In the last several years, we have seen electricity prices increase in Delaware. The issue boosting prices is clear: Largely driven by restrictive energy policies, Delaware no longer generates enough electricity to meet basic customer demand. It ranks 50th among states in total energy production and consumes nearly 100 times more energy than it produces.
Policymakers in Delaware, more than 25 years ago, decided to deregulate the electricity market. This means that your local utility no longer controls or owns power plants, and it must purchase power on the open market, known as the PJM Interconnection. As demand has increased in recent years, supply has not. Immediate policy changes are needed to enable new energy infrastructure, such as power plants and pipelines, to increase access to affordable and reliable electricity and natural gas.
The time is now for state leaders to support legislative initiatives that advance a balanced and informed approach to energy infrastructure. Local demand will only escalate with the emergence of more data centers, advanced manufacturing and increased transportation of goods and services to support our state’s jobs and economic growth. Greater access to affordable, dependable energy for Delawareans is achievable by taking politics out and putting the work in.
An investment in natural gas and pipeline infrastructure will lower the cost of energy prices for Delaware families by offering increased availability and options to efficiently power homes and businesses. It will also help ensure that we do not have electricity blackouts due to lack of supply.
In 2024, natural gas fueled 83% of Delaware’s total in-state electricity generation (up from 51% in 2010), and families are projected to save more than $1,100 each year by using natural gas for heating, cooking and clothes drying in their homes. Blocking or dragging out infrastructure projects doesn’t reduce demand; it just forces reliance on less efficient infrastructure that makes energy more expensive and less reliable for Delawareans.
Marc Brown
Vice president of state affairs
Consumer Energy Alliance
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
