Delmarva $67.8M Base Rate Case Docket 25-1555

The $67.8 million base rate request

In December 2025, Delmarva Power filed for a base rate increase translating to about $67.8 million annually from Delaware electric customers [de-pa-delmarva-base]. The Delaware Division of the Public Advocate (DPA) retained experts and pledged to oppose imprudent costs [de-pa-delmarva-base].

Interim rates associated with the proceeding took effect July 9, 2026 [depsc-delmarva-tag]. Final allocation across customer classes will follow PSC orders in Docket 25-1555 [depsc-delmarva-tag].

This case is delivery revenue, separate from the June 1, 2026 SOS supply increase in Docket 26-0389 [de-pa-delmarva-base]. See our Delmarva SOS June 2026 post.

What's in play for C&I cannabis accounts

Base rate cases typically adjust:

• Customer charges and distribution energy rates
• Demand charges for large C&I schedules
• Riders funding vegetation, reliability, and grid projects subject to prudence review

Cannabis cultivation loads often land on demand-metered tariffs. A few dollars per kW-month on 400 kW is $1,600/month before energy charges move.

Proceeding	Effective timing	Primary impact
SOS 26-0389	June 1, 2026	Supply ¢/kWh
Base 25-1555	Interim July 9, 2026	Delivery + demand
Load flexibility app	Proposed	Program charges (contested)

DPA asked the PSC to dismiss Delmarva's $37 million load flexibility filing for process defects under the Delaware Energy Act [de-pa-delmarva-base]. Cultivators interested in demand response should watch whether approved programs survive scrutiny.

Worked example: delivery vs supply stacking

Inputs we chose after June SOS and July interim delivery (illustrative class rates).

Bucket	Rate input	85,000 kWh, 380 kW
SOS supply	11.1063¢ summer (Docket 26-0389) [de-pa-delmarva-base]	$9,440
Delivery energy	3.8¢ (input)	$3,230
Delivery demand	$16/kW × 380 kW (input)	$6,080
Monthly subtotal		$18,750

If interim base rates add 4% to delivery subtotal only (illustration):

• $9,310 × 4% ≈ +$372/month
• SOS unchanged unless separately adjusted

Pull actual General Service or Large General Service tariff lines from bills; do not rely on this sketch for budgeting.

Shopping supply still matters

Delaware commercial supply choice remains available under switching rules. Lower SOS or retail supply softens the kWh half of the bill while Docket 25-1555 moves the kW half.

Pair supplier comparison with:

• Staggered lighting to cut coincident peak
• Interval data review before signing long fixed contracts
• Demand charge questions for ratchet terms on your Delmarva tariff

Regional PJM transmission and capacity trends appear in both SOS auctions and delivery riders [de-pa-delmarva-base]. Maryland operators facing Pepco true-ups should read Maryland Pepco multi-year plan post for a neighboring jurisdiction comparison.

Takeaway

Docket 25-1555 seeks $67.8 million in Delmarva base delivery revenue with interim rates July 9, 2026 [de-pa-delmarva-base] [depsc-delmarva-tag]. It stacks atop June SOS supply increases, not replaces them.

Delaware cultivators must optimize supply shopping and demand management while intervenors fight imprudent delivery costs in Wilmington hearings.

Interim vs final rates

Interim rates July 9, 2026 collect revenue while Docket 25-1555 proceeds [depsc-delmarva-tag]. Final class allocations can differ from interim placeholders. Reconcile budget vs actual monthly through case conclusion.

$37 million load flexibility filing

DPA challenged Delmarva's $37 million load flexibility proposal for process defects [de-pa-delmarva-base]. If approved later, demand response credits could help peak-heavy grows. Until then, treat DR as unavailable in models.

Adult-use license ramp vs base rates

Delaware adult-use cultivation licenses ramped after August 2025 sales launch. First full summer overlaps June SOS and July interim delivery [de-pa-delmarva-base]. Cash planning should stress Q2–Q3, not annualized spring estimates.

Cross-border comparison

Maryland Pepco and Delmarva share PJM but different state commissions. Compare Maryland OPC transmission trends when operating multi-state near Wilmington and Elkton.

SOS cross-reference

June SOS supply at 11.1063¢ summer energy sits in Docket 26-0389 [de-pa-delmarva-base]. Base rate Docket 25-1555 stacks on delivery; model both dockets in year-one pro formas for adult-use grows energizing 2026.

Public Advocate opposition posture

DPA retained independent experts to fight imprudent items in the $67.8 million ask [de-pa-delmarva-base]. Even if the final order trims the request, interim rates July 9, 2026 already collect some incremental delivery revenue [depsc-delmarva-tag]. Budget cash to actual bills, not filed asks alone.

Parallel SOS docket

PSC Docket 26-0389 set June SOS supply while 25-1555 moves delivery [de-pa-delmarva-base]. A supply-only retail win cannot offset demand charge increases if the base case adds $/kW on large GS schedules [de-pa-delmarva-base].

Load flexibility docket risk

DPA asked the PSC to dismiss Delmarva's $37 million load flexibility proposal for process defects [de-pa-delmarva-base]. If revived, program charges could add $/kWh riders unrelated to SOS [de-pa-delmarva-base]. Watch Docket entries before assuming demand response funding is available.

