(a) The Commission shall have exclusive original supervision and regulation of all public utilities and also over their rates, property rights, equipment, facilities, service territories and franchises so far as may be necessary for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this title. Such regulation shall include the regulation of the rates, terms and conditions for any attachment (except by a governmental agency insofar as it is acting on behalf of the public health, safety or welfare) to any pole, duct, conduit, right-of-way or other facility of any public utility, and, in so regulating, the Commission shall consider the interests of subscribers, if any, of the entity attaching to the public utility’s facility, as well as the interests of the consumer of the public utility service.

(b) Further, the Commission shall have exclusive original jurisdiction and regulation of every cable television system outside the boundaries of incorporated municipalities which on June 28, 1974, have the power either express or implied under their charters to grant franchises for a cable system, and the Commission shall have supervision and review jurisdiction and regulation over any action taken by incorporated municipalities, which on June 28, 1974, have the power either express or implied under their charters to grant franchises for a cable system, with respect to the regulation of cable television systems, including the grant of or failure to grant franchises for a cable system by such municipality or the terms of any franchise now or hereafter granted for a cable system by such a municipality or the conduct of any franchisee holding a franchise from such a municipality, provided that the Commission’s original and review jurisdiction and regulation shall be conducted solely in accordance with the provisions of subchapter VI of this chapter.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the exercise of supervision and regulation over public utilities that provide telecommunications services, the Commission:

(1) Shall forbear from regulating the rates, terms, and conditions of competitive retail communications services; and

(2) Shall not investigate or adjudicate retail customer complaints for services except complaints related to the adequate provisioning of basic services.

(d) (1) In the exercise of supervision and regulation over public utilities other than those that provide telecommunications services, the Commission may, upon application or on its own motion, after notice and hearing, forbear from (“deregulate”) in whole or in part, its supervision and regulation over some or all public utility products or services and over some or all public utilities where the Commission determines that a competitive market exists for such products and services and where the Commission finds that such deregulation will be in the public interest.

(2) Any application under this subsection shall, at a minimum, include specific proposal or proposals, supporting statements or testimony, an analysis of the effects on the utility’s regulated customers and an implementation plan. The application shall affirmatively establish that the deregulation being considered will not adversely affect the availability, cost or quality of utility services provided to the utility’s regulated customers.

(3) The Commission shall approve or disapprove any such deregulation applications within 180 days after submission thereof, except that, for good cause found, the Commission may enter an order extending this period for an additional 90 days.

(4) The Commission shall determine how a public utility shall account for such deregulated products or services (including cost allocations where found to be appropriate) so as to ensure that the utility’s regulated customers neither benefit unduly from nor unduly provide a subsidy to the deregulated products or services; provided, that such accounting determination shall not thereafter be changed by the Commission except for good cause shown.

(5) In connection with any application under this subsection for forbearance from Commission supervision and regulation, the Commission shall find, among other relevant things, the following:

a. Whether a competitive market exists for the particular utility product or service being requested to be wholly or partly deregulated. Conditions and factors to be considered may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. The existing or prospective market power of the utility with respect to its products or services for which deregulation is sought; and

2. If there are significant entry or exit costs or other barriers to potential competitors; and

3. If there is a reasonable basis to expect that prices of wholly or partly deregulated products or services will reflect the incremental costs of supply;

b. Whether any safeguards are necessary to prevent a material adverse effect on utility service quality or rate levels;

c. Whether or not an option to remain under the Commission’s supervision and regulation should be made available for customers whose utility products and services would be deregulated by the proposal;

d. Whether or not the public utility shall unbundle each service or function on which a service depends to its fundamental elements and shall make those elements separately available to any customer whose utility service is being deregulated by the proposal under terms and conditions, including price, that are the same or comparable to those used by the public utility in providing its own service. The public utility shall not unreasonably discriminate between affiliated and unaffiliated providers of services in offering unbundled features, functions and capabilities; and

e. Whether the Commission should forbear from regulating competing providers of such products or services.

(6) Where the Commission has made a determination to forbear from its supervision and regulation under this section, the Commission shall have the ongoing right to review, examine and audit the books and records of the applicable utility, and the relevant books and records of any relevant nonregulated affiliate. This right shall be the same as the Commission’s right of access to inspection and examination of the utility’s regulated books, accounts and records and appropriate safeguards regarding disclosure of confidential information shall be provided.

(7) Thirty months after any approval of forbearance from regulation hereunder, the utility shall file a report with the Commission summarizing its activities for that wholly or partly deregulated activity during its first 24 months of operation. Such report shall, at a minimum, address the criteria that the Commission deemed relevant in approving the request to deregulate such product or service. The report shall also describe the service provider’s investment during the previous 24 months. Such report shall also describe the level of planned investment over the next 5 years. The Commission may require that similar reports be submitted biannually thereafter.

(8) The Commission, after notice and hearing, may prospectively revoke or reverse any forbearance of regulation granted hereunder where it finds that doing so is in the public interest. Where the Commission revokes or reverses a prior decision made under paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the Commission shall determine that the current rates for the related products or services are just and reasonable or shall establish new rates that are just and reasonable.

(9) This subsection shall not apply to a telecommunications service provider for so long as such provider is governed under the provisions of subchapter VII-A, Chapter 1 of this title.

(e) (1) In the exercise of supervision and regulation over public utilities, the Commission may, upon application or on its own motion, after notice and hearing, alter, in whole or in part, its supervision and regulation over some or all public utility products or services and over some or all public utilities to the extent necessary to promote and sustain adequate service at just and reasonable rates where the Commission determines that alternatives to supervision and regulation including the competitive provision of such products and services are in the public interest. Alternatives include, but are not limited to, incentive regulation, earnings sharing, categorization of services for the purposes of pricing, price caps, price indexing, ranges of authorized returns and different returns for different services. The Commission is specifically authorized to depart from rate base, rate of return regulation when it is in the public interest and when such departure is found to promote just and reasonable rates.

(2) Any application under this subsection shall, at a minimum, include specific proposal or proposals, supporting statements or testimony, an analysis of the effects on the utility’s regulated services provided to its customers and an implementation plan. The application shall affirmatively establish that the alteration of regulation will not adversely affect the availability, cost or quality of the regulated utility services provided to the utility’s customers.

(3) The Commission shall approve or disapprove any such requests for alternative supervision and regulation within 180 days after submission thereof, except that, for good cause found, the Commission may enter an order extending this period for an additional 90 days.

(4) The Commission shall determine how a public utility shall account for such alternatives (including cost allocations where found to be appropriate) so as to ensure that public utility customers to which such alternatives are not made available neither benefit unduly from nor unduly provide a subsidy to public utility customers to whom such alternatives are made available; provided, that such accounting determination shall not thereafter be changed by the Commission except for good cause shown.

(5) The Commission, after notice and hearing, may prospectively revoke or reverse any alternative form of regulation granted hereunder where it finds that doing so is in the public interest. Where the Commission revokes or reverses a prior decision made under paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the Commission shall determine that the current rates for the related products or services are just and reasonable or shall establish new rates that are just and reasonable.

(6) This subsection shall not apply to a telecommunications service provider for so long as such provider is governed by the provisions of subchapter VII-A, Chapter 1 of this title.

(f) In the exercise of supervision and regulation over public utilities, the Commission may, upon application or on its own motion, after notice and hearing, alter a regulated utility’s billing statements in the interest of increasing transparency and understanding. Alternatives include changes to fairly reflect costs associated with legislatively-mandated public policy initiatives, such as compliance costs in greenhouse gas reduction programs and any increase in costs associated with state-sponsored renewable energy projects.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  2;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  121;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1;  65 Del. Laws, c. 227, §  1;  66 Del. Laws, c. 50, §  2;  68 Del. Laws, c. 61, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 48, §§  1, 2;  79 Del. Laws, c. 53, §  2;  80 Del. Laws, c. 214, § 1;  84 Del. Laws, c. 401, § 4; 

(a) Except insofar as may be necessary to implement §§ 203A and 203B of this title regarding the establishment and administration of retail electric service territories, and except as may be necessary to implement § 203C and § 203D of this title regarding the issuance of certificates of public convenience and necessity for water and wastewater utilities, and the review authorized under § 122 of Title 16, and except insofar as any entity agrees to participate in a proceeding before the Commission relating to an offshore wind contract under § 365 of Title 26, the Commission shall not have any supervision or regulation over any public utility, or over the rates, property, property rights, equipment, facilities or franchises of any public utility that is municipally-owned or over any municipal electric company formed pursuant to Chapter 13 of Title 22.

(b) Except as may be necessary to implement §§ 203C and 203D of this title regarding the issuance of certificates of public convenience and necessity for water and wastewater utilities, and the review authorized under § 122 of Title 16, the Commission shall not have any jurisdiction over any public utility, water or wastewater district or water or wastewater authority created and operated pursuant to Title 9 and Title 16.

(c) The Commission shall have no jurisdiction over the operation of telephone service provided by cellular technology or by domestic public land mobile radio service or over the rates to be charged for such service or over property, property rights, equipment or facilities employed in such service.

(d) [Repealed.]

(e) Any building owner, engaged in a principal business which does not involve the provision of utility services, providing steam heat or refrigeration chilled water to a nonprofit entity occupying a building located in close proximity to the owner’s building, shall not be considered a public utility.

(f) Except insofar as may be necessary to implement Chapter 10 of this title regarding the establishment of retail competition, the Commission shall have no supervision or regulation over any electric supplier.

(g) Except as provided in § 224 of this title, the Commission shall have no supervision or regulation over any electric cooperative the membership of which has voted to be exempt from regulation by the Commission in accordance with § 223 of this title.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title, the Commission shall not have any supervisory or regulatory authority over wastewater utilities serving fewer than 50 customers in the aggregate.

(i) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Commission shall have no jurisdiction or regulatory authority over Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) service, as defined in paragraph (i)(2) of this section, or IP-enabled service, as defined in paragraph (i)(3) of this section, including but not limited to, the imposition of regulatory fees, certification requirements, rates, terms or other conditions of service.

