DE HB 62
enactedAN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 22 AND 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE TERMINATION OF UTILITY SERVICES.
Delaware · 2025-2026 Regular Session (153rd General Assembly) · lower
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Quick answers
Did DE HB 62 pass?
Yes. DE HB 62 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2025-05-22): Signed by Governor
What is DE HB 62 about?
This Act updates the law relating to the termination of utility services to a dwelling unit by adopting and expanding state regulations concerning the termination of heating and cooling services. Among other things, this Act does the following: 1. Prohibits a utility company from terminating any services outside the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. 2. Prohibits a utility company from terminating any services from December 21 of each year to January 1 of the following year. 3. Prohibits a utility company from terminating heating services for nonpayment to a dwelling unit when the temperature is at or below 35 degrees Fahrenheit. 4. Prohibits a utility company from terminating cooling services when the Heat Index is equal to or exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit. 5. Requires 14 days written notice be given to a dwelling unit prior to termination of services for nonpayment of bills during the heating or cooling season. 6. Requires the utility company to make at least 3 attempts to contact the occupant of a dwelling unit by telephone, text message, or email prior to termination of services for nonpayment during the heating season, including one attempt that must be after 5 p.m. 7. Requires the utility to make at least 1 attempt to contact the occupant of a dwelling unit by telephone, text message, or email prior to termination of services for nonpayment during the cooling season. 8. Requires that the 14 days written notice include information about payment plans, government assistance programs, and other ways termination of services may be deferred. 9. Imposes a civil penalty of up to $1,000 in lieu of a misdemeanor. This Act also expands the scope of utility termination laws to include the termination of utilities run by municipal electric companies. Municipalities that use municipal electric companies will be responsible for adopting ordinances to enforce utility termination laws within the municipality. Among other things, House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 differs from House Bill No. 62 by including additional times when shutoff of utilities is prohibited; removing the provision prohibiting shutoffs for occupants receiving certain benefits; and clarifying certain notice requirements.
Who sponsors DE HB 62?
John "Jack" Walsh, Ray Seigfried, Bryan Townsend and 23 others are the primary sponsors of DE HB 62, joined by 20 cosponsors.
Description
This Act updates the law relating to the termination of utility services to a dwelling unit by adopting and expanding state regulations concerning the termination of heating and cooling services. Among other things, this Act does the following: 1. Prohibits a utility company from terminating any services outside the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. 2. Prohibits a utility company from terminating any services from December 21 of each year to January 1 of the following year. 3. Prohibits a utility company from terminating heating services for nonpayment to a dwelling unit when the temperature is at or below 35 degrees Fahrenheit. 4. Prohibits a utility company from terminating cooling services when the Heat Index is equal to or exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit. 5. Requires 14 days written notice be given to a dwelling unit prior to termination of services for nonpayment of bills during the heating or cooling season. 6. Requires the utility company to make at least 3 attempts to contact the occupant of a dwelling unit by telephone, text message, or email prior to termination of services for nonpayment during the heating season, including one attempt that must be after 5 p.m. 7. Requires the utility to make at least 1 attempt to contact the occupant of a dwelling unit by telephone, text message, or email prior to termination of services for nonpayment during the cooling season. 8. Requires that the 14 days written notice include information about payment plans, government assistance programs, and other ways termination of services may be deferred. 9. Imposes a civil penalty of up to $1,000 in lieu of a misdemeanor. This Act also expands the scope of utility termination laws to include the termination of utilities run by municipal electric companies. Municipalities that use municipal electric companies will be responsible for adopting ordinances to enforce utility termination laws within the municipality. Among other things, House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 differs from House Bill No. 62 by including additional times when shutoff of utilities is prohibited; removing the provision prohibiting shutoffs for occupants receiving certain benefits; and clarifying certain notice requirements.
