New Castle County Council urges PSC to reject Delmarva Power rate increase

New Castle County Council on Feb. 10 adopted Resolution R26-024 urging the Delaware Public Service Commission to reject Delmarva Power's pending rate increase request and require the company to resubmit under current standards.

Councilwoman Durham, who introduced the resolution, and other members said rising energy costs are forcing residents on fixed incomes to choose between utilities and other necessities. "Now is not the time to be raising power bills on the citizens here in New Castle County," Councilman Konecchio said, urging Dover to act on the county's position.

Councilman Tackett framed Delmarva as a for‑profit utility whose decisions ultimately answer to shareholders, not customers, and said the county should press for alternatives and protections for vulnerable residents. Councilman Hollins announced a recusal because a family member works for Delmarva.

Members of the public told the council the increase should be denied. Rob Bullock, president of the Route 9‑13 Community Alliance Coalition, cited a Jan. 13 court order that he said found Delmarva overcharged customers by $182,000,000 and contrasted that with Delmarva's stated $67,000,000 increase request: "I suggest that they take the difference of what they owe... and then charge the difference," Bullock said.

Remote commenter Dale Sween urged the council to support the resolution, calling the rate increases "unjustified" and asking the county to stand with residents, not Delmarva.

The clerk recorded the roll as 11 yes, 1 present and 1 absent; the resolution was adopted. The resolution asks the Public Service Commission to reject the filing and to require resubmission consistent with current review standards. The county did not itself change utility rates; the resolution is a formal request to the state regulator.