Delaware Senate Bill SB192

Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/24/25
• Refer: 6/24/25
• Engrossed: 4/23/26
• Refer: 4/30/26

Caption

An Act To Amend Title 26 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Public Utilities.

Summary

SB 192 amends Title 26 of the Delaware Code to add a new definition of “call center” for public utilities and to create notice requirements before a utility relocates call center operations outside its service territory or contracts that work out of territory. The bill requires the utility to give at least 120 days’ notice, in a form determined by the Public Service Commission, to the Commission, current and prospective call center employees, and the leadership of any labor unions representing those employees. The bill also creates a narrow exemption from the notice requirements when the out-of-territory contracting is due to a disaster, using the disaster definition in Title 20. In practical terms, the measure is aimed at transparency and advance warning for workers and regulators when utility customer-service operations are moved or outsourced.

Impact

SB 192 would add a new section to Delaware’s public utility law governing call center relocations and outsourcing. It does not prohibit a utility from moving or contracting out call center work, but it imposes a procedural notice obligation on utilities and gives the Public Service Commission a role in determining the manner and form of notice. The bill primarily affects public utilities, their call center employees, prospective hires, and union leadership, while creating an emergency exception for disaster-related outsourcing.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill was received favorably, passing Senate Third Reading unanimously by a 20-0 vote. No committee transcripts were provided, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to indicate opposition or detailed concerns. Overall, the bill appears to have broad support as a worker- and transparency-oriented utility regulation measure.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Based on the text, any debate would likely center on whether the 120-day notice requirement is burdensome for utilities, how broadly “call center” and “contracting call center work” should be interpreted, and whether the disaster exemption is sufficiently flexible. The bill’s supporters appear to favor advance notice to employees, unions, and regulators, while any potential critics would likely be concerned about operational constraints on utilities.