Delaware lawmaker calls for a focus on lowering electric bills

DOVER, Del. – A Delaware lawmaker is calling on his colleagues to come together to help lower the electric bills of Delawareans.

State Representative Bryan Shupe says federal and state mandates have forced electric companies to pour massive investments into renewable energy, which in turn results in those companies taking on huge costs to comply with government demands.

As a result, the consumers are then hit with increased fees in order for the electric companies to meet those mandates, something Rep. Shupe says needs to change.

“Our customers are getting hit double,” Rep. Shupe said. “They’re getting hit on the local level by the charges you can see on your bill of the renewable energy, you’ll see about 10 to 20 dollars on each charge for wind or solar, but then they’re getting hit with the distribution charge which part of that is those federal mandates because they just cannot build fast enough, they don’t have the infrastructure.”

Rep. Shupe feels there should be an increase in energy competition in Delaware. He tells us that can be done by providing incentives that he believes will help lower those costs to consumers.

“The way to do it is work within the market and say ‘hey, if you can diversify within a way to bring renewable energy to Delmarva then we want to incentivize and make you profitable so that you can lower the price for the customers at the same time,” Rep. Shupe said. “It’s a different mindset.”

Moving forward, Rep. Shupe says he wants to work with his Republican colleagues to come up with legislation that would provide those incentives to help lower electric bills across the First State.