Rep. Heffernan Issues Statement on Veto of HB 393, Energy Consumer Protection Legislation
DOVER – Following Governor Matt Meyer’s veto of House Bill 393, legislation that would have created consumer protections for Delawareans utilizing unregulated third-party energy suppliers, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Debra Heffernan, issued the following statement:
“House Bill 393 was born out of concerns we as legislators heard directly from our constituents. Delawareans came to us after being taken advantage of by unscrupulous and largely unregulated third-party energy suppliers who promised lower bills and offered incentives like gift cards for signing up, then left customers paying far more than expected.
“These companies lock people into contracts that auto-renew without notice, use variable rates that can spike without notice, and in many cases, charge customers more than they would pay Delmarva for the very same electricity.
“That is why I am deeply disappointed by the governor’s decision to veto this bipartisan consumer protection legislation that was crafted with the Meyer administration, the Public Advocate, and the Public Service Commission, and which passed unanimously in both chambers.
“The governor has spoken often this year about wanting to bring energy prices down for Delaware families. In the legislature, we didn’t just talk, we took action. And we looked at the whole picture, not quick solutions.
“This bill would have, in fact, brought down energy prices for the families currently being overcharged and, frankly, taken advantage of by companies counting on the fact that they won’t notice until their first bill arrives.
“It is frustrating on many levels to see this bill make it so far, only to be vetoed at the last possible minute. Throughout the 153rd General Assembly, we did everything in our power to hold Delmarva accountable for their skyrocketing prices. We dug deep, looking more closely at the state’s interconnection procedures and making necessary changes to give residents more autonomy over their energy choices, making sure that Delawareans would not have to pay the costs associated with large-use energy facilities, such as data centers, joining the grid, further regulating utilities to ensure that the only thing customer funds are used for is supplying energy, and other measures.
“To imply that HB 393 was passed in support of any one electric supplier is an insult to the work that my colleagues and I have done, in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders all working toward the goal of bettering the lives of Delaware residents. It is also giving far too much credit to the third-party suppliers, some of whom make their money by preying on desperate families, and who are only able to charge a select few customers less at the expense of overcharging the majority.
“The intent of this bill was never to strengthen a monopoly or to push anyone out of the marketplace. We simply wanted to ensure that Delawareans are properly informed and have meaningful protections in place should they choose a third-party energy supplier.”
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