Delaware Regulators to Study Lowering Delmarva Power's Allowed Profit
DOVER, Del. — The Delaware Public Service Commission voted unanimously on November 4 to hire a consultant to investigate whether the state should lower the amount of profit Delmarva Power and other regulated private utilities are allowed to earn.
Utilities in Delaware typically earn a return of about 10% on equity. State Public Advocate Jameson Tweedie formally requested the inquiry last month, an action Gov. Matt Meyer had previously called for. Tweedie said new research suggests utilities across the country earn more profit than necessary, meaning customers may be overpaying for electricity, water, sewer and gas service.
The investigation comes as Delmarva Power is asking regulators to approve a $67.8 million revenue increase — the largest utility increase in Delaware history if approved — which could raise an average homeowner's bill by about 4%. Tweedie hopes the study will be complete by the end of next year's legislative session in June 2027. Delmarva Power has said it would welcome a review, while arguing the current regulated profit structure keeps the company financially healthy.
Source: Delaware Public Service Commission
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 特拉华州议会大厦（Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 2.0）
