DE SB 242
in committeeAN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 78, VOLUME 85 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE ENTITLED “AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND UTILITY RATES.”
Delaware · 2025-2026 Regular Session (153rd General Assembly) · upper
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Quick answers
Did DE SB 242 pass?
Not yet. DE SB 242 is in committee and has not come to a final vote. Latest recorded action (2026-02-26): Introduced and Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate
What is DE SB 242 about?
Senate Bill No. 59 (Chapter 78, Volume 85 of the Laws of Delaware) was passed by the General Assembly on June 26, 2025, and signed by the Governor on July 16, 2025. Senate Bill No. 59 changed the standard applied by the Public Service Commission ("Commission") when deciding public utility rate cases. The standard applied before the enactment of Senate Bill No. 59 was the “business judgment rule” standard. Senate Bill No. 59 changed the standard applied by the Commission to the “prudence” standard. Forty-eight states in the United States apply the “prudence” standard when setting public utility rates, not the "business judgement rule" standard that has been applied in Delaware. Although Section 3 of Senate Bill No. 59 stated that the Act takes effect on January 1, 2026, following its enactment into law, it was the intent of the General Assembly that the Commission must apply the “prudence" standard retroactively in rate case decisions, where the public utility filed the rate case proceeding with the Commission during the period from the date of enactment of the legislation on July 16, 2025, through December 31, 2025. The “prudence” standard does not apply to any rate case proceeding filed by a public utility with the Commission before July 16, 2025.
Who sponsors DE SB 242?
Brian Pettyjohn, Marie Pinkney, Spiros Mantzavinos and 13 others are the primary sponsors of DE SB 242, joined by 12 cosponsors.
Description
Senate Bill No. 59 (Chapter 78, Volume 85 of the Laws of Delaware) was passed by the General Assembly on June 26, 2025, and signed by the Governor on July 16, 2025. Senate Bill No. 59 changed the standard applied by the Public Service Commission ("Commission") when deciding public utility rate cases. The standard applied before the enactment of Senate Bill No. 59 was the “business judgment rule” standard. Senate Bill No. 59 changed the standard applied by the Commission to the “prudence” standard. Forty-eight states in the United States apply the “prudence” standard when setting public utility rates, not the "business judgement rule" standard that has been applied in Delaware. Although Section 3 of Senate Bill No. 59 stated that the Act takes effect on January 1, 2026, following its enactment into law, it was the intent of the General Assembly that the Commission must apply the “prudence" standard retroactively in rate case decisions, where the public utility filed the rate case proceeding with the Commission during the period from the date of enactment of the legislation on July 16, 2025, through December 31, 2025. The “prudence” standard does not apply to any rate case proceeding filed by a public utility with the Commission before July 16, 2025.
- Introduced
- 2026-02-26
- Latest action
- 2026-02-26 — Introduced and Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Brian Pettyjohnprimary
- Marie Pinkneyprimary
- Spiros Mantzavinosprimary
- Bryant L. Richardsonprimary
- John "Jack" Walshprimary
- David P. Sokolaprimary
- Ray Seigfriedprimary
- Claire Snyder-Hallprimary
- Franklin D. Cookeprimary
- Nicole Pooreprimary
- Eric Morrisonprimary
- Russell Huxtableprimary
- Bryan Townsendprimary
- Stephanie L. Hansenprimary
- Debra Heffernanprimary
- Krista Griffithprimary
- Eric Bucksoncosponsor
- Kyra L. Hoffnercosponsor
- Russell Huxtablecosponsor
- Nicole Poorecosponsor
- Ray Seigfriedcosponsor
- David P. Sokolacosponsor
- John "Jack" Walshcosponsor
- Frank Burnscosponsor
- Larry Lambertcosponsor
- DeShanna U Nealcosponsor
- Claire Snyder-Hallcosponsor
- Kimberly Williamscosponsor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-02-26
Introduced and Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate
introduction,referral-committee
Versions
- Bill TextCompare
Documents
Votes
Not provided by source.
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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