Delaware
How these bills aim to make utilities more transparent, accountable to ratepayers
Why energy prices are higher, what Delaware lawmakers plan to do about it
State Sen. Stephanie Hanson discusses why Delawareans saw higher energy prices this year and what the state legislature plans to do about it. 3/14/25
Lawmakers in the Delaware Senate joined forces Thursday to unanimously pass three bills seeking to protect consumers and force the state’s energy industry to be more transparent and accountable to ratepayers.
Senate bills aim to protect consumers, force utility and energy transmission operators to be transparent and consider the ratepayer in their decision-making, and limit how much in annual capital expenses Delmarva Power can recover.
“Today is ratepayer relief day here in the state Senate,” the bills’ primary sponsor, Sen. Stephanie Hansen, said on the chamber floor Thursday afternoon. “The strain that this has placed on Delaware families has been enormous, and more than some can bear.”
The legislation was prompted following jumps in energy bills across the state this winter, the cause of which has become a hot topic among Delawareans, some of whom have placed the blame primarily on renewable energy.
Hundreds of angry consumers have filled town halls demanding answers about their bills and questioning how state lawmakers were going to fix it, Hansen said.
Republicans also signed on as cosponsors to the legislation.
Republican Sen. Eric Buckson said he and his colleagues are “joining forces” on this issue because the legislation “impacts and helps Delawareans throughout the state who are dealing with high costs.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola applauded Hansen’s efforts, championing her expertise in energy policy over the last several years.
“Her expertise and diligence to put Delaware on a sustainable path toward more certain energy reliability have resulted in three thoughtful bills that will protect ratepayers from future undue cost increases,” he said. “Despite the misinformation being spread by Republicans about the root causes for these increases, Sen. Hansen has remained resolute in her mission to hold our utility companies accountable to their customers by restricting their ability to needlessly raise rates.”
Using the ‘prudence standard’
Senate Bill 59 changes the standards for what costs can be included in a utility’s rate base pitched to the Public Service Commission.
Delaware is one of two states that doesn’t use the “prudence” standard and instead uses the “business judgment rule,” which favors the utility in rate cases. A switch to the prudence standard raises the utility’s responsibility to consider economic risk to ratepayers.
Hansen said the prudence rule looks “at the objective reasonableness” of an expenditure based on what the “utility knew or should have known” when the expenditure was made and ask if it was prudent.
“Other states made this switch because they recognize that regulated utilities are generally monopolies that serve a particular area, and the customers are captive,” the senator said.
Cap on recoverable expenses
Senate Bill 60 places a cap on annual capital expenses recoverable by Delmarva Power.
It does not allow for recovery for lobbying, political contributions, charitable contributions, and certain advertising and public relations activities.
An amendment to the bill restricts recovering from membership dues if it involves lobbying or similar activities intended to influence the outcome of legislation, rules, ballot measures or regulatory decisions.
It also adds an exception to the $125 million cap on annual capital expenses in the event of an emergency or extraordinary circumstances like a natural disaster or tariffs.
Grid operator transparency
Senate Bill 61 calls for transparency by PJM Interconnection, which is the regional electrical grid operator controlling generators and transmission lines across the Mid-Atlantic region.
Delaware joins neighboring states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland in raising concerns about the operator’s decisions. Currently, utilities vote in private on rules at PJM, which impact electric rates, grid reliability and transitioning to clean energy.
The First State’s bill will require Delmarva Power and the state’s Division of the Public Advocate to annually report their votes at PJM to the Public Service Commission.
“PJM’s decision-making affects all of us,” Hansen said. “Although the final voting on issues by PJM is public, the voting that occurs at the lower subcommittee meetings is not and this is where the policy is developed which leads to the issues that bubble up to the top.”
What’s next?
The bills now go to the state House of Representatives for consideration.
Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com, or by calling or texting 302-598-5507.
Delaware
Delaware judge allows school districts to issue higher commercial tax rates
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The Delaware Court of Chancery threw out a lawsuit regarding recent New Castle County property reassessments, clearing the way for updated tax bills to go out in November.
The original post-assessment property tax bills were sent out in July. State lawmakers, reacting to massive backlash from homeowners facing high tax bills, approved a statute in an August special session that allowed county school districts to issue higher rates for commercial properties for the 2025-2026 tax year, similar to what the county and city of Wilmington had already implemented.
New Castle County school districts then promptly issued new tax warrants, with the tax rates for nonresidential properties climbing from 35% to 80%, while lowering rates for residential properties.
Apartment trade organizations and mobile home operators challenged the new law in September, calling it unconstitutional. Chancery Court Vice Chancellor Lori Will heard arguments in the case on Oct. 20.
The plaintiffs had six arguments, including that the statute violated the state constitution’s uniformity clause, that it was “regressive” and that it unlawfully shifted the tax burden from homeowners onto lower-income renters and residents of manufactured homes. They also argued school districts illegally benefited from increased tax revenue without first holding a referendum.
Will rejected those arguments, saying the General Assembly has the authority to create and change classes of property.
Will said lawmakers’ concerns that homeowners would be less likely to be able to afford tax hikes than commercial properties was reasonable.
“Our constitution does not demand perfection from a tax system,” she wrote in her opinion. “To be unconstitutional, the system’s flaws must be pervasive and systemic, meaning that they are widespread and built into the system itself.”
Will also dismissed plaintiffs’ surprise revelation in early October that New Castle County was moving to reclassify more than 1,400 properties, shifting more than $1 billion in assessed value from residential to commercial.
