Delmarva Power requests recovery of $28.8M for Maryland energy grid efforts

The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) will hear a request from Delmarva Power that would adjust its depreciation rates and electric delivery rates to encompass approximately $28.8 million in costs for modernizing the local energy grid and improving service reliability.

Current predictions put the cost to the average customer at around a 5 percent monthly bill increase, or approximately $7.62.

“Our mission is to provide our customers and communities with safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy service that they can count on every day,” Gary Stockbridge, Delmarva Power region president, said. “Due to the pandemic, the need for reliable service is more important now than ever before. With many adults still working from home and children learning virtually, we are focused on continuing to provide our customers with the level of service they can depend on during this difficult time. This proposed rate adjustment is critical to continuing our efforts to further enhance service reliability, install modern equipment and meet the ongoing expectations of our customers.”

Over the last year, Delmarva Power established major system upgrades at the Fruitland and Stevensville substation to increase efficiency of energy delivery in the area, while also upgrading transmission and distribution lines from North Salisbury to Hebron, Maryland. All told, these updates affected the quality of service for more than 21,000 customers. Yet Delmarva has also worked to trim trees, install new cables and both inspect and upgrade switches, poles and other devices throughout its service region.

As a result of such upgrades, the company reports that its Maryland customers have experienced two straight years of the lowest frequency of electric outages in its service history. Restoration times have also been increasing as a result of these modernization efforts.