware basketball teams support mental health services in the ‘SL24 Basketball Classic’

WILMINGTON, Delaware (WPVI) — To honor the life and legacy of Sean Locke, Delaware basketball teams participated in a fundraising tournament.

The proceeds support “SL24: Unlocke the Light,” which brings mental health programming to young people in the area.

“We have three missions, educate, assist and support those young people who are struggling with mental illness. And we help young people find mental health support services,” said Chris Locke, Co-Founder of SL24: Unlocke the Light and father of Sean Locke.

They also support young people through “Sean’s House” and “Sean’s Rooms.”

“These are safe havens where young people can come speak to the Peer24 team that we’ve trained. For them to just be able to open up…and then point them in the right direction so they can get healthy,” said Chris Locke.

The tournament was held at the Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington.

“Today, if one person talks to an adult… or talks to each other about community and connection and they’re vulnerable, then this is all worth it,” said Sean Locke’s sister and Co-Founder of SL24: Unlocke the Light, Kat Locke-Jones.

“I am incredibly honored that we get to do this work. It is the work of our lifetime because Sean …continues to impact us every single day,” she continued.

For more information, check out the video above.

Also, check out their website.

Source link

Delaware

History from News Journal Feb. 1-7 with bank collapse, rising inflation

Published

19 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Press Room

History from News Journal Feb. 1-7 with bank collapse, rising inflation

Excerpts from The News Journal archives from Feb. 1-7 include a sea rescue with a twist in 1926.
A Delaware bank was seeking a bailout in 1976.
Inflation was hitting Delawareans hard in 2006 with hikes in housing, electricity, heating costs, groceries, gasoline and insurance.

“Pages of history” features excerpts from The News Journal archives including The Morning News and The Evening Journal. See the archives at delawareonline.com.

Feb. 2, 1926, The Evening Journal

Captain in Florida saved from ship by Delaware relative

Mrs. Fred Martin of Laurel, wife of Captain Fred Martin, master of the schooner Richmond, this morning received a telegram from her husband stating that he had rescued Captain Roland F. Quillen and wife and crew from the schooner Jacob Hook, abandoned off the coast of Vero Beach, Fla.

A strange coincidence in connection with the rescue is the fact that Captain Martin is the brother-in-law of Captain Quillen.

The Jacob Hook was lumber laden from Beaufort, N.C., to Miami, Fla., where the Quillens are to spend the winter. Mrs. Quillen insisted on making the trip with her husband.

It is supposed the Jacob Hook became disabled in the storm off Florida.

Another unusual coincidence is that Captain Martin until a few months ago was master of the Jacob Hook. When he took charge of the Richmond, he turned the Hook over to his brother-in-law.

Both Captain Martin and Captain Quillen live in Laurel.

Captain Quillen was nominated for State Treasurer on the Democratic ticket several years ago. His brother, John Quillen, is Clerk of the Peace of Sussex County.

Feb. 4, 1976, The Morning News

Farmers Bank gets 3 rescue offers

Three potential investors have expressed interest in providing badly needed capital to the financially troubled Farmers Bank of the State of Delaware.

The bank has asked the state for $10 million to $20 million to shore up its finances after sustaining a $9 million loss in 1975 – chiefly from bad loans.

In a hastily called meeting last night, directors of Farmers heard of feelers from an insurance company, another bank and a wealthy Miami Beach investor with Delaware ties. Directors declined to identify the insurance company or the interested bank. …

Gov. Sherman W. Tribbitt characterized one of the feelers as an offer, and, in a brief appearance at the directors meeting, urged the bank to accept it. It came from Victor Posner, wealthy chairman of the NVF Corp. of Yorklyn. …

Tribbitt said Posner had offered to put up $15 million of his personal funds in exchange for preferred stock in the bank. Tribbitt said the state could find another $5 million from unspent capital improvement and divestiture funds to provide the needed total of $20 million. …

The board meeting was called by eight of the nine directors who represent the state’s interest in the bank. The state already owns 49.3% of the bank’s common stock and is the bank’s largest depositor with more than $100 million currently in time and demand accounts….

Farmers Chairman A. Edwards Danforth has been under fire from legislators since last Wednesday when the bank’s difficulties first were revealed to state officials….

