DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 138

RECOGNIZING THE DELAWARE MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC CORPORATION AND COMMUNITY-OWNED, NOT-FOR-PROFIT ELECTRIC UTILITIES THROUGHOUT DELAWARE BY DESIGNATING MARCH 27, 2024, AS "DEMEC DAY" IN DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, in 1978, the Delaware General Assembly enacted legislation authorizing Delaware’s public power communities to form a joint action agency to act as a wholesale electric provider for their collective benefit as a political subdivision of the State; and

WHEREAS, in 1979, The Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, known as “DEMEC,” incorporated as a not-for-profit extension of the member communities it serves; and

WHEREAS, New Castle, Newark, Middletown, Smyrna, Clayton, Milford, Seaford, and Lewes, in partnership with DEMEC, supply reliable and environmentally responsible electric service; most of the cities and towns have served their respective communities for over 100 years; and

WHEREAS, public power is built on local decision-making and customers having a direct say in utility operations and policies as owners of their community electric utility; and

WHEREAS, DEMEC and its members are valuable community assets that contribute to the quality of life for residents and businesses through aggregated energy savings programs, local customer service, reduced carbon emissions, economic development, and other community projects; and

WHEREAS, DEMEC and its members provide homes, businesses, farms, social service buildings, government agencies, and emergency services with nationally recognized, reliable power; and

WHEREAS, DEMEC and its members’ mission is to deliver excellence through innovative services and a competitive, reliable, and sustainable power supply to advance the benefits of community-owned utilities; and

WHEREAS, DEMEC has been at the forefront of renewable energy in Delaware, by installing 28.7 megawatts of in-state solar energy generation through utility solar facilities in Dover, Milford, Newark, and Smyrna and community solar facilities in Seaford, Clayton, and New Castle; and

WHEREAS, DEMEC’s power supply mix and renewable energy credits include wind energy from the 69-megawatt Laurel Hill Wind Farm, and the 2-megawatt wind turbine at the University of Delaware Lewes campus -- a partnership that funds the UD-DEMEC Graduate Fellowship for Wind Energy Research; and

WHEREAS, DEMEC has reduced its carbon footprint by over 50% since 2005, providing its member communities with energy that is 92.5% low to no emissions; and

WHEREAS, DEMEC Day is celebrated to recognize the value of public power and advancements made by Delaware’s not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities to benefit their residential and business customers.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Senate of the 152nd General Assembly, the House of Representatives concurring therein, recognizes DEMEC and community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities throughout Delaware for their dedication to the communities with programs that save energy and money, and with renewable projects that lower emissions to benefit the environment.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that March 27, 2024, is hereby proclaimed “DEMEC Day” in honor of DEMEC’s upcoming 45th anniversary and over 100 years of reliable and safe electric service by Delaware’s local public power utilities.

SYNOPSIS

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes The Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, known as “DEMEC,” and community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities throughout Delaware for their dedication to serving communities with programs that save energy and money, and with renewable projects that lower emissions to benefit the environment. This Resolution also celebrates DEMEC’s upcoming 45th anniversary and over 100 years of reliable and safe electric service from Delaware’s local public power utilities by proclaiming March 27, 2024, as "DEMEC Day."

Author: Senator Hansen