Bill > HB470

This bill amends Title 26 of the Delaware Code concerning public utilities and battery energy storage systems by adding a definition for "Utility battery energy storage system" or "U-BESS," which refers to equipment owned and operated by a public electric utility primarily for participating in wholesale energy markets by storing and discharging energy from the grid, clarifying that U-BESS is neither generation nor distribution equipment. It also allows DP&L, an electric distribution company, to own and operate U-BESS after Commission approval and to petition annually for a surcharge on customer bills to recover the costs associated with its U-BESS portfolio, provided this surcharge is in the public interest and considers revenues from wholesale energy markets to benefit customers, with specific requirements for return on equity and efforts to maximize value streams from these systems to mitigate ratepayer impacts.