(2) “Voice over Internet Protocol service” or “VoIP service” means any service that:

a. Enables real-time 2-way voice communications that originate or terminate from the user’s location in Internet protocol or any successor protocol; and

b. Utilizes a broadband connection from the user’s location.

(3) “Internet protocol-enabled service” or “IP-enabled service” means a service, capability, functionality or application provided using Internet protocol, or any successor protocol, that enables an end user to send or receive a communication in Internet protocol format or any successor format, regardless of whether the communication is voice, data or video.

(4) Nothing herein shall be construed to either mandate or prohibit the assessment of Enhanced 911 fees pursuant to Chapter 101 of Title 16 on VoIP service, or to mandate or prohibit the payment of any switched network access rates or other intercarrier compensation rates that may be determined to apply.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  2;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  122;  57 Del. Laws, c. 735;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1;  61 Del. Laws, c. 469, §  1;  61 Del. Laws, c. 496, §  2;  62 Del. Laws, c. 419, §  1;  63 Del. Laws, c. 5, §  1;  64 Del. Laws, c. 342, §§  2, 3;  66 Del. Laws, c. 50, §  3;  68 Del. Laws, c. 124, §  2;  68 Del. Laws, c. 299, §  3;  70 Del. Laws, c. 133, §  1;  72 Del. Laws, c. 10, §  6;  72 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  1;  72 Del. Laws, c. 402, §  5;  73 Del. Laws, c. 157, §  1;  74 Del. Laws, c. 317, §§  3-5;  76 Del. Laws, c. 29, §  1;  79 Del. Laws, c. 53, §  3;  84 Del. Laws, c. 401, § 5; 

Transferred.

(a) (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section and §§ 102, 201, 202 and Chapter 10 of this title, and excluding electric suppliers, no individual, copartnership, association, corporation, joint stock company, agency or department of the State, cooperative, or the lessees, trustees or receivers thereof, shall begin the business of a public utility nor shall any public utility begin any extension of its regulated public utility business or operations without having first obtained from the Commission a certificate that the present or future public convenience and necessity requires or will require the operation of such regulated public utility business or extension.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Commission approval shall be required for any transfer of a certificate of public convenience between public utility companies providing telecommunications services that operate under common ownership.

(3) This section shall not be construed to require any public utility to secure such a certificate for any construction, modifications, upgrades or extensions within the perimeter of any territory already served by it.

(4) The Commission, after hearing, on the complaint of any public utility claiming to be adversely affected by any proposed extension, may make such order and prescribe such terms and conditions with respect to the proposed extension as may be required by the public convenience and necessity.

(b) (1) If any individual, copartnership, association, corporation, joint stock company, agency or department of the State, cooperative, or the lessees, trustees or receivers thereof (or the predecessor in interest of any such person, party or legal entity), was in bona fide operation within this State on June 28, 1974, of any electronic communication in whole or in part by wire (other than telephone, including domestic public land mobile radio or telegraph service, system, plant or equipment) including, but not limited to, cable television service, system, plant or equipment, for public use, the Commission shall issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing such person, party or legal entity without further proceedings to continue operating the said service, system, plant or equipment, to the same extent as said operations were being operated on June 28, 1974, such certificate to identify by number and date of issuance the certificate under which the applicant is carrying on such operation, if the application for such certificate of public convenience and necessity is filed with the Commission on a form approved by the Commission within 120 days after June 28, 1974. Pending the determination of any such application the continuance of such operation without a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be lawful.

(2) Interruptions of service in such operations over which such person, party or legal entity, or the predecessor in interest thereof, had no control, shall not be considered in determining whether or not there has been an abandonment of any such operations.

(3) In issuing any certificate of public convenience and necessity under this subsection, the Commission, in its discretion, may define or limit the territory or territories in this State within which the activities authorized by the certificate may be conducted, but in no case shall such territory or territories be smaller than the territory or territories in this State in which the applicant was in actual bona fide operation on June 28, 1974.

(4) The application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under this subsection shall be verified and shall contain such information as the Commission deems necessary to show that the applicant was not engaged merely in isolated, incidental, intermittent, sporadic and infrequent operations.

(5) The Commission may adopt and approve such forms as it deems necessary for this purpose.

(c) A public utility that provides telecommunications services may abandon or discontinue, in whole or in part, the provision of any competitive retail telecommunications services; provided, however, that such utility shall provide the Commission with contemporaneous notice of abandonment or discontinuance of all of its competitive retail telecommunications services in the State.

(d) (1) Subject to the provisions of Chapter 10 and § 706(c) of this title and excluding electric suppliers, no public utility shall abandon or discontinue, in whole or in part, any regulated public utility business, operations or services provided under a certificate of public convenience and necessity or otherwise which are subject to jurisdiction of the Commission without first having received Commission approval for such abandonment or discontinuance.

(2) Applications for such approval shall be made to the Commission in writing, verified by oath or affirmation and be in such form and contain such information as the Commission may from time to time require.

(3) The Commission shall approve any such application when it finds that the utility has met its burden of proving that the abandonment or discontinuance is reasonable, necessary and not unduly disruptive to the present or future public convenience and necessity.

(4) The Commission may make such investigation and hold such hearings in the matter as it deems necessary or appropriate, and may attach reasonable terms and conditions to the granting of such approval.

(5) If, within 60 days after the filing of such application, the Commission has not acted concerning the application, it shall be deemed to have been approved. The Commission may, within such 60-day period, set the matter for hearing, in which event the Commission shall render a decision concerning said application within 7 months from the date such application was filed or the application shall be deemed in fact and law to be approved, unless within said 7-month period the Commission for good cause shown shall enter an order extending the period for decision for a further reasonable time not to exceed 120 days.

(6) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to require formal application for approval of abandonment or discontinuance of service to any individual customer or customer class where the basis for such abandonment or discontinuance is nonpayment of bills or other violation of the utility’s rules, regulations and tariffs.

(7) The Commission may seek injunctive relief in the Court of Chancery to prevent any abandonment in violation of this subsection and in such proceeding shall not be required to post security for any temporary or preliminary injunction.

(e) As of the implementation dates specified in § 1003(b)(1) and (2) of this title (repealed), nothing contained in this section shall be construed to require application for approval of the abandonment or discontinuance of service by an electric supplier.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  8;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  13;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  162;  53 Del. Laws, c. 364, §§  1-4;  54 Del. Laws, c. 38, §  1;  57 Del. Laws, c. 665, §§  2, 3;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1;  64 Del. Laws, c. 150, §  1;  66 Del. Laws, c. 50, §  1;  72 Del. Laws, c. 10, §§  7-9;  79 Del. Laws, c. 53, §  4;  81 Del. Laws, c. 205, § 2;  82 Del. Laws, c. 11, § 2; 

(a) Subject to the provisions of § 202 of this title, the Commission shall, upon notice and after hearing, establish boundaries throughout the State within which public utilities providing retail electric service shall have the obligation and authority to provide retail electric service. All certificates of public convenience and necessity granted by the Commission shall be issued or amended to reflect such boundaries. Upon establishment, reestablishment or adjustment of any such boundaries the Commission shall cause maps to be issued designating and certifying the territorial boundaries within which such public utilities shall be authorized and obligated to provide service. In acting hereunder, except with respect to customers residing within the boundaries of a municipality which owns an electric utility or a municipal electric company formed pursuant to Chapter 13 of Title 22 and who, as of July 2, 1992, are served by another public utility, the Commission shall not authorize or obligate any public utility to provide retail electric service to any customer within the boundaries of a municipality which owns an electric utility or municipal electric company formed pursuant to Chapter 13 of Title 22 without its consent. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection or subsection (d) of this section, if such a municipality shall annex adjacent or adjoining territory, any retail electric customer of another public utility within such territory may be acquired by such municipality pursuant to Chapter 61 of Title 10. Nothing contained herein shall invalidate or otherwise affect any contract entered into on or before June 30, 1992, between any municipality and a public utility relating to the acquisition of retail electric customers within the boundaries of the municipality listing as of such date. In the event a municipality which owns an electric utility or a municipal electric company formed pursuant to Chapter 13 of Title 22 shall annex adjacent or adjoining territory whether or not such territory contains retail electric customers, upon notice to the Commission by such municipality, the Commission shall issue or revise maps previously issued to reflect such acquisition.

(b) In acting under this section, the Commission shall consider and account for as the primary factor, currently existing territories within which utility electric customers are being served at retail including the boundaries of municipalities which serve such customers. In acting further under this section, the Commission shall consider among other pertinent factors, which of 2 or more public utilities:

(1) Had distribution facilities in nearest proximity to a designated area as of July 1, 1992;

(2) Was the first to furnish retail service to, or in close proximity to, a designated area;

(3) Can install and/or upgrade its facilities to furnish service to a designated area with the smaller amount of additional investment; and

(4) Is demonstrably capable of providing adequate and reliable service to a designated area within a reasonable period of time and in a feasible manner.

In connection with any proceedings undertaken by the Commission pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and this subsection the Commission shall approve and implement agreements between 2 or more public utilities if such agreements are consistent with the public interest.

(c) In acting under subsection (b) of this section, the Commission shall give no consideration to the location or existence of transmission facilities.

(d) In establishing service territory boundaries under this section, the Commission shall provide that any customer which, as of the date such boundaries are set, was receiving retail electric service from a public utility other than the public utility within whose service territory such customer is located, shall continue to receive such service from the same public utility unless both public utilities agree that service shall be provided by the public utility to whom that service territory has been allocated; and further provided that the Commission may prohibit such a change whenever it determines, after notice and hearing, that such change will not be in the public interest.

(e) If the Commission, after notice and hearing, shall determine that service being furnished or proposed to be furnished by a public utility subject to its jurisdiction to a customer or prospective customer within its service territory is substantially inadequate and is not likely to be made adequate, or otherwise exceeds the capacity of that public utility to provide adequate service within a reasonable time, the Commission may authorize another public utility to provide service to such customer.

