Bill would allow Delaware Electric Cooperative to reject data centers

The Delaware State Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 276, a piece of legislation that would free the Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC) from its current obligation to serve “large loads”—facilities consuming 50 megawatts or more, such as data centers. DEC CEO Rob Book advocated for the bill, stating it would shield current customers from potential price spikes if the national surge in data center construction extends to southern Delaware. Senator Stephanie Hansen (D-Middletown), the bill's primary sponsor, commended DEC for requesting the bill and its plan to require data centers to generate their own power or contract with third-party suppliers. The bill now advances to a committee in the House of Representatives. While Delaware's largest utility, Delmarva Power, operates under a similar state requirement to provide power to all requesters, its spokesman Matthew Ford indicated that the utility has not sought similar legislation, believing such decisions are best addressed through the Delaware Public Service Commission's regulatory framework rather than unilateral utility discretion. A recent state-commissioned study found that data center energy demand in Delaware could almost double wholesale energy prices.