Tribbitt rebuked the Farmers chairman for blaming the bank’s problems on its relationship with the state. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said the major problem was the bank’s real estate loans, Tribbitt told reporters.

The governor said he continues to support divestiture of the state’s ownership in the bank.

A summary of the FDIC examination obtained by The Morning News shows the ratio of problem loans to bank assets had risen to more than double the accepted danger level. …

The bank’s $124 million portfolio of securities – stocks and bonds – was worth $11 million less than the original purchase price.

The FDIC report listed $31.3 million in capital accounts – stocks, bonds and retained earnings – and showed $4.5 million in reserves for loan losses, a total of $35.8 million.

The report showed the bank had $73.1 million in classified assets, mainly problem loans and securities losses. Classified loans amounted to $66.8 million. Of that total, $50.7 million were listed as substandard, $6.3 million as doubtful and $9.8 million as lost.

Farmers Bank acknowledged last night that the bank is in technical default on $9 million it borrowed in recent years to buttress its capital. But Farmers President Edward W. Hagemeyer said the two New York banks that hold the capital notes are not pressing for immediate payment and are allowing Farmers to continue making interest payments.

Feb. 5, 2006, Sunday News Journal

The rising cost of everything: Expect to spend hundreds more a month

When retiree Charles Kolodjeski moved into his Little Heaven manufactured home south of Dover in 1986, his monthly expenses totaled $500.

He estimates he now spends $2,500 to $3,000 a month on food, land rent, gasoline, health care, insurance, utilities and incidentals. …

Like residents across the state, Kolodjeski, 74, is facing even greater cost-of-living increases this year. From gasoline prices and heating bills to health care and housing costs, many Delawareans are going to be shelling out hundreds of dollars more each month.

The extra cost can mean real trouble for many in a state the U.S. Census Bureau estimates had a median income of $50,315 in 2004, with 79,682 of the state’s 830,364 people living below the federal poverty line.

And other increases could be coming soon. Property tax hikes loom in New Castle County, and many school districts are facing shortfalls. State officials are talking about higher tolls and fees for driver’s licenses and car registrations.

Come May, Delmarva Power electricity customers will begin paying nearly 60% more to keep the air conditioning humming.

“No matter how you turn, they get you,” Kolodjeski said. …

Like most, Kolodjeski’s income hasn’t kept pace with rising expenses.

Civilian workers’ wages and benefits rose 3.1% in 2005, the smallest increase in nine years, according to the U.S. Labor Department. Meanwhile, inflation was at 3.5%.

Patricia Parsons, 58, is one of the many not seeing income increase as expenses mount. The Long Neck retiree said her lot rent for her manufactured home rose this year by 37% to $6,200. Neighbors with waterfront lots had 70% hikes, she said.

“A lot of people have walked away. They’ve abandoned their homes,” said Parsons, who supports a bill in the General Assembly to force land owners to justify increases above inflation….

Here are examples of how Delawareans are being squeezed by increasing costs this year compared to one year ago:

Cost of median home, $230,600, up 19% from $193,800
Home insurance, $442, up 13% from $390
Monthly rent, two-bedroom apartment, $804, up 5% from $765
Natural gas, Delmarva Power, $1.58 a cubit foot, up 20% from $1.26
Heating oil, $2.53 a gallon, up 21% from $2.05
Electricity, Delmarva Power, 14 cents a kilowatt hour, up 59% from 9 cents
Automobile insurance, $2,262, up 8% from $2,092
Gasoline, regular unleaded, $2.34 a gallon, up 31% from $1.79
White bread, $1.05 a loaf, up 8% from 97 cents
Milk, $3.29 a gallon, up 0.2% from $3.21
Ground beef, $2.61 a pound, up 5.6% from $2.47
Dozen eggs, grade A large, $1.35 a dozen, up 12.5% from $1.20
Health insurance, premiums up 9.2%

Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.

Source link

Delaware

Tesla persuades Delaware's top court to slash legal fees in director pay lawsuit

Published

1 day ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

Tesla persuades Delaware's top court to slash legal fees in director pay lawsuit

The Delaware Supreme Court handed Tesla a victory on Friday, slashing by more than $100 million the legal fees owed to shareholder lawyers ‌who successfully sued directors at Elon Musk’s electric car company for overpaying themselves.

Source link