“The isolated examples of misclassification are correctable administrative errors, not evidence of a system deliberately designed to be non-uniform,” she wrote.
Delaware
Wound Care Delaware Launches Mobile Wound Care Service
NEWARK, DE – October 27, 2025 – PRESSADVANTAGE –
Wound Care Delaware today announced the launch of a mobile wound care service effective October 27, 2025, expanding access to clinical wound assessment and treatment across Delaware. The program operates from the organization’s medical clinic at 1101 Twin C Lane, Suite 201A, Newark, DE 19713, and is designed to bring licensed clinicians to patient residences and care facilities in coordination with referring providers.
“The new service enables the clinical team to deliver wound evaluation and procedures in residential and facility settings while maintaining continuity with the clinic,” said Dr. John Ashby, physician at Wound Care Delaware. “The model emphasizes coordination with primary care, specialty practices, and case managers to support timely scheduling and documentation within established care plans.”
Wound Care Delaware operates a brick-and-mortar medical clinic that serves as the logistical base for mobile deployment. The clinic schedules visits, verifies coverage, and coordinates referrals. The mobile teams travel to patient residences, skilled nursing facilities, and assisted living facilities under physician oversight. The program incorporates documentation that aligns with referring provider instructions and plan of care requirements.
The mobile service follows a standard visit structure that includes intake, assessment, and procedure documentation. Clinicians record wound characteristics, materials used, and follow-up intervals in the patient record. The team communicates with referring offices regarding visit outcomes and next steps. This structure supports continuity across settings and reduces duplicate appointments. The objective is consistent record keeping within existing treatment plans.
The organization states that the service footprint includes communities throughout Delaware. The clinic address remains 1101 Twin C Lane, Suite 201A, Newark, DE 19713. The main line is (302) 404-2541. The scheduling team assigns routes based on geographic clusters and provider availability. The mobile units operate on weekdays with the capacity to adjust hours for facility coordination. The service integrates with transportation and building access policies at each location to meet compliance and safety requirements.
The clinical scope includes assessment of acute and chronic wounds as defined by referring providers. The team performs wound measurements, dressing changes, and related procedures that fall within licensure and policy. The program supports transitions of care following hospital discharge when wound care tasks are ordered for the home setting. Records from mobile visits are retained with clinic records to maintain a single chart. This approach enables a consolidated history for case review.
Wound Care Delaware maintains procedures that address consent, privacy, and infection control. Staff utilize protective equipment according to policy. Instruments and materials are handled in accordance with manufacturer instructions. Documentation is completed in an electronic record that supports secure data retention. The organization conducts periodic reviews of visit notes for completeness and consistency. Staff education covers route planning, equipment management, and incident reporting.
The program’s operational design centers on coordination with existing care teams. Referring clinicians transmit orders to the clinic, and the scheduling team assigns a visit window. The mobile team confirms entry instructions with the residence or facility. After the visit, the team transmits notes to the referring office. This process aligns tasks among providers and reduces administrative delays. The model is intended to keep the plan of care intact across settings.
Wound Care Delaware began developing the mobile capability to address logistical barriers that can arise for patients with limited mobility or transportation. The clinic serves as a point of contact for questions about routes, referrals, and documentation. The organization notes that the mobile service will adapt as referral patterns evolve. The clinical team will evaluate routing, equipment, and staffing on a recurring basis to match demand. The goal is reliable scheduling and consistent documentation.
###
For more information about Wound Care Delaware, contact the company here:
Wound Care Delaware
Dr. John Ashby
(302) 404-2541
office@woundcaredelaware.com
1101 Twin C Ln Ste 201a
Newark, DE 19713
Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. XPRMedia and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliated with this page and would like it removed please contact pressreleases@xpr.media
Delaware
Where to watch Norfolk State vs Delaware State today: Time, TV channel for Week 10 game
Top college football coaching vacancies ranked
Before The Snap ranked the top-4 head coach openings in college football, including LSU, Penn State, Florida and Arkansas.
During their NFL careers together, Michael Vick connected with DeSean Jackson for 13 touchdown passes in Philadelphia.
The former Eagles teammates will meet up on Thursday, Oct. 30, coaching against one another at Lincoln Financial Field in a showdown between two prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Jackson is in his first year leading Delaware State (5-3, 1-0 MEAC), while Vick is in his first year with Norfolk State (1-7, 0-1).
Stream Norfolk State football vs. Delaware State live on Fubo (free trial)
“It’s a hell of an opportunity to be across the field from DeSean,” Vick said on Monday, Oct. 27 (via Norfolk, Virginia CBS affiliate WTKR). “That’s what I respect. We’ve worked hard for this and we’ll see how it goes.”
The Spartans fell to South Carolina State, 51-20, last weekend in their MEAC opener, while the Hornets defeated North Carolina Central 35-26.
Here’s how to watch, including time, TV schedule, live streaming info and game odds:
What TV channel is Norfolk State vs Delaware State on today?
Norfolk State vs Delaware State will air on ESPNU in Week 10 of the 2025 college football season. The teams will play at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with Tiffany Greene (play-by-play) and Jay Walker (analyst) calling the game.
Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a cable login) and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Norfolk State vs Delaware State time today
- Date: Thursday, Oct. 30
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
The Week 10 MEAC matchup between Norfolk State football vs. Delaware State is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 30.
Norfolk State vs Delaware State predictions
- Prediction: Delaware State 42, Norfolk State 28
Jackson and Delaware State earn a two-touchdown victory over Vick and Delaware State behind a three-touchdown rushing performance from running back Marquis Gillis.
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