Meyer urges Public Service Commission to block Delmarva rate hikes and promotes 1.7 GW local power projects

Governor Matthew S. Meyer used his State of the State address to criticize Delmarva Power for rising customer costs and to press regulators and legislators for action on energy affordability.

"Delmarva Power must stop overcharging Delaware families," Meyer said, and called directly on the Public Service Commission to "stop approving any Delmarva rate hikes." He framed the request as part of a broader affordability strategy, saying customers are "getting squeezed" by increases well beyond inflation and that out‑of‑state shareholders should not benefit at Delawareans' expense.

To increase supply and lower bills, Meyer cited large generation projects and new technologies. "Imagine if we could turn on 1.7 gigawatts of power generation," he said, pointing to the US Wind 1.7‑gigawatt project as an example that "can and must be part of the solution." He also urged advancement of safe, modern nuclear energy and referenced a nuclear energy feasibility task force already in motion.

The governor said the state has given the Public Service Commission new statutory tools and urged them to use those tools to hold utilities accountable. The address included no response from Delmarva Power or the Public Service Commission in the transcript; no regulatory filings or votes were recorded during the session.

If regulators act on the governor's call, the changes could affect rate decisions that are currently made through the Public Service Commission's approval process. Lawmakers would need to consider any statutory or budgetary changes the governor requested to implement broader affordability programs.