Governor Matt Meyer Signs Energy Consumer Protection Legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Media Contact:
Jamie Mangrum
[email protected]

WILMINGTON, Del. - Governor Matt Meyer today signed a package of energy consumer protection bills and delivered remarks, with state legislators, to address the rising utility costs for Delaware families and businesses.

"Together, the bills require data centers and other large energy users to pay for their own infrastructure costs, protect the power grid, and strengthen rate caps and consumer protections against utility rate hikes," said Governor Matt Meyer. "This bill package is about protecting people. It is about making sure the rules are fair. And it is about standing up for Delawareans when powerful interests have the resources to stand up for themselves. Some of the wealthiest companies and billionaires in the world are building technologies that require extraordinary amounts of energy and infrastructure. Delaware is not going to ask working people, seniors and small businesses to pick up their tab."

Held at the Delaware AARP state office in Wilmington, lawmakers joined the Governor to speak about the critical need to advocate for vulnerable Delawareans who are consistently burdened with the rising, untenable energy costs.

"Here in Delaware, our small size makes us disproportionately susceptible to the actions that neighboring states, the federal government, and business interests take regarding energy policy. That's why my colleagues and I passed more than a dozen pieces of legislation during these past two years to curb rising energy costs - especially as we grapple with the rising prominence of data centers," said Sen. Stephanie Hansen, chair of the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee. "Crafting responsible energy policy requires balancing the needs of ratepayers - the constituents that we as lawmakers represent - while ensuring that there is long-term energy reliability on the grid that serves those same constituents. I'm proud to be able to work closely with my colleagues in the House, in the Governor's office, at DNREC and out in the community to develop responsible and responsive policies that will protect our constituents for years to come."

"By now, we have enough data and evidence from communities across the country to know what can happen when data centers move in without guardrails in place. Often times, residents are left with exponentially higher energy bills and the entire grid becomes strained," said Rep. Debra Heffernan, sponsor of HB 445 and HB 310. "I am proud that today Delaware became the first state to legislatively enact a 'Bring Your Own Generation' policy for large energy use facilities and that we've taken an important step to ensure data centers aren't able to receive taxpayer funded credits tied to job creation for jobs they didn't create. Together, these measures will ensure that our grid remains reliable and that everyday Delawareans aren't left shouldering the costs of increased energy demands down the road."

The bills today included:

• House Bill 233: Creates a separate utility rate class specifically for large energy-use facilities, like data centers, so that massive projects pay the full cost of infrastructure upgrades rather than shifting those expenses onto residential and small business customers. It also prioritizes cutting off these large users first during grid emergencies or blackouts unless they supply their own generation.
• House Bill 445: Enforces a "bring your own generation" requirement for large energy-use facilities to ensure they produce or secure 100 percent of their required power including a share of clean/renewable energy to prevent straining the public grid.
• House Bill 310: Prohibits large energy-use facilities from qualifying for job-creation business tax credits and license fee reductions.
• Senate Bill 326: Focuses on broader utility accountability by placing limits and enhanced oversight on non-mandatory capital expenditures that for-profit monopoly utilities like Delmarva Power can recover from standard residential ratepayers.

All bills will take effect immediately.

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