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Senate committee hears bill to tighten oversight of Delmarva load forecasts amid data‑center boom
Summary
Lawmakers and utilities debated SB308, which would give the Delaware Public Service Commission authority to review Delmarva Power’s load forecasts submitted to PJM to prevent speculative or duplicative projects from inflating capacity costs that fall on ratepayers.
A Delaware Senate committee on May 13, 2026 heard testimony on SB308, the Load Forecasting Accountability Act, a bill that would authorize the Public Service Commission to review and evaluate load forecasts submitted by Delmarva Power to PJM and coordinate with neighboring states to prevent double counting of speculative large energy projects.
Supporters told the committee that inaccurate forecasts can raise the clearing price in PJM capacity auctions and ultimately increase electricity costs for consumers. The public advocate warned that “if you have an enormous energy project that might be using hundreds of megawatts of power … you could be spending immense amounts of money on something that doesn't come to fruition,” urging the PSC to apply specific criteria before accepting large projects into forecasts.
The bill would require the commission to consider the stage of project development, expected ramping schedules and anticipated in‑service dates, duplicative interconnection requests and the status of customer financial commitments, including deposits or construction obligations. Senator Stephanie Hanson, chair of the committee, said those checks aim to prevent speculative entries from driving up procurement in PJM’s base residual auction.
Public comment from environmental groups and utilities illustrated the stakes. Emily Nurl of The Nature Conservancy in Delaware urged the committee to advance the bill, saying reliable and transparent forecasting is “critical to maintaining grid stability, ensuring sufficient energy supply, and protecting consumers.” Lisa Oberdorf of Delmarva Power said the utility appreciated the opportunity to review amendment language before taking a formal position.
Delaware Electric Cooperative clarified that co‑ops’ distribution forecasts roll up into Delmarva’s transmission‑zone forecast and that the cooperative cannot serve loads above 25 megawatts on its distribution system.
Committee members asked about practical triggers for treating a proposed load as "real," such as executed service agreements, site control, permitting milestones and financing. Witnesses said no single factor is dispositive, and the bill’s amendment language is intended to provide a multi‑factor checklist for the PSC.
The committee took no final vote on SB308 during the hearing. Several senators asked to be added as cosponsors and the committee moved on to other agenda items.
