How to Switch Electricity Providers in Delaware: Who Can Switch and How

In Delaware, residential electric choice is available mainly to Delmarva Power customers: you keep Delmarva for delivery and billing, and buy supply from a certified electric supplier instead of Standard Offer Service. Delaware has no state-run price comparison website. Instead, the Delaware Public Service Commission (PSC) publishes a list of certified suppliers and a list of questions to ask, and its regulations give you three business days to cancel a new contract.

Below is what you need to know about choice in Delaware, including the rules for co-op members, the protections in the PSC's regulations, and a checklist.

Who can switch in Delaware?

The PSC's Customer Electric Choice page says choice "is currently available to Delmarva Power customers for electric only."

Delaware Electric Cooperative members: The co-op says all members "have the option to choose their electricity supplier," but its member information page also says that, as of its writing, no suppliers were registered with the co-op. In practice, co-op members may have no supplier to switch to.

If you buy power from a municipal electric utility, check with it directly; the PSC page does not describe choice for municipal customers.

Who regulates electricity suppliers in Delaware?

The Delaware Public Service Commission certifies electric suppliers and sets the rules they must follow. However, the PSC states that it "does not have jurisdiction over the rates and charges of third party suppliers." You can reach the PSC at 302-736-7500.

Is there an official comparison website?

Not in the way some neighboring states have one. The PSC publishes a list of certified electric suppliers (noting some may not currently be offering service), a list of active residential suppliers with phone numbers and websites, and a list of questions to ask suppliers. Delmarva Power publishes its "Price to Compare" on its website. You will need to gather offers yourself.

How switching works in Delaware

• Standard Offer Service is the default. If you do not choose a supplier, supply is procured for you through a PSC-supervised Request for Proposals process (Standard Offer Service).
• Delmarva still bills and delivers. You keep getting your bill from Delmarva Power, with the supply portion shown separately. Questions about the supplier contract go to the supplier.
• Read every term. The PSC notes suppliers may offer introductory rates that expire or variable-rate plans, and urges customers to "fully understand all the terms, conditions, and charges before you switch."

Your protections under PSC rules

Delaware's supplier rules are in 26 Del. Admin. Code 3001. Key residential protections include:

Protection	What the rule says
Three business days to cancel	You may rescind within 3 business days, starting at signing, electronic acceptance, or receipt of a mailed contract.
Contract summary	You must receive a copy of the signed contract and a completed contract summary.
Renewal notice	Written notice 45 days before the contract ends, saying that doing nothing means automatic renewal, listing any changed terms, and explaining how to end the contract without penalty.
Variable rates	The supplier must make the variable price available at least 12 days before your billing period closes, and state clearly if a variable rate has no cap.
Cancellation fees	Early cancellation fees must be disclosed, and are not allowed on the commodity portion of a variable-price contract.
Moving	If you move outside your utility's territory, you can end the contract with no termination fee.
No slamming	Suppliers may not switch you without authorization, and must provide proof of authorization on request.
Door-to-door hours	Door-to-door sales are limited to 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, unless a local ordinance is stricter.

The rules also ban false or misleading conduct, including suggesting that enrollment is required. If you cancel without choosing a new supplier, you return to Standard Offer Service.

Step-by-step checklist: switching electricity providers in Delaware

1. Confirm you are a Delmarva customer. Choice is generally available only to Delmarva Power customers.
2. Find Delmarva's Price to Compare and your usage. See our Delaware electricity rates page for context.
3. Get the PSC supplier list. Use the PSC choice page to find active residential suppliers.
4. Ask the PSC's questions. Use the supplier questions list to compare offers on the same basis.
5. Get the contract summary. Check price, term, variable-rate rules, fees and renewal terms.
6. Calculate with your usage. Use our electric bill calculator with both prices.
7. Use the three-business-day window if needed.
8. Watch for the 45-day renewal notice. Decide whether to renew, switch, or return to Standard Offer Service.

Red flags

• Anyone suggesting you must enroll with a supplier.
• Door-to-door sales before 9 a.m. or after 8 p.m.
• A variable rate with no stated cap and no clear way to see the price before your bill.
• An early cancellation fee on a variable-price contract.
• A switch you did not authorize. Ask for proof of authorization and contact the PSC.
• An introductory rate with no stated price after it expires.

How to estimate savings before you switch in Delaware

Supply offers are quoted in cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), so the quickest test is simple arithmetic. Take the difference between the offer and your Price to Compare price, then multiply it by the kWh you use in a typical month. As an illustration only: an offer 1 cent per kWh below the default price, on a home using 700 kWh a month, would lower the supply part of the bill by about $7 that month. An offer 1 cent higher would add about $7.

Repeat the math for a high-use month (winter heating or summer cooling) and a low-use month, because the dollar difference grows with usage. Then add any monthly fee the supplier charges, and subtract any sign-up credit spread across the term. If the offer only wins in some months, or only before the Price to Compare price next changes, the overall result may be close to zero. Our kWh calculator can help if you need to work out usage for specific appliances, and our state rates page shows how prices in Delaware compare with other states.

Fixed or variable: choosing a price type in Delaware

A fixed-rate plan charges the same supply price per kWh for the contract term. It makes budgeting easier, and you are protected if wholesale prices rise. The downside is that you may pay more than the default rate if that rate falls during your term, and you may owe a fee to leave early if the contract has one.

A variable-rate plan can change from month to month. It may start low, but you carry the risk if prices climb. Before accepting one, ask how the price is calculated, whether there is a ceiling, and how much notice you get before a change. Delaware's PSC rules require suppliers to state clearly when a variable rate has no cap and to make the variable price available at least 12 days before your billing period closes.

Whichever type you pick, write down three dates: when service starts, when the price could change, and when the contract ends. Most problems people report with supply contracts come from missing one of those dates.

What to do if something goes wrong

Start with the supplier. Many billing errors, missed cancellations or wrong prices can be fixed with one call, especially if you have the contract summary and the date you enrolled. Keep notes of who you spoke with and when.

If that does not work, contact the state. In Delaware, the Public Service Commission takes calls at 302-736-7500 and offers a formal complaint process. You can also ask the supplier for proof that you authorized the switch. Have your utility account number, the supplier's name, and copies of any letters or emails ready. If you think you were switched without permission, say so clearly; unauthorized switching is treated seriously by state regulators.

Renters, movers and new accounts

Renters who pay their own electric bill can usually shop for supply the same way homeowners can, because the account is in their name. If your landlord pays for electricity, the choice belongs to the account holder. When you open a new account after a move, you typically start on the utility's default supply, and you can compare offers once you have a bill showing your account number and usage.

Under PSC rules, if you move outside your utility's service territory, you can end a supplier contract without a termination fee.

Next steps

Compare Delmarva's Price to Compare with any supplier offer in our electric bill calculator. Then check our Delaware electricity rates page, the average electric bill by state, and the EIA Delaware profile.