Delaware officials looking to fix issues with Delmarva Power bills skyrocketing for residents.

Delmarva Power’s spiking prices have residents searching for answers both in Maryland and Delaware. In the First State, lawmakers are listening
to community concerns today.

State Senator Stephanie Hansen, one of those leading the charge. Some residents’ electric bills more than tripled the last few months. Senator Hansen told WMDT this hearing was about consumer protection.”

“The idea of today was to hear from Delmarva and our agencies about what was going on with the recent rate increase in customers we’re seeing.”

Electricity bills skyrocketing, state officials are looking for ways to improve the problem. Friday, Legislative Hall, in Dover held a Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee hearing.

“There are handicapped and disabled veterans that have difficulty going from month to month. When they are hit with a bill that is astronomical and unexpected, we have to act.”

Sen. Hansen wants Delaware to change its standards like other neighboring states. State officials hope this will help them find solutions.

“Other states use what’s called the prudence standard, where it may be a good business judgment, but it is a prudent expenditure of money that you’re able to recover from your rate payer. So essentially it’s a tighter standard.”

Lawmakers hope to create new legislation as soon as next month. “We’re also looking at legislation to find some way to bring money back to ratepayers, if not all the ratepayers at least a particular class of ratepayers that are hit the hardest.”

There is another hearing set for February 24th, starting at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Legislative Hall will host the meeting.

Lawmakers plan to talk more broadly about energy reliability and how to strengthen the state’s grid.