(f) After the establishment of retail electric service territories under this section, 2 or more public utilities subject to Commission jurisdiction may from time to time hereafter apply to the Commission for adjustment of their adjoining retail electric service territories, and, if the Commission determines, after notice and hearing, that such adjustment is in the public interest, it shall approve such adjustment and, to the extent required, cause revised maps to reflect such adjustment to be prepared.

(g) The exclusive retail electric service territories heretofore established by the Commission pursuant to this section shall continue as exclusive service territories for the transmission and distribution of electricity. Except as otherwise provided herein, each electric distribution company shall have the exclusive right to furnish transmission and distribution services to all electricity-consuming facilities located within its service territory and shall not furnish, make available, render or extend its transmission and distribution services to a consumer located within the service territory of another electric distribution company; provided that any electric distribution company may extend or construct its facilities in or through the service territory of another electric distribution company, if such extension or construction is necessary for such company to connect any of its facilities or to serve its customers within its own service territory. As of the implementation dates as set forth in § 1003(b)(1) and (2) of this title [repealed], there shall be no exclusive service territories for the supply of electricity, except as otherwise herein provided.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title:

(1) A retail electric customer has the right to lease or own (satisfied by partial ownership) facilities on its own property to transmit or distribute electricity to itself.

(2) Where retail electric customer-owned transmission and/or distribution facilities that, at any time prior to February 1, 1999, were located on property owned by such customer, and were used to transmit or distribute electricity to buildings, facilities or equipment on such property, and that retail electric customer sold or leased a portion of such property and/or buildings, facilities or equipment thereon to third parties, then that customer shall have the right to continue to own such facilities and to transmit or distribute electricity to both itself and to any such third parties, with separate metering for each third party. Furthermore, if such customer desires to expand such facilities to serve additional buildings, facilities or equipment or additions thereto on such property used by such third party, then that customer and the electric distribution company shall jointly determine the terms and conditions of the ownership, installation, operation and maintenance of the expanded facilities. Any disagreement in this regard shall be presented to the Commission for resolution. If the customer utilizes its own facilities to transmit or deliver electricity to any such third party, the customer shall not charge the third party any amount that exceeds its actual costs of providing such services.

(3) Any person shall have the right to lease or own transmission and/or distribution facilities to transmit or deliver electricity from an electric generation facility, which qualifies under the Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 [P.L. 95-617] or its successor, to its host customer on the same or on any immediately adjacent property. Should such person desire to have electricity transmitted or delivered to not more than 5 other nearby customers who are new customers or who have been receiving electricity through the then-existing facilities of an electric distribution company, such person must first contact the electric distribution company to jointly determine how such service shall be provided. Should agreement not be jointly reached, the matter shall be presented to Commission for resolution. The options that may be considered include the following:

a. The electric distribution company may continue to provide such service over its then-existing facilities at Commission-approved rates; or

b. New facilities may be installed by the electric distribution company to provide such service, in which case the customers shall reimburse the electric distribution company for the depreciated book value, plus removal costs less salvage value, of any then-existing facilities that will no longer be used by the electric distribution company. In this case, the regular Commission-approved rates shall not be applicable for such new facilities. Instead, a separate facilities charge rate will be developed and billed monthly to such customers, based upon the actual installed cost of such new facilities, including normal levels of operating expenses, taxes and return.

(i) For purposes of this section only, effective on the implementation dates set forth in § 1003(b)(1) and (2) of this title [repealed], the term “retail electric service” shall be construed to be synonymous with the term “electric transmission and distribution” and shall not include the generation, supply or sale of electricity itself.

66 Del. Laws, c. 50, §  1;  68 Del. Laws, c. 299, §  4;  72 Del. Laws, c. 10, §  10; 

(a) No person or entity (including municipalities, governmental agencies, and water authorities and districts created under Title 9 or Title 16) shall begin the business of a water utility nor shall any existing water utility begin any extension or expansion of its business or operations without having first obtained from the Commission a certificate that the present or future public convenience and necessity requires, or will be served by, the operation of such business or the proposed extension or expansion. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any municipality that has extended its boundaries by annexation as provided for in Chapter 1 of Title 22 provided the municipality operates a water utility that will be expanded or extended into the annexed territory and no certificate of public convenience and necessity shall exist for the annexed territory. The municipality shall promptly give notice to the Public Service Commission of the completion of such annexation.

(b) This section shall not be construed to require any water utility holding an existing certificate of public convenience and necessity to secure an additional certificate from the Commission for existing operations nor shall this section be construed to require an additional certificate for the extension or expansion of operations within a service territory for which a certificate has previously been granted.

(c) An application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to begin, extend or expand the business of a water utility beyond the territory covered by any existing certificate shall be in writing, shall be in such form as determined by the Commission and shall contain the information specified in subsection (d) or (e) of this section.

(d) The Commission shall issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity if the applicant therefore has submitted, together with the application, the following:

(1) Evidence that all landowners of the proposed territory have been notified by certified mail, or its equivalent, of the filing of the application, such evidence consisting of:

a. A list provided by the United States Postal Service, or the alternate delivery service, of those to whom notice was sent and

b. Copies of materials returned to sender; and

(2) One of the following:

a. Evidence that the water in the proposed service area does not meet the regulations governing drinking water standards of the Department of Health and Social Services for human consumption; or

b. Evidence that the supply is insufficient to meet the projected demand.

(e) The Commission shall issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity if the applicant therefore has submitted, together with the application, the following:

(1) Evidence that all landowners of the proposed territory have been notified by certified mail, or its equivalent, of the filing of the application, such evidence consisting of:

a. A list provided by the United States Postal Service, or the alternate delivery service, of those to whom notice was sent and

b. Copies of all materials returned to sender; and 1 of the following:

1. A signed service agreement with the developer of a proposed subdivision or development, which subdivision or development has been duly approved by the respective county government;

2. One or more petitions requesting water service from the applicant executed by the landowners of record of each parcel or property to be encompassed within the proposed territory to be served;

3. In the case of an existing development, subdivision, or generally recognized unincorporated community, 1 or more petitions requesting water service from the applicant executed by the landowners of record of parcels and properties that constitute a majority of the parcels or properties in the existing development, subdivision, or unincorporated community; or

4. A certified copy of a resolution or ordinance from the governing body of a county or municipality that requests, directs, or authorizes the applicant to provide water utility services to the proposed territory to be served, which must be located within the boundary of such county or municipality.

(2) In the case of a new water utility, evidence that it possesses the financial, operational and managerial capacity to comply with all state and federal safe drinking water requirements and that it has, or will procure, adequate supplies of water to meet demand, even in drought conditions, by maintaining supply sufficient to meet existing and reasonably anticipated future peak monthly demands;

(3) Certification by the applicant that any proposed extension of service will satisfy the provisions of § 403 of this title; and

(4) If the Town Council of the Town of Ocean View adopts a resolution providing for water utility service to its residents and undertakes the construction of such service, the provisions contained in paragraph (e)(1) of this section shall not apply to or be required for the Town of Ocean View’s application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under this section.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a certificate of public convenience and necessity to begin, extend or expand the business or operations of a water utility will not be granted if the Commission finds that the applying water utility is unwilling or unable to provide safe, adequate and reliable water service to existing customers, or is currently subject to a Commission finding that the utility is unwilling or unable to provide safe, adequate and reliable water service to existing customers.

(g) (1) An applicant for a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be deemed in compliance with the notification requirement set forth in paragraphs (d)(1) and (e)(1) of this section with respect to condominium units, as defined in the Delaware Unit Property Act, Chapter 22 of Title 25, upon providing certification signed by an authorized officer of the condominium association that:

a. The officer of the condominium association is properly authorized to sign the petition for water service, and

b. All unit owners have been provided notice of the application. A copy of the notice provided to unit owners shall accompany the certification.

(2) The Commission may establish alternative means of demonstrating compliance with the notification requirement set forth in this section, including verification that notification has been delivered to the land owners of the proposed territory to be served, subject to a finding that the appropriate internet accessible technology creating a record that the notification has been sent and the status of its receipt is employed by the United States Postal Service, and after soliciting input on the use of such technology from water utilities.

(h) (1) The Commission shall act on an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity within 90 days of the submission of a completed application. For good cause shown, and if it finds that the public interest would be served, the Commission may extend the date of its action on an application for an additional period not to exceed 30 days.

(2) Any proceedings involving certificates of public convenience and necessity shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in subchapter III of Chapter 101 of Title 29.

(i) For applications submitted pursuant to paragraphs (e)(1)b.2. and (e)(1)b.3. of this section, any landowner of record whose parcel or property (or any part thereof) is located within the proposed territory to be served shall be entitled to opt out and have the landowner’s parcel or property excluded from the proposed territory to be served. A request to opt out shall be submitted by any landowner of record prior to the issuance of a certificate of public convenience and necessity. In the case of a parcel with multiple landowners of record, a request to opt out may be rescinded or countermanded by the landowners of record holding, or vested with, a controlling interest in the parcel or property. Notwithstanding the opt-out provision in the preceding sentences, no such opt-out right shall apply to the Town of Dagsboro to implement the results of a special election held on April 27, 2002; that election voted to establish water services by contract with a neighboring municipality that has an established water utility service. Notwithstanding the objection and opt-out provisions contained in this subsection, if the Town Council of the Town of Ocean View adopts a resolution providing for water utility service to its residents and undertakes the construction of such service, the objection and opt-out provisions shall not be available to the residents of the Town of Ocean View.

(j) For purposes of this section, the phrase “landowner of record” shall mean each person or entity holding a fee ownership interest in a parcel of real property that would be encompassed within the proposed territory to be served. A landowner of record shall be determined as of the time of the filing of the application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity and may be identified by reference to public tax and public land records or relevant land conveyances. The phrase “landowners of the proposed territory” shall mean the landowners of record of the parcel or parcels to be encompassed within the proposed territory to be served. However, with respect to condominium units, as defined in the Delaware Unit Property Act, Chapter 22 of Title 25, the phrase “landowner of record” and “landowners of the proposed territory” shall be deemed to mean the governing body or authorized officers of any condominium association with authority to act on behalf of unit owners, unless the underlying real property on which such condominium units have been built has been leased, directly or indirectly, to unit owners and the underlying real property owner retains the power to bind the unit owners. A petition from a governing body or authorized officers of a condominium association shall comply with paragraph (g)(1) of this section.

