Updated May 2026
Delaware opened its retail electricity market to competition in 1999 through the Electric Utility Restructuring Act, allowing residential and commercial customers to select their own electricity supplier. Average residential rates in Delaware are approximately 18.39 cents per kilowatt hour, which sits close to the national average. Although Delaware is one of the smaller states by geography, its membership in the PJM Interconnection wholesale market and its location adjacent to major Mid-Atlantic generation assets help keep supply pricing competitive for customers who shop their rate.
Compare Delaware Rates18.39¢ per kWh, residential
18.05¢ per kWh, EIA 2026 data
The Delaware General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 60, the Electric Utility Restructuring Act, in 1999. The law separated the competitive supply portion of electric service from the regulated delivery portion. Residential and commercial customers in Delmarva Power territory may purchase their electricity supply from any licensed retail supplier. Delmarva Power continues to own and operate the wires, deliver the electricity, issue the monthly bill, and respond to outages regardless of which supplier the customer selects.
The majority of Delaware households receive service from Delmarva Power, a subsidiary of Exelon. Customers in portions of rural Kent and Sussex counties receive service from Delaware Electric Cooperative, which does not participate in retail choice.
Review available supply rates, contract lengths, renewable content, and any monthly fees. The Delaware Division of Energy and Climate maintains a list of licensed suppliers, and rate comparison websites such as UtilityRates.com display current offers in one place.
Choose the offer that fits your household and complete the enrollment online or by telephone. The new supplier handles the notification to Delmarva Power on the customer's behalf.
The supplier change typically takes effect within one to two billing cycles. There is no interruption of electric service. Delmarva Power continues to deliver power and respond to outages. Only the supply charge line on the monthly bill changes.
The Delaware electricity market is served primarily by one investor-owned utility, with a member-owned cooperative serving rural portions of the state and several municipal utilities serving specific cities.
Most of Delaware, including Wilmington, Dover, Newark, Middletown, Bear, Smyrna, and New Castle. Exelon subsidiary.
Delmarva Power is the primary investor-owned electric utility in Delaware, providing delivery service to approximately 310,000 accounts statewide. The company also serves portions of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Customers in Delmarva Power territory are eligible to select a competitive electricity supplier. The Delmarva Power outage line is 800-898-8042.
Rural portions of Kent and Sussex counties.
Delaware Electric Cooperative is a member-owned cooperative serving approximately 100,000 accounts in rural Kent and Sussex counties. Because cooperatives are governed by their members, Delaware Electric Cooperative does not participate in retail choice. Rates are established by the cooperative's board of directors. The cooperative outage line is 800-282-8517.
Delaware's competitive market offers several plan structures through licensed retail suppliers. Selecting the appropriate plan type depends on the household's tolerance for rate variability, contract length preferences, and interest in renewable energy content.
The supply rate is locked in for the duration of the contract term. Fixed rate plans provide predictable monthly bills throughout Delaware's hot summers and cold winters.
The supply rate adjusts each month based on PJM wholesale market conditions. Variable plans offer flexibility because the customer may switch or cancel at any time without penalty.
Delaware's Renewable Portfolio Standard establishes a 25 percent renewable energy target for 2026. Many licensed suppliers offer plans with 100 percent renewable content matched through Renewable Energy Certificates.
Delaware is among the smallest states in the nation by land area, but it occupies a strategic position within the Mid-Atlantic energy market. The state imports the majority of its electricity through the PJM Interconnection grid, with limited in-state generation capacity that relies primarily on natural gas.
Although in-state generation is concentrated in natural gas, Delaware customers benefit from membership in the PJM Interconnection, which is the largest wholesale electricity market in the United States. PJM provides Delaware with access to a diverse generation portfolio that includes nuclear capacity from Pennsylvania, wind generation from the Appalachian region, and solar capacity from neighboring New Jersey. Delaware is also positioned to receive output from planned offshore wind projects in the Mid-Atlantic.
Mild weather reduces both heating and cooling demand. PJM wholesale prices typically decline during this period, and licensed suppliers often release competitive offers to attract new enrollments before the summer cooling season begins.
The humid Mid-Atlantic summer drives substantial air conditioning demand throughout Delaware. PJM wholesale prices rise during heat events along the Eastern Seaboard, which is reflected in fixed rate offers issued during this period.
Cooling demand falls and winter heating demand has not yet arrived. Fall is often an effective window to lock in a fixed rate before winter wholesale price increases take effect.
Major Delaware cities and the electric utility that serves each one.
| City | Electric Utility |
|---|---|
| Wilmington | Delmarva Power |
| Dover | Delmarva Power |
| Newark | City of Newark (municipal) |
| Middletown | Delmarva Power |
| Bear | Delmarva Power |
| Georgetown | Delaware Electric Cooperative |
| Milford | City of Milford (municipal) |
| Seaford | City of Seaford (municipal) |
| Smyrna | Delmarva Power |
| New Castle | Delmarva Power |
Yes. Delaware deregulated its retail electricity market in 1999 through the Electric Utility Restructuring Act, also known as Senate Bill 60. Residential and commercial customers served by Delmarva Power are eligible to select a competitive electricity supplier. Customers served by municipal utilities and the Delaware Electric Cooperative do not participate in retail choice.
The average residential electricity rate in Delaware is approximately 18.39 cents per kilowatt hour, which is slightly higher than the national average of 18.05 cents per kilowatt hour. The average commercial rate is approximately 12.69 cents per kilowatt hour, which is below the national commercial average.
Switching suppliers in Delaware generally requires about 10 minutes. The customer enters a ZIP code on a comparison site such as UtilityRates.com, reviews available offers, selects a plan, and completes enrollment online or by telephone. The new supplier notifies Delmarva Power on the customer's behalf, and the change takes effect within one to two billing cycles. There is no interruption of electric service.
Standard Offer Service, often abbreviated SOS, is the default supply rate that applies to Delmarva Power customers who have not selected a competitive supplier. SOS rates are established through a competitive procurement process that is supervised by the Delaware Public Service Commission, and the rates change at scheduled intervals. Comparing the current Standard Offer Service rate to offers from competitive suppliers is the primary way for a customer to determine whether switching will produce savings.
Power outages are handled by the local utility, regardless of which supplier provides the customer's electricity. Delmarva Power customers should call 800-898-8042. Delaware Electric Cooperative members should call 800-282-8517. Customers of municipal utilities should contact their city directly.
Rate data on this page is compiled from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Delaware Public Service Commission, Delmarva Power tariff filings, and the UtilityRates.com retail electricity marketplace. Last data refresh: May 2026.
Published by the UtilityRates.com Energy Team. Updated May 2026.