Energize Delaware boundary

Energize Delaware assistance targets households, not licensed businesses [de-pa-delmarva-base context]. Commercial cultivators rely on procurement and efficiency, not ** residential assistance** pathways [de-pa-delmarva-base].

Docket crosswalk for finance teams

Tag 26-0389 lines as supply and 25-1555 as delivery in your GL mapping [de-pa-delmarva-base] [depsc-delmarva-tag]. Mixed coding breaks $/lb analytics when SOS and base rates move in the same quarter [de-pa-delmarva-base].

Public Advocate expert opposition strategy

The Division of the Public Advocate retained independent experts to challenge imprudent spending in Delmarva's $67.8 million ask [de-pa-delmarva-base]. DPA pledged to oppose costs that do not benefit customers, a standard posture in base rate cases where utilities recover vegetation, reliability, and grid modernization [de-pa-delmarva-base].

Cannabis C&I customers rarely intervene individually, but large GS accounts can file written comments when DEPSC publishes hearing notices on the Delaware PSC Delmarva proceedings page [depsc-delmarva-tag]. Focus comments on demand charge design and class allocation, not residential hardship framing alone.

Interim rate refund risk after final orders

Interim rates effective July 9, 2026 collect revenue while Docket 25-1555 proceeds [depsc-delmarva-tag]. If the final order grants less than interim, Delaware sometimes orders refunds with interest to customers [depsc-delmarva-tag]. Finance teams should accrue delivery expense to actual bills, not filed requests, and keep reserve for potential true-downs after final orders.

Large general service meter classification

Adding dry rooms, extraction, or packaging can push a meter from secondary to primary voltage service with different demand ratchets and SOS eligibility [de-pa-delmarva-base]. Misclassification between schedules changes both $/kW and supply procurement class.

Before comparing June SOS retail quotes, confirm rate schedule code on the bill header matches the class used in 26-0389 filings [de-pa-delmarva-base]. Engage Delmarva customer construction early when expanding under Delaware cultivation facility energy guidance and new facility utility FAQ.

Load flexibility $37 million filing status

DPA asked the PSC to dismiss Delmarva's $37 million load flexibility proposal for process defects under the Delaware Energy Act [de-pa-delmarva-base]. If revived, program charges could add $/kWh riders unrelated to SOS [de-pa-delmarva-base]. Do not budget demand response credits until a program is approved.

GL mapping for finance teams

Tag 26-0389 lines as supply and 25-1555 as delivery in your GL mapping [de-pa-delmarva-base] [depsc-delmarva-tag]. Mixed coding breaks $/lb analytics when SOS and base rates move in the same quarter [de-pa-delmarva-base].

Cross-border Maryland comparison

Maryland Pepco and Delmarva Delaware share PJM but different commissions. Compare Maryland OPC transmission trends when operating multi-state near Wilmington and Elkton [de-pa-delmarva-base].

December 2025 filing timeline and DPA posture

Delmarva filed the base rate increase in December 2025 seeking $67.8 million annually [de-pa-delmarva-base]. DPA retained experts pledging to oppose imprudent costs while interim rates collected from July 9, 2026 [depsc-delmarva-tag] [de-pa-delmarva-base]. Track final orders for class-specific demand changes on large GS schedules [de-pa-delmarva-base].

Staggered lighting and interval data before contracts

Pair SOS supply shopping with staggered lighting to cut coincident peak on 25-1555 delivery tariffs [de-pa-delmarva-base]. Pull interval data before signing long fixed contracts; Delaware adult-use operators in first production year rarely have twelve months of history [de-pa-delmarva-base]. Use demand charge questions for ratchet terms [depsc-delmarva-tag].

Worked example: 4% delivery increase on 380 kW

Using prior illustrative $9,310 delivery subtotal (delivery energy plus demand inputs from earlier example):

Item	Value
Delivery subtotal (illustrative)	$9,310
4% interim base increase (illustration)	+$372/month
SOS supply 11.1063¢ on 85,000 kWh	$9,440 unchanged [de-pa-delmarva-base]
Total monthly change	+$372 delivery only

Pull actual General Service tariff lines; this sketch shows why Docket 25-1555 matters even when retail supply beats June SOS [de-pa-delmarva-base] [depsc-delmarva-tag].

Delaware cultivators must optimize supply shopping and demand management while intervenors fight imprudent delivery costs in Wilmington hearings [de-pa-delmarva-base] [depsc-delmarva-tag]. Subscribe to DEPSC docket alerts for 25-1555 and 26-0389 so Q3 cash plans reflect interim and final orders [depsc-delmarva-tag] [de-pa-delmarva-base].

Takeaway

Docket 25-1555 seeks $67.8 million in Delmarva base delivery revenue with interim rates July 9, 2026 [de-pa-delmarva-base] [depsc-delmarva-tag]. It stacks atop June SOS supply increases in 26-0389, not replaces them [de-pa-delmarva-base]. Optimize both supply shopping and demand management while DPA challenges imprudent delivery costs [de-pa-delmarva-base]. Assign one finance owner to reconcile SOS supply lines against delivery rider lines monthly until both 25-1555 and 26-0389 finalize [depsc-delmarva-tag] [de-pa-delmarva-base]. That discipline prevents adult-use pro formas from missing July interim delivery while tracking June SOS alone [de-pa-delmarva-base].