(k) The Commission may undertake to suspend or revoke for good cause a certificate of public convenience and necessity held by a water utility. Good cause shall consist of:

(1) A finding made by the Commission of material noncompliance by the holder of the certificate with any provisions of Title 7, 16 or 26 dealing with obtaining water or providing water and water services to customers, or any order or rule of the Commission relating to the same; and

(2) The presence of such additional factors as deemed necessary by the Commission as outlined in subsection (l) of this section.

(l) Prior to July 1, 2001, the Commission shall establish rules for the revocation of a certificate of public convenience and necessity held by a water utility. Such regulations shall outline the factors, in addition to those outlined in subsection (k) of this section, which must be present for a finding of good cause for revocation of a certificate. Such additional factors shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) A finding by the Commission that, to the extent practicable, service to customers will remain uninterrupted under an alternative water utility or a designated third party capable of providing adequate water service; and,

(2) To the extent practicable, the Commission should attempt to identify methods to mitigate any financial consequences to customers served by the utility subject to a revocation.

(m) The power to revoke a certificate of public convenience and necessity granted by this section shall not apply to a certificate held by a municipally-owned water utility or by a water district or water authority created and operated under Titles 9 and 16. In the case of water utilities that are public utilities subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, the Commission shall have the authority to assess penalties under § 217 of this title.

(n) Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, the power to grant a certificate of public convenience and necessity pursuant to this section to a water authority created under Title 16 shall be limited to the boundaries of the municipality or municipalities which created it unless the Commission is provided with a resolution passed by the governing body of that municipality or municipalities which requests that the certificate be granted.

72 Del. Laws, c. 402, §  6;  73 Del. Laws, c. 264, §  1;  74 Del. Laws, c. 86, §  1;  74 Del. Laws, c. 351, §§  1, 2;  76 Del. Laws, c. 55, §§  1-3, 6; 

(a) (1) Except for municipalities, governmental agencies and wastewater authorities and districts, which are governed under subsection (b) of this section and wastewater utilities serving or to serve fewer than 50 customers in the aggregate, no person or entity shall begin the business of a wastewater utility nor shall any existing wastewater utility begin any extension or expansion of its business or operations without having first obtained from the Commission a certificate that the present or future public convenience and necessity requires, or will be served by, the operation of such business or the proposed extension or expansion.

(2) Except for municipalities, governmental agencies and wastewater authorities and districts, which are governed under subsection (b) of this section and wastewater utilities serving fewer than 50 customers in the aggregate, any person or entity already in the business of a wastewater utility as of June 7, 2004, shall by December 3, 2004, obtain from the Commission a certificate of public convenience and necessity for its existing service area. Such person or entity shall provide the Commission a description of its facilities and the area it serves and a schedule of rates currently charged its customers, in such form as the Commission may require. Such person or entity need not provide the information required by subsection (d) of the section, nor any other tariff information required by § 301 of this title or any other provision of this title at the time of their submission. A certificate shall be granted by the Commission to such persons or entities which provide the required information to the Commission, unless the Commission has actual knowledge at the time of the application for a certificate that the applicant is in material violation of any provisions of Title 7, 16 or 26 dealing with the provisions of wastewater services or there is a bona fide dispute as to the actual service territory served by such person or entity. The Commission shall attempt to expeditiously resolve any such dispute.

(b) Although municipalities, governmental agencies, and wastewater authorities or districts engaging in or desiring to engage in the business of a wastewater utility are not required to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Commission for any existing or new service territory, these entities shall supply to the Commission a description of any existing service territory for wastewater service no later than October 4, 2004, and shall promptly give notice and a description of any extension of wastewater territory or new wastewater service territory to the Commission. Such entity shall not extend service in areas, which the Commission has granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity to another wastewater utility without receiving the approval of the Commission. Any wastewater utility shall not extend its territory into a service territory of a municipality, government agency or wastewater authority or district without the approval of such entity and then obtaining approval of a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Commission under this section. A municipality desiring to provide wastewater service to any property outside its municipal boundary must file with the Commission a petition requesting wastewater service from the municipality executed by the landowner of record of such property.

(c) An application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to begin, extend or expand the business of a wastewater utility shall be in writing, shall be in such form as determined by the Commission and shall contain the information specified in subsection (d) of this section.

(d) Except as provided for below, the Commission shall issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity if the applicant therefore has submitted, together with the application, the following:

(1) A signed service agreement with the developer of a proposed subdivision or development, which subdivision or development has been duly approved by the respective county government; or

(2) One or more petitions requesting wastewater service from the applicant executed by the landowners of record of each parcel or property to be encompassed within the proposed territory to be served; or

(3) In the case of an existing development, subdivision, or generally recognized unincorporated community, 1 or more petitions requesting wastewater service from the applicant executed by the landowners of record of parcels and properties that constitute a majority of the parcels or properties in the existing development, subdivision or unincorporated community; or

(4) A certified copy of a resolution or ordinance from the governing body of a county or municipality that requests, directs or authorizes the applicant to provide wastewater utility services to the proposed territory to be served, which must be located within the boundary of such county or municipality; and

(5) In the case of a new wastewater utility, evidence that it possesses the financial, operational and managerial capacity to serve the public convenience and necessity and to comply with all state and federal regulations.

In addition, in an application premised on paragraph (d)(3) of this section, the applicant shall submit evidence that the applicant sent or delivered notice of its application to the landowner of record of each parcel in the existing development, subdivision or unincorporated community that will be encompassed in the proposed territory to be served. The Commission shall prescribe the form of such notice and the manner for so notifying such landowners. In addition, in the case of an application premised on paragraph (d)(3) of this section, the Commission may deny the application if the Commission determines that the grant of a certificate would not serve the public convenience and necessity.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a certificate of public convenience and necessity to begin, extend or expand the business or operations of a wastewater utility will not be granted if the Commission finds that the applying wastewater utility is unwilling or unable to provide safe, adequate and reliable service to existing customers, or is currently subject to a Commission finding that the utility is unwilling or unable to provide safe, adequate and reliable service to existing customers.

(f) An applicant for a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be deemed in compliance with the notification requirement set forth in subsection (c) of this section with respect to condominium units, as defined in the Delaware Unit Property Act, Chapter 22 of Title 25, upon providing certification signed by an authorized officer of the condominium association that:

(1) The officer of the condominium association is properly authorized to sign the petition for wastewater service; and

(2) All unit owners have been provided notice of the application.

A copy of the notice provided to unit owners shall accompany the certification.

(g) (1) The Commission shall act on an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity within 90 days of the submission of a completed application. For good cause shown, and if it finds that the public interest would be served, the Commission may extend the date of its action on an application for an additional period not to exceed 30 days. However, if an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity is filed prior to July 1, 2005, the Commission may extend the date of its action on such application for an additional period, not to exceed 90 days.

(2) Any proceedings involving certificates of public convenience and necessity shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in subchapter III of Chapter 101 of Title 29.

(h) For applications submitted pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, no certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be issued where a majority of the landowners of the proposed territory to be served object to the issuance thereof.

(i) For purposes of this section, the phrase “land owners of the proposed territory to be served” shall refer solely to those persons having fee ownership of the affected parcel of real property within the proposed territory to be served (as reflected by appropriate tax or land record documents) at the time that the application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity is submitted by the applicant to the Commission for consideration; provided, however, that with respect to condominium units, as defined in the Delaware Unit Property Act, Chapter 22 of Title 25, this phrase shall mean the governing body or authorized officers of any condominium association with authority to act on behalf of unit owners, unless the underlying real property on which such condominium units have been built has been leased, directly or indirectly, to unit owners and the underlying real property owner retains the power to bind the unit owners.

(j) The Commission may, for good cause, undertake to suspend or revoke a certificate of public convenience and necessity held by a wastewater utility. Good cause shall consist of:

(1) A finding made by the Commission of material noncompliance by the holder of the certificate with any provisions of Title 7, 16 or 26 dealing with the provision of wastewater services to customers, or any order or rule of the Commission relating to the same; or

(2) A finding by the Commission that the wastewater utility has failed in a material manner to provide adequate or safe wastewater service to customers as evidenced by inadequate customer service, insufficient investment in, or inadequate operation of, the system or otherwise; and

(3) A finding by the Commission that, to the extent practicable, service to customers will remain uninterrupted under an alternative wastewater utility or a designated third party capable of providing adequate wastewater service; and,

(4) A finding by the Commission that to the extent practicable, any financial consequences to customers served by the utility subject to a revocation are appropriately mitigated.

74 Del. Laws, c. 317, §  6;  76 Del. Laws, c. 57, §§  1-3;  76 Del. Laws, c. 162, §  1; 

(a) Except as provided in § 203A(a)(3) of this title, no person or entity shall begin the business of an electric transmission utility providing transmission facilities, as defined in § 1001(26) of this title, without having first obtained from the Commission a certificate that the present or future public convenience and necessity requires, or will be served by, the operation of such business.

(b) A person or entity seeking to begin the business of an electric transmission utility in this State shall first make application to the Commission for a certificate of public convenience and necessity approving the person or entity as an electric transmission utility authorized to provide transmission facilities. The application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be in writing, shall be in such form as determined by the Commission, and shall contain such information as the Commission may prescribe. In determining whether to grant the certificate, the Commission shall consider:

(1) Whether PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (or its successor) (“PJM”) has selected the applicant to develop or own transmission facilities included in the regional transmission expansion plan approved through PJM’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission-approved developer qualification and competitive procurement process, or if such PJM approval has not occurred:

a. The demonstrated experience, operating expertise, and long-term viability of the applicant or its affiliates, partners, or parent company;

b. The need for and impact of any transmission facilities proposed by the applicant on the safe, adequate, and reliable operation or delivery of electric supply services; and

c. The engineering and technical design of any transmission facilities proposed by the applicant.

