DELAWARE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND PUBLIC ADVOCATE DETAIL DELMARVA ELECTRIC BILL COSTS

DOVER Del. – The Delaware Public Service Commission and the Delaware Office of the Public Advocate are outlining how Delmarva Power and Light Company electric bills are structured, breaking monthly statements into three main parts: supply, transmission and distribution.According to the agencies,… The post DELAWARE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND PUBLIC ADVOCATE DETAIL DELMARVA ELECTRIC BILL COSTS appeared first on TV Delmarva Channel 33.

DOVER Del. – The Delaware Public Service Commission and the Delaware Office of the Public Advocate are outlining how Delmarva Power and Light Company electric bills are structured, breaking monthly statements into three main parts: supply, transmission and distribution.
According to the agencies, the supply portion covers the cost of producing electricity and is usually the largest part of a residential customer’s bill. Customers may choose who supplies their power, including Third Party Suppliers that offer competitive rates. Officials note that Third Party Supplier prices are not reviewed and approved in the same way as those of regulated utilities such as Delmarva Power and Light. Supply prices are set annually, are approved by the Delaware Public Service Commission and are primarily influenced by energy market conditions, including the cost of fuels used to generate electricity. On Delmarva Power bills, supply appears as “supply charges” and is calculated by multiplying kilowatt hour usage by the price per kilowatt hour. The agencies also encourage customers to review available tips to reduce their electricity use.
Transmission represents the cost of moving power from generation facilities, sometimes across long distances, to Delmarva Power’s local system. It reflects the expense of high voltage lines, poles and transformers, much of which is owned by companies other than Delmarva Power. The company provides transmission service for all customers in Delaware and is required to deliver power safely and reliably. Transmission rates are approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and appear as the “transmission capacity charge” under the supply section of the bill.
Distribution covers the final delivery of electricity from the regional transmission system to homes and businesses in Delaware. Delmarva Power owns and maintains local poles, wires, meters and related technology, and the agencies note that building and maintaining this infrastructure requires substantial resources. Distribution also reflects maintenance and customer service costs needed to keep the system operating. On customer bills, these expenses are listed as “delivery charges” and are based on kilowatt hour usage. The agencies add that the delivery portion also includes several state public policy programs approved by the General Assembly, including the Green Energy Fund, the Renewable Portfolio Standards Charge and the Low Income Fund. Officials say the explanation is intended to help customers better understand how their energy dollars are spent and what is required to generate, move and deliver electricity across Delaware safely and dependably.

The post DELAWARE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND PUBLIC ADVOCATE DETAIL DELMARVA ELECTRIC BILL COSTS appeared first on TV Delmarva Channel 33.