- Introduced
- 2025-03-20
- Latest action
- 2025-05-22 — Signed by Governor
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- John "Jack" Walshprimary
- Ray Seigfriedprimary
- Bryan Townsendprimary
- Kerri Evelyn Harrisprimary
- William Bushprimary
- Cyndie Romerprimary
- Spiros Mantzavinosprimary
- Madinah Wilson-Antonprimary
- Dave G. Lawsonprimary
- David L. Wilsonprimary
- Marie Pinkneyprimary
- Eric Morrisonprimary
- Mara Gormanprimary
- Bryant L. Richardsonprimary
- Edward S. Osienskiprimary
- Trey Paradeeprimary
- Claire Snyder-Hallprimary
- Josue O Ortegaprimary
- David P. Sokolaprimary
- Russell Huxtableprimary
- Melanie Ross Levinprimary
- Debra Heffernanprimary
- Sherae'a Mooreprimary
- Stephanie L. Hansenprimary
- S. Elizabeth Lockmanprimary
- Kyra L. Hoffnerprimary
- Melissa Minor-Browncosponsor
- Edward S. Osienskicosponsor
- Frank Burnscosponsor
- Mara Gormancosponsor
- Eric Morrisoncosponsor
- DeShanna U Nealcosponsor
- Sophie Phillipscosponsor
- Kamela T Smithcosponsor
- Claire Snyder-Hallcosponsor
- Madinah Wilson-Antoncosponsor
- Larry Lambertcosponsor
- Cyndie Romercosponsor
- William Bushcosponsor
- Kerri Evelyn Harriscosponsor
- Bryan Townsendcosponsor
- Russell Huxtablecosponsor
- Spiros Mantzavinoscosponsor
- Ray Seigfriedcosponsor
- John "Jack" Walshcosponsor
- David P. Sokolacosponsor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2025-05-22
Signed by Governor
executive-signature
2025-05-20
Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
passage
2025-05-14
Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 4 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-04-08
Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate
introduction,referral-committee
2025-04-08
Passed By House. Votes: 28 YES 12 NO 1 ABSENT
passage
2025-04-08
Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
amendment-passage
2025-04-08
Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
amendment-introduction
2025-03-26
Reported Out of Committee (Natural Resources & Energy) in House with 10 On Its Merits
committee-passage
2025-03-20
Adopted in lieu of the original bill HB 62, and Assigned to Natural Resources & Energy Committee in House
introduction,referral-committee
Versions
Documents
Votes
SM
2025-04-08 · pass · 28-12
Member-level votes (41)
- Stephanie T. Bolden: yes
- Frank Burns: yes
- William Bush: yes
- William J. Carson: yes
- Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha: yes
- Richard G. Collins: no
- Franklin D. Cooke: yes
- Daniel B. Short: yes
- Timothy D. Dukes: no
- Mara Gorman: yes
- Ronald E. Gray: no
- Krista Griffith: yes
- Kerri Evelyn Harris: yes
- Debra Heffernan: yes
- Kevin S Hensley: no
- Jeff Hilovsky: no
- Valerie Jones Giltner: no
- Kendra Johnson: yes
- Kimberly Williams: yes
- Kamela T Smith: yes
- Larry Lambert: yes
- Sean M. Lynn: yes
- Michael F. Smith: no
- Melissa Minor-Brown: yes
- Shannon Morris: no
- Eric Morrison: yes
- DeShanna U Neal: yes
- Josue O Ortega: yes
- Edward S. Osienski: yes
- Stell Parker Selby: other
- Sophie Phillips: yes
- Charles S Postles Jr.: no
- Cyndie Romer: yes
- Melanie Ross Levin: yes
- Sherae'a Moore: yes
- Bryan W. Shupe: yes
- Claire Snyder-Hall: yes
- Jeffrey N. Spiegelman: no
- Jesse R. Vanderwende: no
- Madinah Wilson-Anton: yes
- Lyndon D. Yearick: no
SM
2025-05-20 · pass · 20-0
Member-level votes (21)
- Darius J. Brown: other
- Eric Buckson: yes
- Daniel Cruce: yes
- Stephanie L. Hansen: yes
- Gerald W. Hocker: yes
- Kyra L. Hoffner: yes
- Russell Huxtable: yes
- Dave G. Lawson: yes
- S. Elizabeth Lockman: yes
- Spiros Mantzavinos: yes
- Trey Paradee: yes
- Brian Pettyjohn: yes
- Marie Pinkney: yes
- Nicole Poore: yes
- Bryant L. Richardson: yes
- Ray Seigfried: yes
- David P. Sokola: yes
- Laura V. Sturgeon: yes
- Bryan Townsend: yes
- John "Jack" Walsh: yes
- David L. Wilson: yes
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_api_sync, retrieved 2026-10-24T19:41:58.107551Z
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