An Act To Amend Title 26 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Net-metering And Interconnection Rules.
Summary
HB269 amends Delaware’s net-metering statute to update how electric suppliers, municipal electric companies, and electric cooperatives handle interconnection for customer-owned generation and grid-integrated electric vehicles. The bill requires interconnection rules to account for reliability, safety, and distribution-system capacity, and it directs suppliers to use recognized safety and performance standards such as the National Electrical Code, IEEE, UL, and SAE standards. It also reinforces that interconnection rules should be based on the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s model rules and U.S. Department of Energy best practices.
The bill further gives the utility regulatory authority power to set and enforce application-processing timelines and project milestones, with consequences for missed deadlines unless delays are caused by the applicant. It prohibits suppliers from imposing excessive controls, unnecessary testing, or excessive liability insurance on eligible net-metering customers who already meet applicable standards. For commission-regulated utilities, it allows recovery of prudently incurred implementation costs tied to faster project execution, including administrative expenses, technology upgrades, and customer-system investments.
Impact
HB269 would change Title 26 of the Delaware Code by tightening and clarifying interconnection requirements for distributed energy resources, including solar and other net-metered systems and grid-integrated electric vehicles. It affects electric suppliers, municipal electric companies, electric cooperatives, and customers seeking to connect generation to the grid, while also giving regulators more explicit authority to oversee timelines and enforce compliance. The bill also creates a cost-recovery path for regulated utilities to recoup certain implementation expenses associated with improving interconnection processes.
Sentiment
The voting record suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill, with strong majorities in both chambers: 32-5 in the House and 14-5 in the Senate. The absence of committee transcript material limits insight into detailed debate, but the broad bipartisan sponsorship and passage indicate support for streamlining interconnection and net-metering procedures while maintaining safety and reliability standards.
Contention
The main points of contention likely center on the balance between faster, less burdensome interconnection for customers and the operational and cost concerns of utilities. Provisions allowing regulators to impose deadlines and penalties on suppliers may be viewed as necessary consumer protections by supporters, while utilities may be concerned about compliance burdens and implementation costs. The bill’s prohibition on excessive controls, tests, and insurance requirements could also be disputed by utilities that want more discretion to manage grid safety and liability risk.