April 25, 2008
Delaware

Move seeks ratepayer protection in wind fight

A bipartisan group of legislators Thursday unveiled a move to try to keep Delmarva Power from having its customers foot the bill for the Bluewater wind farm fight.

House Concurrent Resolution 50, whose prime sponsor is Rep. John J. Kowalko, D-Newark South, recommends that the Public Service Commission deny any request by Delmarva to pass on the costs to ratepayers.

“The campaign being waged by Delmarva Power and Bluewater and the expenses of that campaign must be borne by those entities. Bluewater Wind realizes, understands that, and accepts that,” Kowalko said in a news conference to unveil the resolution.

“Delmarva insists that the expenses be applied to the ratepayer. This is unacceptable,” he said, adding that Delmarva’s customers should not have to foot the bill “for a campaign that can be couched in no other terms but as against their best interests.”

Concurrent resolutions, which must be passed by both houses, do not have the force of law.

Delmarva is opposing a proposed 25-year contract that would force it to buy power from Bluewater, which wants to build a wind farm off Delaware’s Atlantic coast.

Delmarva spokesman Bill Yingling declined to take a position on the bill. “It’s important for our customers to know how much this offshore wind proposal would increase their monthly bills. Regardless of what happens with this proposed resolution, we will continue to educate our customers about the significant impact this project would have on their future rates.”