Committee hears bill to require utilities to notify workers before call center relocations

The Senate Elections and Government Affairs Committee considered Senate Bill 192, a measure aimed at increasing transparency when public utilities move or contract out call‑center operations.

A lawmaker introducing the bill said the proposal applies to call centers that handle incoming calls, emails or other customer service communications for a public utility and would require advance notice to the Public Service Commission, current and potential call‑center employees and the leadership of any relevant labor unions; the sponsor described a 100–120 day advance‑notice window and said the proposal includes an exemption for emergency or disaster situations as defined in Delaware law.

Nick Bruni, a union representative for Local 1238, testified in support and said the bill would not prevent companies from making business decisions. "This bill does not try to control those decisions," Bruni said. He argued that transparent advance notice gives workers and unions time to prepare and allows the commission visibility into planned changes, and described 120 days as "very reasonable."

Lisa Oberdorf, representing Delmarva Power, said the company has no in‑state call centers but does operate a single walk‑in payment center that she said should not be classified as a call center under the bill. Oberdorf asked the committee to consider a "friendly amendment" clarifying that facilities whose primary role is in‑person payment processing not be treated as call centers except in emergency circumstances.

Committee members did not take a formal vote on SB 192 during the session. If enacted, the bill would create a statutory notification process for certain utility customer‑service operations; the bill also contains an explicit disaster exemption meant to avoid interference with restoration or urgent operational needs.

The committee moved on to other items after testimony; no final action on SB 192 was recorded at this meeting.