(2) The impact of granting the certificate of public convenience and necessity application on the State’s economy and the benefits to the State’s ratepayers;

(3) The impact of granting the certificate of public convenience and necessity application on the health, safety, and welfare of the general public; and

(4) Whether granting the certificate of public convenience and necessity application is consistent with the achievement of the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets, as specified in § 10003 of Title 7.

(c) The Commission shall act on an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity within 90 days of the submission of a completed application. For good cause shown, and if it finds that the public interest would be served, the Commission may extend the date of its action on an application for an additional period not to exceed 90 days.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a certificate of public convenience and necessity for an electric transmission utility will not be granted if the Commission finds that the applicant is unwilling or unable to provide safe, adequate and reliable transmission services, or is currently subject to a Commission finding that the applicant is unwilling or unable to provide safe, adequate and reliable transmission services.

(e) The Commission may, for good cause, undertake to suspend or revoke a certificate of public convenience and necessity held by an electric transmission utility. Good cause shall consist of:

(1) A finding by the Commission of material noncompliance by the holder of the certificate with any conditions imposed in the certificate by the Commission, or with any order or rule of the Commission related to the same; or

(2) A finding by the Commission that the holder of the certificate has failed in a material manner to provide safe, adequate, and reliable transmission services.

(f) Any proceedings under this section involving a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in subchapter III of Chapter 101 of Title 29.

81 Del. Laws, c. 205, § 1;  84 Del. Laws, c. 401, § 10; 

(a) Except as provided in § 203A(a)(3) of this title, no person or entity shall begin the business of a “transmission facility” as defined in § 1000 of this title, without having first obtained from the Commission a certificate that the present and future public convenience and necessity requires, or will be served by, the operation of such a business.

(b) The term “renewable energy interconnection facilities” means any transmission facilities which include transmission lines, conduits, or any other equipment necessary to connect any solar, wind, or other renewable energy project with 30 MW of capacity or higher to the PJM transmission grid. The term includes all “offshore wind interconnection facilities” as defined in this section.

(c) The term “offshore wind interconnection facilities” means all transmission lines, conduits and any other equipment that serve to connect an offshore wind power generation project or projects to the PJM transmission grid through any part of the State or its territorial waters, whether those facilities are part of the PJM network or serving individual generation owners. All equipment located within the State, including within 3 miles of the Delaware coast, through to the substation that connects the offshore wind power project to the PJM transmission grid, shall be included as a part of the “offshore wind interconnection facilities” for a particular offshore wind power generation project or networked offshore wind transmission facility.

(d) No individual, co-partnership, association, corporation, joint stock company, agency or department of the State, cooperative, or the lessees, trustees or receivers thereof, shall commence the operation of renewable energy interconnection facilities without having first obtained from the Commission a certificate that the present or future public convenience and necessity requires or will require the operation of such facilities.

(e) Specifically for offshore wind interconnection facilities, prior to any person or entity submitting an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for such facilities, such person or entity shall first obtain written approval from the State Energy Office confirming that such proposed offshore wind interconnection facilities are:

(1) Consistent with the State Energy Plan;

(2) Do not detrimentally impact the ability of the State to procure and transmit renewable energy resources to the citizens of Delaware;

(3) Consistent with the achievement of the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets, as specified in § 10003 of Title 7; and

(4) Do not adversely impact the future construction of additional offshore wind interconnection facilities, including those proposed by other developers.

(f) A person or entity seeking to commence operation of renewable energy interconnection facilities in this State shall make application to the Commission for a certificate of public convenience and necessity approving the person or entity as authorized to construct and operate such facilities. The application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be:

(1) In writing;

(2) In such form as determined by the Commission; and

(3) Contains such information as the Commission may prescribe.

(g) In determining whether to grant the certificate, the Commission shall consider:

(1) The need for and impact of any renewable energy interconnection facilities proposed by the applicant on the safe, adequate, and reliable operation or delivery of electric supply services.

(2) Where such facilities are operating in a Delaware Department of Transportation right of way, the extent to which the renewable energy interconnection facilities impact the safe and effective operation of other utility facilities, or any other facilities, already in such right of way.

(3) The impact of granting the certificate of public convenience and necessity application on the State’s economy, the impacts to the State’s ratepayers, and whether the application is consistent with the achievement of the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets, as specified in § 10003 of Title 7.

(4) The extent to which the renewable energy interconnection facilities preclude or limit the ability of future renewable energy projects to use the same or nearby access locations or rights of way.

(5) The extent to which the project proponent is proposing to develop the renewable energy interconnection facilities in a manner that allows for or otherwise facilitates the future construction of additional renewable energy interconnection facilities, including those proposed by other developers, so as to minimize the environmental impacts of multiple entry points along the Delaware shore or through Delaware rights of way.

(6) The impact of granting the certificate of public convenience and necessity application on the health, safety, and welfare of the general public.

(7) The demonstrated experience, operating expertise, and long-term viability of the applicant or its affiliates, partners, or parent company.

(8) The engineering and technical design of any transmission facilities proposed by the applicant.

(h) For all renewable energy interconnection facilities, the Commission shall allow the intervention of the State Energy Office to address the impact of the proposed facilities on:

(1) The State Energy Plan;

(2) The achievement of the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets, as specified in § 10003 of Title 7.

(i) For all renewable energy interconnection facilities that are in whole or in part located in the jurisdiction of a local government, the Commission shall allow the intervention of such local government to address any public safety, environmental, or public interest considerations that such local government raises.

(j) Where such facilities are operating in a Delaware Department of Transportation right of way, the Commission shall allow the intervention of the Delaware Department of Transportation to address the impact of the proposed facilities on traffic safety and management. The Commission shall work with the Delaware Department of Transportation to ensure that the route of the interconnection facilities have the lowest possible impact on traffic safety and management considerations. Where the Delaware Department of Transportation establishes that alternate routes would have lower impact on traffic management, such routes shall be selected unless the costs associated with such route are, in the determination of the Commission, unreasonable.

(k) The Commission shall act on an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity within 90 days of the submission of a completed application. For good cause shown, and if it finds that the public interest would be served, the Commission may extend the date of its action on an application for an additional period not to exceed 90 days. With the consent of the applicant, the Commission can extend the date of its action on an application beyond this second 90-day extension.

(l) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a certificate of public convenience and necessity for renewable energy interconnection facilities will not be granted if the Commission finds that the applicant is unwilling or unable to provide safe, adequate, and reliable transmission services, or is currently subject to a Commission finding that the applicant is unwilling or unable to provide safe, adequate, and reliable transmission services.

(m) No person or entity shall abandon or discontinue any renewable energy interconnection facility without first having received Commission approval for such abandonment or discontinuance. The Commission may require financial assurance, including a bonding requirement, as a part of any certificate of public convenience and necessity to ensure appropriate decommissioning of such facilities.

(n) The Commission may, for good cause, undertake to suspend or revoke a certificate of public convenience and necessity held by any applicant. “Good cause” shall consist of:

(1) A finding by the Commission of material noncompliance by the holder of the certificate with any conditions imposed in the certificate by the Commission, or with any order or rule of the Commission related to the same.

(2) A finding by the Commission that the holder of the certificate has failed in a material manner to provide safe, adequate, and reliable transmission services.

(o) The Commission shall have the authority to promulgate regulations to fully define the requirements necessary for the implementation of this section. Any proceedings under this section involving a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be resolved within 6 months of initial application, and shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in subchapter III of Chapter 101 of Title 29.

(p) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any offshore wind interconnection facilities, including any future modifications to such offshore wind interconnection facilities, associated with an offshore wind generation project which has submitted a request for a Federal Consistency Determination from the State’s Coastal Management Program as of April 18, 2024, and which does not travel horizontally along a Delaware-owned right of way. If, however, any proposed future modifications to the offshore wind interconnection facilities for such an offshore wind generation project include a proposal to travel horizontally along a Delaware-owned right of way, this section shall apply.

84 Del. Laws, c. 401, § 11; 

(a) The Commission may, after hearing, upon notice, by order in writing, require every public utility to establish, construct, maintain and operate any reasonable extension of its existing facilities where, in the judgment of the Commission, such extension is reasonable and practicable and will furnish sufficient revenue to justify the construction and maintenance of the same, and when the financial condition of the public utility reasonably warrants the original expenditures required in order to make and operate such extension; provided, however, the Commission shall consider, among other things, the size and amount of additional and potential customers to be served, whether the new customers will contribute to any capital expenditures required by the extension and whether the public utility must borrow funds to provide the extension of service.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a telecommunications service provider is not required to establish, construct, maintain, operate or extend its existing facilities where the potential customers to be served have service available from 1 or more alternative providers of wireline or wireless communications. Further, notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the Commission makes a determination under subsection (a) of this section requiring such extension, a telecommunications service provider may fulfill such obligation through the use of any and all available wireline, wireless or other technologies. The use of wireline, wireless or other technologies may not be construed to grant any additional jurisdiction or authority to the Commission over such technologies.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  4;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  136;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1;  79 Del. Laws, c. 53, §  5; 

(a) The Commission may require every public utility to file with the Commission such annual and other periodic or special reports, at such times, in such form and of such content, and covering such period or periods of time, as the Commission may by rules and regulations or by order prescribe.

(b) (1) The Commission may require any public utility to file with it a copy of any report filed by such public utility with any state or federal department or regulatory body, including, but not limited to, copies of its Delaware and federal income tax returns.

(2) A public utility that is a subsidiary of a corporation that files consolidated state or federal income tax returns shall file with the Commission, when so requested by the Commission, pro forma Delaware and federal income tax returns based solely upon said public utility’s operations in Delaware.

