SALISBURY , Md. – Delmarva Power today asked the Maryland Public Service Commission to authorize an increase in electric delivery rates for the company’s nearly 200,000 Maryland customers. If approved, the change would add 2.8 percent to monthly residential electric bills, effective July 21, 2011. The typical bill for a Standard Offer Service residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month would increase by $3.76, moving the average monthly bill from $135.26 to $139.02.
The proposed $17.8 million increase reflects rising costs required to provide customers with safe and reliable electric service. Factors include upgrades to the electric system to improve reliability and support investment in new technology.
“We are seeking a relatively modest rate increase to help us keep pace with the demands for quality service and the cost of maintaining and improving our electric delivery system so that we can ensure the continued, reliable flow of electricity to our customers,” said Gary Stockbridge, President, Delmarva Power Region. “Investing in a safe, reliable and efficient electric system benefits the communities we serve.”
Delivery rates cover the cost of the poles and wires that carry electricity to customers’ homes and businesses and are separate from supply rates. Supply rates are driven primarily by the cost of fuel to make electricity and reflect the cost of energy that Delmarva Power purchases on behalf of its Maryland customers who do not buy power from an alternate supplier. Customers who buy from a competing supplier will see the same increase in their delivery rates.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
34 comments:
Increases in rates are never a great thing, but buying from a competing supplier seems to be a bit detrimental to our local economy. Maybe there is something I don't know about this but if Delmarva Power installed the equipment, how is it that another (out of town) company can charge for it's use? And who gets fixed first when there are problems? DP or the other guy?
I already go around the house turning every light off and keep the heat at 65 degrees to help my electric bill stay within reason. And in the summer I keep my AC at 80 degrees! What else can I do to conserve?
Move out of Maryland may be a good suggestion. I have family who live in another state and their electric bill is amazingly low compared to good ole Delmarva Power!
every other power company is reducing rates. figures these robber barons want to raise them!
no doubt what's gonna happen here! ever heard of BOHICA?
My friend lives on Trap Pond Road and has had a decrease in her electric bill from their Coop up there!! We are just plain disgusting to allow this. Do we have any recourse, other than MOVE?
Transmission fees are the biggest joke! Those power lines have been paid for one billion times over. I have choptank and in the 12 yrs I have had them I look power maybe a grand total of 3 hrs. My friends who have Delmarva Power lose their anytime it storms or snows.
Most of the power poles and Distribution lines that you see have been paid for by our Federal government - National Electrification Act.
To most peoples surprise - they really could survive one their own self-installed photovoltaic system utilizing solar panels, batteries, wind generators, solar hot water, or as Joe has done - installing wood pellet apparatus.
We are now living in a day and age where you no longer need the electric utility.
How do I know - because I install these systems everyday. And - NO - I do not encourage applying to federal or state agencies for energy grants. Just take the Investment Tax Credit - you will be much better off in the long haul.
We were Delmarva Power customers for at least the last 15 years. This year, we moved to an area in Laurel that is serviced by Delaware Electric Cooperative. Our bill has never been more than $175 this winter, August and September our bill was $135. This is central air and heat pump. We never saw a bill that low with Delmarva Power when we had central air and heat pump at our other house. (We had no drafts and the size of the house is still the same). Delmarva Power is the biggest ripoff to consumers. Last year they read our meter wrong and charged us $750 for one month of electric. If I had not made sure I read the meter the same day they do, they would have never caught the "mistake". I got a credit for $250 but they wouldn't budge any more, even though I was right. The economy is horrible, people can't get the basic necessities in life and this is just another way to really make times harder. Catholic Charities and other social services are going to be even more overwhelmed with applications if someone doesn't do something about Delmarva Power.
Delmarva power and the Maryland politicians are in bed together. Watch them closely both are corrupt !
Take a ride by DP&L and look in their parking lot. Believe me the highest paid and some of the laziest people in the area. I want to see what others in this country pay for electric, I bet we are in the top 10%. Ridiculous.
I'm trying to figure out who has an average bill of 135.00??? Tack on another hundred and that might be mine!!!
DP and L needs a reality check...and the Public Service Commission is to blame...
