Through the Delaware Electric Choice program, Delmarva Power customers now have the option of shopping for a new electric supplier. This enables customers to possibly save money on their monthly power bill or choose a supplier that offers more environmentally friendly energy sources, like wind or solar.
(Delmarva will continue to deliver the electricity to your home and maintain poles and wires.)
Like other utilities, choosing an electrical supplier can be tricky. To simplify the process, ask companies to divulge their annual “price-to-compare,” which is the average, annual price per kilowatt hour that customers pay. We’ve done some of the work for you by contacting electric suppliers currently certified by the Delaware Public Service Commission to supply power in the state. All price-to-compare rates are for residential (R) service.
Ambit Energy
Service area: Delmarva Power territory
Price-to-compare: 10.04 cents/kWh
Energy sources: Mixed
Of note: Ambit offers a guaranteed savings plan where customers can save 3 percent over what they would have been charged by Delmarva Power. Customers must remain with Ambit for 12 months to qualify. (ambitenergy.com, 877-282-6248)
Commerce Energy
Service area: Delmarva Power territory
Price-to-compare: 10.49 cents/kWh with a 12-month fixed-rate plan
Energy sources: Coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, solar and methane
Of note: Customers can enroll in Commerce Energy’s JustGreen program for an additional 1 cent/kWh, which authorizes the company to purchase and retire renewable green energy credits for 100 percent of the customer’s usage. (commerceenergy.com, 866-587-8674)
Delaware Electric Cooperative
Service area: Rural areas of Kent and Sussex counties.
Price-to-compare: 7.86 cents/kWh
Energy sources: Coal, natural gas, nuclear, solar, wind and landfill gas
Of note: Unlike Delmarva customers, cooperative customers do not have the option of shopping for better electric rates. No other electric suppliers have applied to the Delaware Public Service Commission to compete against the cooperative due to the company’s low rates. (delaware.coop, 855-DEC-9090.)
Delmarva Power
Service area: All of New Castle County and portions of Kent and Sussex counties
Price-to-compare: 10.35 cents/kWh
Energy sources: Coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, oil and renewable (delmarva.com, 800-375-7117)
Ethical Electric
Service area: Delmarva Power territory
Price-to-compare: 11.55 cents/kWh for 3-month fixed-rate plan
Energy sources: Delaware customers receive 100 percent wind power. Ethical Electric does not sell energy from coal, natural gas, nuclear or oil.
Of note: Along with supplying 100 percent local, clean energy, 1 percent of Ethical Electric’s revenues are donated to nonprofit organizations and causes that benefit the planet. (ethicalelectric.com, 800-460-4900)
NextEra Energy Services Delaware
Service area: Delmarva Power territory
Price-to-compare: 9.60 cents/kWH with 12-month “NextEra Power12 plan
Energy sources: Nuclear, natural gas, coal, oil, hydroelectric, wind and others
Of note: NextEra is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, the largest generator of renewable energy from wind and sun in North America. (nexteraenergyservices.com, 855-262-3596)
Rescom Energy
Service area: Delmarva Power territory
Price-to-compare: 9.90 cents/kWH
Energy sources: Coal, natural gas, oil (getpositiveenergy.com, 888-238-4041)
Washington Gas Energy Services
Service area: Delmarva Power territory
Price-to-compare: 9.50 cents/kWH for 12-month fixed-price plan
Energy sources: Coal, gas, nuclear, oil and renewable. Washington’s standard electricity plans include 5 percent wind power for all residential customers. Customers also have the option of two green electricity options (50 percent and 100 percent wind power).
Of note: Washington Gas is a recipient of the U.S. Department of Energy’s prestigious Green Power Supplier of the Year Award. (wges.com, 888-884-WGES)
Other electric suppliers
The following electric suppliers did not respond to Delaware Today’s requests for information. They are certified by the state to supply electricity in Delmarva Power’s territory, but may or may not be currently offering service to customers in Delaware. Call for details.
First Point Power | firstpointpower.com, 888-875-1711
People’s Power & Gas | peoplespower.com, 855-85-POWER
Viridian | viridian.com, 866-663-2508
XOOM Energy of Delaware | xoomenergy.com, 888-997-8979
Municipal electric service
Several Delaware municipalities provide electric service to their residents, including:
- Clayton, 653-8419
- Dover, 736-7035
- Lewes, 645-6228
- Middletown, 378-2211
- Milford, 422-6616
- New Castle, 323-2330
- Newark, 366-7085
- Seaford, 629-9841
- Smyrna, 653-9231
