Energy Deregulation In Delaware

The History Of Energy Deregulation In Delaware

The Delaware Legislature passed a bill in 1999, which required the state to change its energy policies. It was then that the decision to deregulate the energy markets in Delaware was taken. Only in the year 2000 did the deregulation of energy get implemented on a larger scale and was received extremely well by businesses and households all over the state. This bill was a positive step taken by the state as it helped give consumers more autonomy and allow them to select their energy supplier. Prior, there was not the option to choose the best option for paying for energy or opt for greener options if possible.

In Delaware, there are two sections to an electric bill. One section talks about the distribution of power and the other about the supply. The distribution refers to how the electricity gets to one’s home or industrial complex and the supply mentions where the energy is coming from. In Delaware, all of the distribution is handled by the state-run utility. But when it comes to supply, there are many different suppliers the consumers can choose from. To find out more about the various suppliers in Delaware; you can contact Navigate Power at [email protected]

Energy Markets in Delaware

In terms of production, Delaware has the lowest energy production out of all the states in the US. But despite this fact, it consumes about 100 times more energy than the total production. Since the population of Delaware is quite small, it is still the third least energy-consuming states in the country, which goes to show how much energy America as a nation produces and consumes. Delaware has many different industries, which explains why there is so much energy consumption. This industrial sector of Delaware alone is responsible for one-third of the total energy consumption.

  • This state does not have any crude oil reserves of production. Still, the Delaware City refinery is responsible for processing about 182,000 barrels of crude oil that arrives at the state’s ports every year. Two-thirds of this refined petroleum is used up by the transportation sector of the state.
  • Just like petroleum, Delaware does not have any natural gas reserves or production as well. Whatever natural gas is there in Delaware comes from Pennsylvania through an interstate pipeline. The electricity sector uses about 46% of natural gas of the state, according to a survey in 2010. The residential sector only accounts for about 10% of the total natural gas consumption.
  • 7 out of the 10 largest electricity power plants in Delaware are running on natural gas. As of 2008, coal supplied more than two-thirds of the total electricity generation of the state. But due to the boom in the natural gas sector, now coal only contributes about 5%. One-third of the homes in Delaware rely on electricity for heating their homes.
  • Renewable sources of energy like solar energy and biomass, are still relatively new in Delaware and only contribute to about 2% of the total electricity generated by the state.

The Delaware State Energy Program

The Delaware State Energy Program constantly works towards promoting energy efficiency. Funded by the US Department of Energy, its primary focus is to encourage the use of renewable energy resources and safeguard the environment. This program also works in the field of education. It aims at educating the public about energy saving, energy efficiency and the need to use greener energy alternatives. This is a great initiative that works towards a greener and more sustainable future.

Advantages of having deregulated energy suppliers –

  • The long term monetary and energy savings

Each consumer can now select how much they want to pay for the energy they consume. This helps the home or the business save a lot of money in the longer run.

  • Greener energy alternatives

More eco-conscious consumers can now switch to greener energy options and work on reducing their carbon footprint and their overall impact on the planet.

  • A choice between different energy plans

Consumers can now choose between fixed-rate, floating or hybrid plans, depending on their needs.

  • Hassle-free switching from one supplier to another

When you are switching from one supplier to another, you don’t have to worry about any interruption in your services. 

  • Improved customer service

With so many suppliers in the market, the competition is higher than ever. This sets the bar for a high quality of customer care, so customer service improves.

Energy suppliers in Delaware –

Since the deregulation of energy, there has been large increase oom in the number of energy suppliers in the state. To know all of them, contact Navigate Power at [email protected], and we will provide you with a list of suppliers that we work with there.