Delaware Electric Cooperative
| Company type | Member-owned nonprofit cooperative |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electric utility |
| Founded | 1936 |
| Headquarters | Greenwood , United States |
Area served | Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware |
Key people | Bill Andrew (former President and CEO) |
| Products | Electricity |
| Parent | Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (member) |
| Website | www |
Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC) operates as a member-owned, nonprofit electric utility headquartered in Greenwood, Delaware, providing energy services to more than 300,000 residents across Kent and Sussex Counties. As part of the Touchstone Energy Cooperative network and a member of the Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, DEC leverages regional generation and transmission assets. The cooperative’s team is committed to delivering consistent and dependable electricity to the communities it serves.
History
Established in 1936 by farmers from southern Delaware, DEC was created to fund rural electrification projects in areas overlooked by investor-owned utilities. Although the cooperative has grown and adapted over time, it continues to operate under member ownership. Upon initiating service, members become co-owners by contributing financially through their monthly payments, which support infrastructure upgrades and technological advancements. These contributions are eventually returned to members as capital credits. Governance is maintained by a board of directors elected by the membership, ensuring decisions reflect member priorities. Earnings are either reinvested into the cooperative or distributed back to members, underscoring DEC’s dedication to community service.
Capital Credits
Members of DEC benefit from capital credits, which represent their share of the cooperative’s profits distributed via checks or billing offsets. Over the last ten years, DEC has returned $60 million to its members, highlighting its strong cooperative financial structure and commitment to customer-owners.
Beat the Peak
In 2008, Bill Andrew, then President and CEO of DEC, initiated the widely acclaimed Beat the Peak program aimed at encouraging members to reduce electricity consumption during periods of elevated energy costs, thereby helping to maintain affordable rates. When wholesale power prices surge, DEC issues Beat the Peak notifications urging members to minimize usage by turning off nonessential lighting, postponing operation of large appliances, or adjusting thermostats according to seasonal needs.
Originally, participants received alerts via in-home indicators that illuminated during peak times. Currently, notifications are delivered through the “Delaware Coop – Beat the Peak” mobile application, which provides real-time alerts, energy-saving recommendations, and displays potential cost savings.
Additional member engagement opportunities include “Beat the Peak with Thermostats” and “Beat the Peak with Electric Vehicles (EVs).” The thermostat initiative permits DEC to remotely manage Wi-Fi-connected thermostats during peak demand in exchange for a $5 monthly credit during summer months. The EV program offers an initial $200 credit plus a $5 monthly summer credit for members who avoid charging their EVs during peak alerts using a Wi-Fi-enabled ChargePoint Home charger.
Investments in Renewable Energy
Since 2012, DEC has pursued a strategy balancing carbon reduction with cost-effective electricity by investing in renewable resources. It became Delaware’s pioneer utility owner of a solar farm—the nearly 40-acre Bruce A. Henry Solar Farm near Georgetown—which has been supplying clean energy since its inception in 2012. In January 2022, DEC announced plans for seven additional utility-scale solar projects slated to provide renewable power by 2024.
The cooperative manages a diverse energy mix that includes solar, wind, landfill gas, coal, nuclear, and natural gas sources to serve more than 112,000 residential and commercial customers. Through its renewable energy initiatives and efficiency programs, DEC has achieved a 46% reduction in carbon emissions since 2005.
SmartHub App
Members of DEC have the convenience of managing their accounts remotely by registering for a DEC SmartHub account. New users can initiate the registration process through the “New User” option found on DEC’s homepage, providing essential information to finalize their account setup. The SmartHub application, listed as “DEC Connect” in mobile app marketplaces, enables customers to access their account information and report power outages while on the move. Current account holders can sign in using their existing login details, whereas newcomers have the option to create an account directly within the app.