Delaware Electric Cooperative - Green Energy Program Incentives

Solar Grant Delaware Implementation as of April 2024.

Energize Delaware sponsors the Solar Grant Delaware Program to offset the installed cost of the photovoltaic (solar) system for Delaware Electric Cooperative customers. To receive the one-time grant payment, the system owner is required to sign over the ownership of their Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) generated by the entire system to the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility, DBA Energize Delaware.

The grant amount is based on the eligible system size and is $0.70/eligible watt installed. The grant amount is capped at $2,000 for residential systems and $10,000 for commercial systems, per service address. The system owner or the contractor may be the recipient of the grant funds.

Participation in the Solar Grant Delaware Program precludes the system owner or contractor from selling SRECs generated by the system at procurement auctions or exchanging SRECs generated by the system in any other programs.

Grant funding is limited and is provided on a first-come first-serve basis. Part One of the
grant application must be submitted by the contractor or system owner to reserve funding.
Part Two of the grant application must be submitted after final interconnection approval and
within six months of the Program Admin’s verification of Part One. Failure to submit Part Two
within the allotted timeframe may result in the application being canceled.

NOTES:
• These incentives apply to Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC) customers only.
• Grant applications are evaluated by site address, not electric meter.
• The system must be installed by an approved contractor.
• The grant amount is based on the eligible system size.
• The system owner must agree to transfer the ownership of their Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) to obtain the grant. Failure to agree to the transfer will result in dismissal of the grant.

See Eligibility Rules and Regulations for complete information.

Prior Implementation

Previously, the Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC) provides incentives for solar photovoltaic (PV), solar thermal, wind, fuel cells, and geothermal installed by DEC member-owners. Eligibility is limited to systems that are intended to supply on-site energy needs. Incentives are available to both residential and non-residential member-owners based upon average peak demand over a 12 month period. Class A  member-owners are defined as those with an average monthly peak electric demand of 50 kilowatts (kW) or less over the previous twelve months. Class B member-owners are those with an average monthly peak electric demand of greater than 50 kW over the previous twelve months. 

Background

Under the 2005 Delaware renewable portfolio standard (RPS) legislation, electric cooperatives were allowed to opt out of the RPS schedule if they met certain other requirements. One such requirement was that they contribute to the existing Green Energy Fund for investor-owned utilities or create their own green energy fund supported by an equal surcharge (i.e. $0.000178/kWh). The Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC), the state's lone cooperative, opted out of the RPS requirements and established its own green energy fund.

In 2010 the Delaware RPS was amended by SS 1 for S.B. 119 and the section (26 Del. C. § 363) detailing the obligations of electric cooperatives was slightly revised. While these amendments change several other opt-out requirements, the provision mandating green energy fund contributions in the event of an opt-out remains unchanged.