(c) All reports shall be made under oath or affirmation unless the Commission otherwise specifies.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  3;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  6;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  123;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

The Commission may investigate, upon its own initiative or upon complaint in writing, any matter concerning any public utility.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  3;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  124;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

The Commission, by or through its members or duly authorized representatives, shall at all times have access to and the right to inspect and examine any and all books, accounts, records, memoranda, property, plant, facilities and equipment of public utilities. Every public utility shall furnish to the Commission, within such reasonable time as the Commission may order, any information with respect to its books, accounts, records, memoranda, property, plant, facilities, equipment, service, and operations, which the Commission may require in aid of any inspection, examination, inquiry, investigation, or hearing, or in aid of any determination of the value of its property, or any portion thereof, including copies of accounts, records, books, maps, inventories, appraisals, valuations, contracts, reports of engineers, and other data, records and papers; and shall grant to all authorized agents of the Commission access to its premises, property, plant, facilities and equipment and its books, accounts, records and memoranda when requested to.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  4A;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  9;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  125;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

(a) (1) The Commission may, after hearing, upon notice, by order in writing, require every public utility to make, keep, and preserve for such periods of time, such accounts, records of cost accounting procedures, correspondence, memoranda, papers, books and other records as the Commission may by rules and regulations or order prescribe as necessary or appropriate for purposes of the administration of this chapter. The Commission may prescribe systems of accounts and records to be kept by public utilities, or may classify public utilities and prescribe a system of accounts and records for each class, and the manner and form in which such accounts and records shall be kept.

(2) The accounting system of any public utility also subject to the jurisdiction of a federal regulatory body shall correspond, as far as practicable, to the system prescribed by such federal regulatory body. The Commission may require any such public utility to keep and maintain supplemental or additional accounts to those required by any such regulatory body.

(3) The Commission, after notice and opportunity for hearing, may determine by order the accounts in which particular expenditures and receipts shall be entered, charged or credited.

(b) Every public utility shall keep such books, accounts, papers, records and memoranda, as are required by the Commission, in an office within this State, and shall not remove the same, or any of them, from this State, except upon such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Commission. Such public utility, when required by the Commission, shall furnish to the Commission, within such reasonable time as it shall fix, certified copies of its books, accounts, papers, records and memoranda, relating to the business done by such public utility within this State.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  4;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  7;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  129;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

(a) The Commission may, after hearing, by order in writing:

(1) Fix just and reasonable standards, classifications, regulations, practices, measurements or services to be furnished, imposed, observed and followed thereafter by any public utility;

(2) Require every public utility to furnish safe and adequate and proper service and keep and maintain its property and equipment in such condition as to enable it to do so.

(b) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to conflict with the power of the Commission to consider the efficiency, sufficiency, consistency and adequacy of the facilities provided and the services rendered by any public utility as a factor in rate determination.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  3;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  131;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

The Commission may, after hearing, by order in writing, ascertain and fix adequate and reasonable standards for the measurement of quantity, quality, pressure, initial voltage or other condition pertaining to the supply of the product or service rendered by any public utility, and may prescribe reasonable regulations for examinations and tests of such product or service and for the measurement thereof.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  3;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  132;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

(a) The Commission may, after hearing, by order in writing, establish reasonable rules, regulations, specifications and standards to secure the accuracy of all meters and appliances for measurements and may provide for the examination and test of all appliances used for the measuring of any products or service of a public utility.

(b) The Commission may enter, by and through its agents, experts or examiners, upon any premises occupied by any public utility for the purpose of making the examination and tests provided for in this section and may set up and use on such premises any apparatus and appliances necessary therefor.

(c) The Commission may fix the fees to be paid by any consumer or user of any products or services of a public utility, who may apply to the Commission for an examination or test to be made of the meters or other measuring appliances of the utility. If the meter or other measuring appliance so tested shall be found to be accurate within such commercially reasonable limits as the Commission may by general or special order fix for such meters or class of meters or other measuring appliances, the fee shall be paid by the consumer requiring such test, but if not so found then the cost thereof shall be borne by the public utility furnishing the meter or other measuring appliance.

(d) All measuring devices installed subsequent to June 28, 1974, for the purpose of ascertaining bills presented by and on behalf of public utilities providing steam, manufactured gas, natural gas, electric light, heat, power and water shall be installed in a manner permitting readings from the exterior of the customer’s premises. All such public utilities having measuring devices that, as of June 28, 1974, permit only readings from the interior of the customer’s premises shall, when so requested in writing by the owner of said premises, substitute measuring devices permitting exterior readings, said substitution to be effected at cost payable by the owner.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  3;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  133;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

The Commission may, after hearing, upon notice, by order in writing, require every public utility to comply with the laws of this State and any ordinance of any political subdivision thereof relating thereto, and to conform to the duties imposed upon it thereby or by the provisions of its own charter, whether obtained under any general or special law of any state.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  4;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  134;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

(a) The Commission may require every public utility to give immediate notice to the Commission of the happening of any accident in or about, or in connection with, the operation of its service and facilities, wherein any person has been killed or apparently injured, or where complaint of injuries has been made, and to furnish such full and detailed report of such accident within such time and in such manner as the Commission shall prescribe.

(b) The report required by subsection (a) of this section shall not be open for public inspection, except by order of the Commission, and shall not be admitted in evidence for any purpose in any suit or action for damages growing out of any matter or thing mentioned in such report.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  3;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  6;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  139;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

The Commission may make joint investigations, hold joint hearings within or without this State, and issue joint or concurrent orders in conjunction with any official, board, commission or agency of any state or of the United States. Whether in the holding of such investigations or hearings, or in the making of such orders, the Commission shall function under agreements or compacts between states or under the concurrent powers of states to regulate the interstate commerce, or as an agency of the federal government, or otherwise.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  1;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  3;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  140;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

(a) No public utility, without having first obtained the approval of the Commission, shall:

(1) Directly or indirectly merge or consolidate with any other person or company, or sell, lease, assign, or mortgage except by supplemental indenture in accordance with the terms of a mortgage outstanding September 1, 1949, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any essential part of its franchises, plant, equipment or other property, necessary or useful in the performance of its duty to the public; or

(2) Issue any stocks, stock certificates, or notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness payable in more than 1 year from the date thereof; or

(3) Assume any obligation or liability as guarantor, endorser, surety or otherwise in respect of any security of any other person or corporation, payable or maturing more than 1 year after the date of such issue or assumption of liability.

(b) No individual, group, syndicate, general or limited partnership, association, corporation, joint stock company, trust or other entity, whether or not organized under the laws of this State, shall acquire control, either directly or indirectly, of any public utility doing business in this State, without having first obtained the approval of the Commission. Any such acquisition of control without such prior authorization shall be void and of no effect. As used herein the term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a public utility, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by effecting a change in the composition of the board of directors, by contract or otherwise. Control shall be presumed to exist if any such individual or entity, directly or indirectly, owns 10% or more of the voting securities of the public utility. This presumption may be rebutted by a showing that such ownership does not in fact confer control.

(c) Application for any such approval or authorization shall be made to the Commission in writing, verified by oath or affirmation, and be in such form and contain such information as the Commission requires.

(d) The Commission shall approve any such proposed merger, mortgage, transfer, issue, assumption or acquisition when it finds that the same is to be made in accordance with law, for a proper purpose and is consistent with the public interest. The Commission may make such investigation and hold such hearings in the matter as it deems necessary, and thereafter may grant any application under this section in whole or in part and with such modification and upon such terms and conditions as it deems necessary or appropriate. The Commission shall grant, modify, refuse or prescribe appropriate terms and conditions with respect to every such application within 30 days after the filing of the application therefor, except that with respect to any application filed under subsection (b) hereof, if the Commission gives notice to the parties of a hearing to be held by the Commission with respect to the application and the hearing is commenced within such 30 days or on a date mutually acceptable to the Commission and the parties, the Commission shall have 30 days after the submission of the hearing examiner’s report or recommended decision within which to render its decision. In the absence of any such action within such period of time, any such proposed merger, mortgage, transfer, issue, assumption or acquisition shall be deemed to be approved.

(e) (1) Any public utility may satisfy the requirements of paragraphs (a)(2) and (3) of this section by filing with the Commission a statement of a financing plan stating in detail:

a. Those issuances or assumptions described in paragraphs (a)(2) and (3) of this section that it intends to make within 3 years following the filing; and

b. The anticipated times thereof; and

c. The anticipated costs thereof; and

d. The anticipated capitalization ratios for the public utility during that period; and

e. Such other information as the Commission may require.

(2) The Commission shall review the plan for consistency with efficient and reasonable financing principles. The Commission may make such investigation and hold such hearings in the matter as it deems necessary, and thereafter may approve the plan in whole or in part with such modification and upon such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate. The Commission shall approve any financing plan when the proposed financings are to be made in accordance with law, for proper purposes and are consistent with the public interest. The Commission may require the filing of periodic reports as to the action taken pursuant to the plan. The Commission shall approve, modify, refuse or prescribe appropriate terms and conditions with respect to any such plan within 60 days of its filing. In the absence of such action within such period of time, the proposed plan shall be deemed to be approved as filed as if the Commission itself had acted favorably thereon. The public utility may then, without further application to the Commission, make any issuance or assumption approved by the Commission.

(3) Thereafter, the public utility may file an application for approval of an amendment to an approved plan or for approval of a substitute for an approved plan, which application will be reviewed under the criteria and by the procedures provided therein for review of and action on a filing of a financing plan except that the period of review shall be 30 days. In the absence of action by the Commission within such period of time, the amendment or substitute shall be deemed to be approved.

(f) Subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to any acquisition of control of any public utility which derives a greater percentage of its gross revenue from business in another jurisdiction than from business in this State if the Commission determines that the other jurisdiction has statutes or rules which are applicable and are being applied and which afford protection to ratepayers in this State substantially equal to that afforded such ratepayers by this section. For purposes of this subsection, the term “gross revenue” is used as that term is used in § 115(c) of this title, except that in defining gross revenue derived from business in another jurisdiction, the name of the appropriate regulatory agency or agencies established by such other jurisdiction for the regulation of public utilities shall be substituted for “the Public Service Commission” in § 115(c)(1) of this title and for “the Commission” in § 115(b) of this title.

(g) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed in any way to prevent the sale or lease or other disposition of any public utility of any of its property in the ordinary course of its business.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Commission approval is not required for any reorganization or merger of public utility companies providing telecommunications services, including a mortgage or transfer of property, issuance of securities, assumption of obligation of another, or transfer of control of a service provider governed under this subchapter.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  6;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  12;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  165;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1;  65 Del. Laws, c. 146, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 48, §§  3, 4;  79 Del. Laws, c. 53, §  6;  82 Del. Laws, c. 11, § 3; 

This chapter shall in nowise be construed to prevent the issuance by any public utility of free passes or franks, products or services to its employees, officers, agents, and their families, subject to such conditions as the Commission may prescribe by rule or regulation.

