Understanding Your Electric Supplier Options

If you're a Delmarva Power or Delaware Electric Cooperative customer, you may have received a flyer in the mail, a telephone call, or a visit at your door offering to help you save on your electric bill. These offers are often associated with an electric supplier-also known as third-party supplier representatives.

In 1999, Delaware established electric choice, which means that the supply portion of electric service became deregulated. Since then customers have retained the option of choosing a third party electric supplier to fulfill that portion of their electric usage. Supply charges make up approximately 65% of a total electric bill for Delmarva Power customers. Electric suppliers offer a variety of incentives and pricing models to customers to suit the needs and desires of a variety of customers.

Customers that choose to contract with a third party electric supplier will still receive a bill from their utility provider (Delaware Electric Cooperative or Delmarva Power). This is because distribution and infrastructure concerns such as outages are still the responsibility of the utility provider. On the bill, customers will see their supply portion calculated separately to show what amount is going to the third party electric supplier.

Any concerns or questions about the contract or amount owed to the supplier should be sent to the company offering that service. When a customer pays their electric bill, the utility provider reserves the right to obtain the amount owed to them first before sending payment to the third party electric supplier.

Customers can potentially save money using an electric supplier, but should keep in mind that these rates are often variable and should read contracts thorougly.

Before switching, we encourage customers to review this list of questions to ask potential electric suppliers.

No supplier represents the State of Delaware, Public Service Commission, or Delmarva Power. Should you have questions or concerns regarding the information being presented to you, please call the Public Service Commission at 302-736-7500.