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Read. Follow. Verify.Delaware caps utility infrastructure spending, restricts interim rate hikes, and bans recovery of specific expenses
Last action · July 13, 2026: Signed by GovernorSponsors: Stephanie Hansen and 9 others
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What This Bill Does
Senate Bill 326 enacts new restrictions on public utilities in Delaware by limiting Delmarva Power's non-mandatory infrastructure spending, restricting interim rate collections before final Commission rulings, and prohibiting utilities from passing certain expenses on to ratepayers. The law also mandates regular management audits, regulatory accounting reviews during rate cases, and explicit written explanations from the Commission when it approves settlement agreements.
Utility customers face stricter limits on the infrastructure costs and interim rate increases that energy companies can charge to household and business bills.
- The Public Service Commission is the state regulatory agency responsible for overseeing public utilities and establishing service and rate standards in Delaware. context
- This legislation builds upon previous consumer protection measures initiated via Senate Bill 60 during the 2025 legislative session. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Public utility customers
Ratepayers receive new protections limiting interim rate hikes and the recovery of certain utility expenses.
Delmarva Power
The utility faces caps on recovering non-mandatory capital expenditures and restrictions on interim rate collections.
Public Service Commission
The agency must enforce new regulatory accounting reviews, conduct management audits, and issue written rationales for settlement agreements.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will these new spending limits affect storm repair or tree trimming?
What new requirements are placed on the Public Service Commission?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
11 actions- Jul 13, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolledSigned by Governor
- Jun 30, 2026HouseFloorPassed By House. Votes: 30 YES 11 NO
- Jun 30, 2026HouseAmendment HA 1 to SB 326 - Stricken in House
- Jun 30, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Out of Committee (Natural Resources & Energy) in House with 8 On Its Merits
- Jun 29, 2026SenateCommitteeAmendment HA 1 to SB 326 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- Jun 17, 2026HouseIntroducedAssigned to Natural Resources & Energy Committee in House
Show 5 earlier actions
- Jun 16, 2026SenateFloorPassed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 NO
- Jun 16, 2026SenateCommitteeAmendment SA 1 to SB 326 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 NOT VOTING
- Jun 9, 2026SenateCommitteeReported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
- Jun 8, 2026SenateCommitteeAmendment SA 1 to SB 326 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- May 18, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced and Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Voting Record
SM
Total
41
- Yes
- 30
- No
- 11
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (41)
17 more members
Show 1 earlier roll call
SM
Total
21
- Yes
- 20
- No
- 1
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (21)
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 5 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of 2025 Utility Customer Protections
This legislation directly builds upon and tightens customer protections originally established under Senate Bill 60 during the 2025 legislative session.
Connected Entities
Sources
legis.delaware.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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