21 Del. Laws, c. 273, §  97;  22 Del. Laws, c. 166, §  17;  Code 1935, §  2184;  47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  18;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  166;  54 Del. Laws, c. 38, §  3;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

In default of compliance with any order of the Commission when the same becomes effective, the public utility affected thereby shall be subject to a penalty of up to $1,000 per day for every day during which such default continues, to be recovered in an action in the name of the State. Observance of the orders of the Commission may be compelled by mandamus or injunction in appropriate cases, or by an action to compel the specific performance of the orders so made or of the duties imposed by law upon such public utility.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  13;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  191;  57 Del. Laws, c. 643, §  2;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

(a) Whoever knowingly performs, commits, or does, or participates in performing, committing or doing, or knowingly causes, participates or joins with others in causing any public utility to do, perform or commit, or advises, solicits, persuades, or knowingly instructs, directs or orders any officer, agent or employee of any public utility to perform, commit or do any act or thing forbidden or prohibited by this chapter, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.

(b) This section shall not apply to violations for which another specific penalty is provided in this chapter.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  14;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  169;  56 Del. Laws, c. 258;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

Repealed by 70 Del. Laws, c. 49, § 1, effective June 12, 1995.

(a) All telephone corporations or any corporation supplying wireline communications service within this State shall participate in a program to provide telecommunications service for analog communication devices and a telecommunications relay service for persons who have deafness, hearing loss or speech disabilities.

(b) Telephone corporations or corporations supplying wireline telephone service within this State shall impose a surcharge as set forth in this section to recover the cost of providing said service through a separately identified charge on subscribers’ bills as further outlined in subsection (e) of this section below. The surcharge shall be subject to adjustment annually with notification to providers required at least 90 days in advance of the effective date of such adjustment. The moneys recovered shall be deposited in a special fund created by the State for the purpose designated as the telecommunications service for persons who have deafness, hearing loss or speech disabilities.

(c) (1) The Delaware Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing of the Department of Labor is hereby directed to administer the program to provide access to public telecommunications service by residents of Delaware who have deafness, hearing loss or speech disabilities using devices for analog communications. The Office shall develop, accept, process, and approve applications for such service. This program shall be graduated so that not more than 10 new users are approved per month on a first come, first served basis.

(2) The Department of Technology and Information is hereby directed to provide a statewide telecommunications relay service that will allow persons who have deafness, hearing loss or speech disabilities to communicate by telephone through attendants or equipment at a service answering facility with persons having normal hearing and speech. The Department may enter into contractual agreements with 1 or more other persons or entities requiring such other persons or entities to perform all or any part of the service. The cost of providing the telecommunications relay service shall be paid out of the Fund.

(3) The Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is authorized to promulgate procedures, regulations, rules, and criteria necessary to implement and administer this statewide program.

(d) In order for a person to be eligible for the program, the person shall be certified as having deafness, hearing loss, or a speech disability by a licensed physician, audiologist, or by any other method recognized by the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Persons applying for the program must supply their own analog communication device.

(e) The Fund shall be funded by means of a monthly surcharge of up to $0.04 per month billed by providers to subscribers of communications services in this State as follows:

(1) Residential telephone service. — The surcharge shall be billed by each provider providing such service to all Delaware residential subscribers per residence exchange access line or per Basic Rate Interface (“BRI”) ISDN arrangement, where the residence exchange access service is provided via a BRI ISDN arrangement. The surcharge shall not be applied to residence exchange access lines provided to Lifeline subscribers.

(2) Business telephone service. — The surcharge shall be billed by each provider providing such service to all Delaware business subscribers per business exchange access line and trunk or per BRI ISDN arrangement where the business exchange access service is provided via a BRI ISDN arrangement. Each Centrex access line shall be charged the equivalent of 1/9 of the surcharge; provided, however, that where a Centrex customer has fewer than 9 lines, the maximum monthly charge for those lines will be the surcharge imposed on each business exchange access line or trunk divided by the customer’s Centrex lines. Each Primary Rate Interface ISDN system shall be charged a rate equal to 5 times the surcharge. The surcharge shall not be applied to lines provided under wholesale arrangements.

(3) Wireless service. — The surcharge shall be billed by each wireless provider on all wireless service customers for each wireless telephone number for which they are billed by such provider.

(4) Nontraditional communication services. — The surcharge shall be billed by each provider of nontraditional communications service to subscribers based on an exchange access line equivalent that provides capacity to simultaneous access to 911 service where such provider is required to or opts to provide 911 service.

(f) The surcharge amounts shall be deposited into the Fund, along with any other state funds the General Assembly may from time to time appropriate.

(g) The provider shall bill the surcharge to the person purchasing the service but shall collect it on behalf of the State. The surcharges collected by a provider shall not be subject to taxes or charges levied by the State or any political subdivision thereof, nor shall they be considered revenue of the provider for any purpose.

(h) The surcharge shall not apply to wholesale services.

(i) All surcharges imposed by this section shall be collected by providers from subscribers to communications service with each invoice for service and shall be paid by providers on a monthly basis to the Department of Finance no later than the fifteenth day of the month following its collection and shall be deposited into the fund on a monthly basis.

(j) Each provider collecting such surcharges shall be entitled to recover the actual incremental costs of billing, collecting and remitting such surcharges, as well as the costs of compliance with any memorandum of understanding as described in this section, that will be taken monthly as a credit against the total amount to be remitted to the Department of Finance. This cost is defined as the incremental expense incurred by the provider that is in addition to the normal expense of billing and collecting the charges for the provision of the provider’s normal telephone service. Where moneys collected by the provider are equal to or less than the total charge for the telephone service provided to subscribers or customers by that provider, not including the surcharge, all moneys collected will be applied to the charges for the actual telephone service provided. As an alternative to recovery of the actual incremental costs described above, providers collecting the surcharge may elect to receive a collection allowance of 1% of the total amount collected from subscribers taken monthly as a credit against the total amount to be remitted to the Department of Finance.

(k) Each provider collecting such surcharges shall not be responsible for uncollectable surcharges. The State may also enter into a memorandum of understanding with each provider which shall include, but need not be limited to, the terms related to the collection and distribution of funds pursuant to this section and provide for reporting to the State the names and addresses of subscribers that fail to pay the surcharge. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the State from taking appropriate action to collect such surcharges designated by a provider as uncollectable.

(l) Each provider collecting such surcharge is fulfilling a governmental function and in so doing, is immune from suit for damages of any kind and is not liable for refunds except to the extent that the provider has failed to collect or remit surcharges to the Fund in accordance with the requirements of this section.

(m) Money in the Fund may only be used to fund the costs of providing the services specified in subsection (a) of this section above, telecommunications relay service costs specified in paragraph (c)(2) of this section and administrative costs as specified in subsection (j) of this section.

(n) The Fund is created as a nonappropriated special fund. Balances in the Fund on June 30 of each year shall carry forward and shall not revert to the General Fund.

(o) This section shall become effective January 1, 2013.

67 Del. Laws, c. 67, §  1;  78 Del. Laws, c. 388, §  1; 

(a) The purpose of the Telecommunications Relay Service Advisory Committee is to oversee the relay services contract, the Delaware relay web site, new product announcements and all associated outreach programs. The Telecommunications Relay Service Advisory Committee shall advise any public utility which is authorized by the Commission to provide a statewide telecommunications relay service (TRS), and to also advise any contractor, designee, agent or assign of such public utility on matters related to the use of the TRS.

(b) The Telecommunications Relay Service Advisory Committee is composed of the following 11 members:

(1) A representative from a public utility, authorized by the Commission to provide a statewide TRS utility.

(2) A person designated by the TRS utility that is under contract with such utility to provide all or part of a statewide TRS.

(3) The 9-1-1 Administrator for the State, or a designee of the 9-1-1 Administrator for the State.

(4) A representative from the Division for the Visually Impaired.

(5) A representative from the Department of Technology and Information.

(6) A representative from the Delaware Association of the Deaf.

(7) A representative from the Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative.

(8) A representative from the Hearing Loss Association of Delaware.

(9) A representative from the Delaware Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

(10) A representative from the Delaware School for the Deaf.

(11) A representative from Independent Resources, Inc.

(c) A public utility acting as a member of the Telecommunications Relay Service Advisory Committee shall be obligated to reimburse such Committee for the reasonable expenses incurred by such Committee for interpreter services. The Telecommunications Relay Service Advisory Committee shall submit invoices for such reasonable expenses to a public utility obligated to reimburse the Committee for the same. These expenses shall be recovered by a reimbursing public utility in the manner authorized by the Commission for recovery of any other costs associated with the implementation and operation of a TRS.

68 Del. Laws, c. 145, §  1;  77 Del. Laws, c. 308, §  1;  82 Del. Laws, c. 53, § 1; 

The following parties shall not be liable for criminal prosecution or subject to a civil action arising from the relay of any message in the course of providing, or operating, a statewide dual party relay service:

(1) A public utility providing a statewide dual party relay service (DPRS utility);

(2) Any person or entity with whom the DPRS utility has contracted for the operation of all or a part of such relay service; or

(3) Any employee or agent of a DPRS utility, and any employee of any person or entity with whom such utility has contracted.

68 Del. Laws, c. 145, §  1; 

(a) To be exempt under § 202(g) of this title, an electric cooperative shall conduct an election of all its members as follows:

(1) An election under this section may be called by the cooperative’s board of directors or shall be called not less than 100 days after receipt by the board of a valid petition signed by not less than 1,000 members of the cooperative.