It seems to me Joe, this is the kind of issue that you should really get involved in and mad about. Take on a big corporation and help out the little guys. Delmarva Power is ripping all of us off ! Take your anger away from sick & dying people and use your power to take down a real evil. I just cannot believe that Delmarva Power is allowed to get away with some of the things they do! Delmarva Power, Comcast and Verizon treat their customers horribly and are allowed to get away with it. I just don't understand why more people don't complain, isn't power in numbers?
I live out by Trap Pond in Laurel and we have DE Electic Coop. I LOVE them. They have been super fast when fixing our electric box someone struck or getting our power back on (rarely goes out). We have central air and a heat pump and our highest bill in 4 years has been $197 during last year's super storms. I wouldn't trade them for anything!!
countrygirl@heart
its a good thing!!! higher rates equal higher pay. be happy for us, not many out there getting a raise this year.
I have family that lives in Frederick county, their house is twice as big as ours and that isn't counting their basement. They also have 2 teen daughters. Their electric bill is still lower than ours. The rate we pay per kilowatt hour is crazy. It's twice as much as many people pay.
I absolutely hate Delmarva Power! I couldn't get rid of them completely but I switched to a different power supplier earlier this year and my bill dropped dramatically! DP&L are crooks!!!!
I haven't had a pay raise and have lost benefits for three years in a row, yet gas and food have risen drastically, now electric.
Whats next?
I would like to see the electric company's pay scale.
We need another power company or have Choptank run more lines they are more reasonable.
I know several people who retired from DP and they are living like a king/queen! They were basically "paid" to leave/retire and made out like bandits. No wonder?
Obama could have nationalized the electric companies but know he chose health care ! IDIOT !
I agree with 11:27, who's average bill is is $135? I do everything short of wiping froze snotcicles from my nose to save electric and NEVER have a bill lower than $175! I have an average 3 br/2ba rancher. It makes NO sense to me at all but after fighting with Delmarva power to have my meter checked and them refusing to do it over and over again,I have given up because it does nothing but raise my blood pressure! According to my bill my $254 bill is lower than 60% of homes in my area, so where is that logic of $135 coming into play?
DP&L needs a wake up call...called competition!
Tell you what, I will take half the salary a meter reader makes with the same benefits. I bet I can read more meters in less time.
12:45 Any info on switching would be appreciated !
DP&L,also has an enviromental surcharge on your bill each month. That surcharge was adoped years ago in the Maryland utility tarrif,and developed to fund the purchase of land for new power plants. Now that DP&L is only a delivery company, and not a power supply company,why is the charge still there? And the rebate programs they have are charged to customers in the rate base. Go figure. They can't be touched becasue of politics. The insurance company they use for their vehicles is listed on their address on north rt 13 and Naylor Mill road in Salisbury. I contacted Maryland DMV and there is no business license for that insurance company, and was told by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce to back off of the issue.
Thanks to Unions we have to pay high over priced bills !
where's MY raise?? I havent seen a raise in my income in 3 years, but eveyone else keeps needing more money from me! Wheres MY RAISE???
So sick of Delmarva Power raising rates...it is ridiculous.
would love to know how to get a normal bill of $135.36 or $139.02. we went from a low of 151 to over 350 last month. shudder to think what this new one is gonna be.
we the customers are already making a capital investment paying for their new facility...why don't we the people get capital stock in their corporation?...no other industry gets away with this..political graft is what it is...from a corrupt public service commission
come on Joe, help us out, time to put some heat on these monoplies and their crooked enablers, the md democratic legislators!
Does anyone know or have experience with Constellation Electric. I Keep getting their requests in the mail to switch over to them but not sure if they are reputable or not and really will they save me money. Sounds like at this point, anything would be better than DP.
Time to sharpen the pitch forks and light the torches !
Straight up ripoff of consumers. They are crooks and thieves, backed up by crooks and thieves. Keep raising the cost of living (existing, actually) for working people. Raise gas prices. Electric rates. Groceries. Taxes. Make more people angry. And desperate. And when they revolt, do your best to run and hide. Good luck doing it.
Anarchy would be a better system at this point !
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