FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | August 27, 2026
Contact: Sarah Fulton (302) 401-1114
DOVER — Following the signing of a comprehensive utility regulation and consumer protection package, Sen. Stephanie Hansen issued the following statement:
“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 a substantial package of legislation to curb rising energy costs — especially as we grapple with the rising prominence of data centers.
Some of the first legislation I filed during the 153rd General Assembly was a package of bills back in February 2025 designed to equip the Delaware Public Service Commission with the tools needed to better regulate our public utilities — entities like Delmarva Power that operate as monopolies. These bills were filed following a dangerously cold winter, in which energy usage was rivaling all-time records.
While my colleagues and I were deliberating this package of consumer protection legislation, another urgent issue was arising: plans for a massive data center were laid at Delaware’s doorstep. A proposed 1.2 gigawatt facility would have had major impacts on our community, including emissions, electricity cost impacts, and grid reliability concerns. It was clear that the state legislature needed to act to protect our neighbors.
To address the rising threat of large energy use facilities being built in our backyards, my colleagues and I passed a package of three bills dealing with these facilities. The three bills were harmonized together, incorporating feedback from community members, businesses, and energy policy experts during the public process for discussion. One bill sets out what will be our State’s approval mechanism to make sure that large energy use facilities pay their way for being allowed to connect into the grid in our State and not shift
costs to the public at large. Another addressed the specific issue of large energy use facilities being required to bring their own electric generation before being able to connect into the grid in our State, or adhere to a ten-year ramp up period while being subject to curtailment. The last bill regulated certain tax exemptions for large energy users in our community.
Perhaps the toughest fight we faced during this legislative session was through the passage of Senate Bill 326, a bill which ultimately received bipartisan support in both chambers. This bill contains a number of provisions to hold public utilities like Delmarva accountable by capping their costs on non-mandatory capital investments which they, in turn, pass along to Delawareans.
When an amendment threatening to gut the cost-cap portion of the bill was introduced, there was significant legislative and public outcry and the amendment was ultimately stricken.
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.
When we have the courage to push back on the corporate interests that so often influence our policy decisions, we can honestly tell our constituents that we fought for their best interests. I believe that’s what we’ve done during the 153rd General Assembly, and I look forward to continuing this work when we return in January.”
###