(2) The proposition to exempt the cooperative from regulation by the Commission shall be voted upon by the cooperative’s members and presented to a meeting of the members. The board of directors of the cooperative shall provide notice of the election and such meeting to the members of the cooperative. Such notice shall set forth the proposition to exempt the cooperative from regulation by the Commission and the time, date and place of the meeting. Notice shall be given in writing to the members and to the Commission by mail or by hand delivery not less than 40 days nor more than 90 days before the date of the meeting. Such notice shall also include directions for voting on the proposal, a form of written ballot, and the time, date and place of the forums required by paragraph (a)(3) of this section.

(3) With the call for an election under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the board of directors of the cooperative shall schedule, and shall thereafter convene, at least 2 open forum sessions to allow members of the cooperative to discuss or make inquiries concerning the proposal and the election. Such forums shall be held on separate dates at differing locations within the cooperative’s service territory at times convenient for members to attend. Such forums shall be held no sooner than 10 days after delivery of the notice described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section and no later than 20 days prior to the date of the meeting for presenting the proposition. The time, date and location of each such forum shall be included in the notice required by paragraph (a)(2) of this section. At such forum, a member of the cooperative shall have the opportunity to make inquiries about the proposition and shall have a reasonable, equal opportunity to present the member’s views concerning the proposition, including a view in opposition to the proposition.

(4) If the cooperative mails information to its members regarding the proposition to exempt the cooperative from regulation by the Commission, other than the information required by paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the cooperative shall also include in the same mailing any materials provided in opposition to the proposition which are submitted by a petition signed by not less than 100 members of the cooperative. The cooperative shall pay the incremental cost of mailing such materials up to an amount equal to the cost of mailing the cooperative’s information regarding the proposition. Any cost in excess of that amount shall be paid pro rata by the petitioners submitting materials in opposition, which payment shall be secured by an advance deposit reasonably estimated to cover such excess costs.

(5) An independent auditor selected by the board of directors voting shall control and supervise the procedures for voting on the proposition. Each member of the cooperative shall be entitled to 1 vote on the proposition, regardless of the manner utilized to cast such vote. A member may vote by use of a written ballot prescribed for the election. Such form of written ballot shall be included with the notice required under paragraph (a)(2) of this section. Such written ballot shall be cast if received by the time of the close of the voting at the meeting described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section. In addition, a member may vote at the meeting required by paragraph (a)(2) of this section by means of such written ballot or by use of a voting machine. After the close of the voting, the independent auditor shall tally the votes validly cast both by written ballot and by use of a voting machine. The cooperative, by its charter or bylaws, may also authorize members to cast ballots by means of an electronic format and electronic transmission. The procedures adopted for the use and transmittal of such electronic ballots shall ensure that each electronic ballot was sent by a member entitled to vote. An electronic ballot shall be cast if received by the close of voting at the meeting described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

(6) An election under this section shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of those members voting, in an election at which at least 15 percent of the cooperative’s members cast votes, to carry the proposition.

(7) The independent auditor shall certify to the Commission, in writing, the results of any such election within 5 business days after the date of such election. Subject to § 224 of this title, the action voted by the members shall become effective at the expiration of 15 days from the date the election certificate is filed with the Commission.

(b) In the event the members of the cooperative have voted, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, to exempt the cooperative from regulation by the Commission, any such cooperative may vote no more than once every 12 months to return said cooperative under the regulation of the Commission. Such proposition may be submitted to the members of the cooperative by the cooperative’s board of directors, or shall be submitted to the members of the cooperative if at least 1,000 of the members of the cooperative sign a petition requesting such an election. Such proposition shall be submitted to the members of the cooperative and voted upon in the same manner as provided for in subsection (a) of this section.

73 Del. Laws, c. 157, §  2; 

Notwithstanding any electric cooperative’s election to exempt itself from the regulatory authority of the Commission under § 223 of this title, during any such period of exemption:

(1) Such cooperative shall remain subject to the Restructuring Plan approved by the Commission pursuant to § 1005(b) of this title until April 1, 2005, except as provided in paragraph (9)e. of this section, and subject to modification by the Commission upon application by the cooperative. Effective April 1, 2005, the governing body of the cooperative shall have full power and authority to revise such Restructuring Plan, subject only to the provisions of paragraphs (2) through (10) of this section.

(2) Such cooperative shall remain subject to the Commission’s jurisdiction and regulatory authority as necessary to implement §§ 203A, 203B and 204 of this title.

(3) Whenever such cooperative is a subject of or participant in any investigation or proceeding which the Commission is authorized to conduct under this section, the cooperative shall be charged with and pay such portion of the expenses of the Commission as is reasonably attributable to such investigation or proceeding in accordance with § 114 of this title.

(4) Such cooperative shall make available to its members the following reports:

a. Rate schedules, tariffs, and terms and conditions of service, and all amendments thereto;

b. Financial and statistical information regarding gross intrastate operating revenues, revenues per rate class, number of members and number of meters per rate class;

c. Data and information concerning load management, energy conservation, and similar programs;

d. Information concerning ongoing consumer education programs; and

e. Information concerning the cooperative’s performance (income statements, balance sheets, reliability data, etc.).

(5) Such cooperative shall remain subject to § 117 of this title and shall continue to abide by § 303(a) of this title.

(6) No such cooperative shall increase or decrease any of its rates or charges for electric distribution service or electric supply service for “default” customers under paragraph (9)f. of this section unless:

a. It provides notice of such proposed action to the members as provided in paragraph (7) of this section;

b. It allows the members to attend those portions of the meeting of the governing body during which such proposed action is to be publicly voted upon; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the governing body’s right to go into executive session, closed to members, to discuss pending or potential litigation, confidential proprietary information the disclosure of which could be detrimental to the cooperative’s financial interests or which could negatively impact on its ability to conduct business in a competitive environment, or to consult with legal counsel;

c. It allows the members a reasonable opportunity to address the governing body at such meeting prior to a final decision being made on such proposed action.

d. The applicable rates and charges for electric distribution service are, within each service classification, the same without regard to the customer’s electric supply service provider.

(7) Such cooperative shall provide notice of all regular meetings of its governing body in its newsletters or as part of the monthly billing statement, and by posting on its website, if any. Notice of special meetings shall be posted on the cooperative’s website, if any, or published (double-column, bordered in black) in 2 newspapers of general circulation in the cooperative’s service territory at least 24 hours in advance of such meeting. Such notice shall include a statement that copies of the updated agenda for such meetings will be posted on the cooperative’s website, if any, and available at the offices of the cooperative during normal business hours until the time of the meeting; provided, however, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, failure to provide notice or an updated agenda as required herein due to impossibility, impracticality or inadvertence shall not invalidate the meeting or any action taken thereat.

(8) Unless such cooperative has implemented a restructuring plan that provides for retail competition in its Delaware service territory, such electric cooperative may not use the transmission or distribution facilities of a nonaffiliated electric utility to make sales to customers in such nonaffiliated electrical utility’s Delaware service territory; nor shall such electric cooperative own or receive, directly or indirectly, any economic interest in any entity which uses the transmission or distribution facilities of a nonaffiliated electric utility to make sales to customers in such non-affiliated electrical utility’s Delaware service territory.

(9) In the event such cooperative has implemented a restructuring plan that provides for retail competition in its Delaware service territory, such electric cooperative:

a. Shall remain subject to the Commission’s jurisdiction and regulatory authority as necessary to implement § 1012 of this title (certification of “electric suppliers”).

b. Shall implement procedures to require all electric suppliers to deliver energy to the cooperative at locations and in amounts which are adequate to meet each electric supplier’s obligations to its customers.

c. Shall be governed by § 1011(b) of this title with regard to metering and billing for customers in the cooperative’s service territory.

d. Shall implement and maintain such procedures, processes and protocols (including all personnel, facilities and equipment) as reasonable and necessary to provide direct access (as defined in § 1001 of this title) to electric suppliers and their customers.

e. Shall, until March 31, 2005, maintain rates and charges that do not exceed those rates and charges previously established by the Commission pursuant to § 1006(b)(1) of this title, subject to the cooperative’s right to petition the Commission for authority to change those rates in order to recover extraordinary costs pursuant to § 1006(b)(1) and (b)(2) of this title, and subject also to the right of such cooperative, without Commission approval: (i) to revise any individual rate(s) or charge(s) at any time provided that such rate(s) or charge(s) does/do not exceed those established by the Commission pursuant to § 1006(b)(1) of this title; and/or (ii) to increase rates and charges above those previously established by the Commission, if (and only if) necessary, because of increases in the cooperative’s wholesale power cost, for the cooperative to maintain the minimum 1.5 TIER (“Times Interest Earned Ratio”) and Debt Service Coverage lending requirements established by the Rural Utility Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.

f. Shall have the obligation to provide electric supply service, in accordance with the cooperative’s published rate schedules, terms and conditions of service to all customers within its Commission-designated territory who:

1. Have no choice regarding electric suppliers;

2. Do not choose another electric supplier; or

3. Have contracted for electric supply service that is not delivered

(10) Such cooperative may adopt procedures to hear, decide and address, in a prompt and fair manner, complaints from its members, electric suppliers or suppliers of other competitive services. For purposes of this subsection, “other competitive services” shall mean any service or product provided for a fee by the cooperative to members or customers other than electric supply service, electric distribution service, metering and billing, or “ancillary services,” as defined in § 1001 of this title. Such procedures may provide for both informal and formal complaint proceedings. A formal complaint proceeding shall include, at a minimum, the right to present a complaint in writing, the right to have such complaint heard by the chief executive officer of the cooperative (or the chief executive officer’s designee), the right to a written response setting forth the reasons for any decision, and the right to have the complaint and response reviewed by the board of directors of the cooperative. A member, electric supplier or other supplier of competitive services may, but is not required to, utilize such informal or formal complaint procedures adopted by the cooperative and may, at any time, pursue any other remedy available under law. A determination made in the informal or formal complaint process shall be binding on the cooperative. A member, electric supplier, or supplier of other competitive services may agree to accept a determination made in the informal or formal complaint process but may reject such determination and pursue any other remedy available under law.

73 Del. Laws, c. 157, §  2;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  76 Del. Laws, c. 200, §  1; 

All provisions of this title must comply with Chapter 30M of Title 16.

81 Del. Laws, c. 396, § 7;