Delmarva Power has reformatted its bills to make them easier to understand.

The new design started in November for all of the utility’s hundreds of thousands of residential and commercial customers in Delaware.

Zach Chizar, a senior communications specialist, said the redesign is based on feedback from customer focus groups. “It’s all about how to understand the bill better, in a visual approach,” he said.

The most dramatic addition, at the top right of the first page, is a colorful ring-shaped chart that splits the bill into delivery, electric supply, and (if used) gas supply.

Delmarva, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Exelon, the nation’s largest utility company, is only in the delivery business and does not generate power, he noted.

Some text on the top left of the first page adds a new breakdown of the monthly charges: total delivery, electric delivery, gas delivery, electric supply, and gas supply. By contrast, the old bill only listed electric and gas charges.

The amount due, below these breakdowns, is in more prominent type.

The new bill drops the bar charts covering daily electricity and gas usage. It refers customers to the  utility’s website, where they can already see usage broken down by the hour for their account.

The sample bill that Delmarva posts on its website runs four pages, down from a typical five for an electric and gas customer.

In another customer-friendly move, Delmarva recently opened its call centers on Saturday mornings to handle the number of calls it gets. “No one enjoys being on hold,” Chizar said.

(A helpful landing page titled “Understanding my bill” might answer questions.)

The new design generated some grumbling on social media. “They always just add extra charges and make it too confusing to figure out,” one post complained.

There are no new charges and no delivery rate increases involved now, Chizar said, noting that the cost of gas and electricity varies.

Is your favorite Kent County restaurant or food establishment among the places with the most health and food safety guideline violations in the past 30 days as of Dec. 15?

See the chart below to find out. At the top of the chart is Bangkok Thai Cuisine with 12 violations on Nov. 26.

Or see how well food establishments in all three Delaware counties are complying with regulations by searching Delaware Online/The News Journal’s restaurant inspection database.

Restaurants, food trucks, church kitchens, grocery stores, delis, concession stands, ice cream parlors, pizzerias, schools, hospitals, bakeries, fitness centers, hotels, and golf clubs are among the more than 3,500 permitted Delaware food establishments that prepare and serve food to the public and are included in the database.

The database is updated using information from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. Most places are inspected twice per year, using the State of Delaware Food Code, a science-based regulation similar to the national model from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The database is meant to be a tool for consumers to be informed, however, it is only one measurement of a food establishment’s operations and does not provide a full picture of any business’s overall standards or offerings.

If you have questions regarding a food inspection report, whether currently reported or for a prior reporting period, please contact the Office of Food Protection at 302-744-4546.

🔗 Bookmark data.delawareonline.com/restaurant-inspections to always find the latest reports.

Previous Delaware food establishment inspection reports

Which food establishments had the most violations during previous 30-day periods? Click on the links below to find out.

New Castle County for periods ending: Dec. 1, 2024 ∎ Oct. 27, 2024 ∎ July 29, 2024 ∎ June 30, 2024 ∎ April 20, 2024 ∎ March 2, 2024 ∎ Feb. 3, 2024 ∎ Jan. 6, 2024 

Kent County for periods ending: Nov. 17, 2024 ∎ Sept. 9, 2024 ∎ July 27, 2024 ∎ June 28, 2024 ∎ March 9, 2024 ∎ Feb. 10, 2024 ∎ Jan. 13, 2024 ∎ Dec. 9, 2023

Sussex County for periods ending: Nov. 24, 2024 ∎ Oct. 7, 2024 ∎ July 28, 2024 June 29, 2024 ∎ April 13, 2024 ∎ Feb. 17, 2024 ∎ Jan. 21, 2024 ∎ Dec. 16, 2023

Latest Kent County food establishment inspections

NOTE: The chart below may take a minute to load. If you are having trouble viewing it, you may also see it here.

The Delaware Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

12-17-23-52-67, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 3 numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

Day: 9-0-7

Night: 7-4-1

Check Play 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 4 numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

Day: 9-4-8-4

Night: 1-3-9-3

Check Play 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Multi-Win Lotto numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

05-08-23-26-31-33

Check Multi-Win Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

10-16-35-40-42, Lucky Ball: 16

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

02-08-47-51-52, Star Ball: 03, ASB: 03

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 5 numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

Day: 7-1-2-7-5

Night: 1-3-0-4-8

Check Play 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

• Sign the Ticket: Establish legal ownership by signing the back of your ticket with an ink pen.
• Prizes up to $599: Claim at any Delaware Lottery Retailer, in person at the Delaware Lottery Office, or mail your signed ticket and claim form; print your name/address on the ticket’s back and keep a copy/photo for records. By mail, send original tickets and documentation to: Delaware Lottery, 1575 McKee Road, Suite 102, Dover, DE 19904.
• Prizes up to $2,500: Claim in person at Delaware Lottery Retailer Claim Centers throughout Kent, Sussex and New Castle Counties.
• Prizes of $5,001 or more: Claim in person at the Delaware Lottery Office (business days 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with a photo ID and Social Security card.
• For all prize claims, directions to the Delaware Lottery Office are available online or via mapquest.com for a map.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Delaware Lottery.

Can I claim a jackpot prize anonymously in Delaware?

Fortunately for First State residents, the Delaware Lottery allows winners remain anonymous. Unlike many other states that require a prize be over a certain jackpot, Delawareans can remain anonymous no matter how much, or how little, they win.

How long do I have to claim my prize in Delaware?

Tickets are valid for up to one year past the drawing date for drawing game prizes or within one year of the announced end of sales for Instant Games, according to delottery.com.

When are the Delaware Lottery drawings held?

• Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
• Play 3, 4: Daily at 1:58 p.m. and 7:57 p.m., except Sunday afternoon.
• Multi-Win Lotto: 7:57 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
• Lucky for Life: Daily at 10:38 p.m.
• Lotto America: 11:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Delaware Online digital operations manager. You can send feedback using this form.