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The DNREC State Energy Office (SEO) has contracted with Siemens Energy to conduct an analysis of the challenges and opportunities for hardening, modernizing and improving the resilience of the state’s electricity grid.
The Grid Study satisfies the State’s matching contribution required under the USDOE Bipartisan Infrastructure Law section 40101(d) grant titled “Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid.” The study also fulfills the State Energy Office obligation to produce a report required by House Joint Resolution 3 on Grid Enhancing Technologies passed during the 153rd Delaware General Assembly.
The resolution, signed by Governor Matt Meyer on July 16, 2025, requires that “no later than December 31, 2025, the DNREC SEO and DESEU shall submit a preliminary progress report detailing the initial findings from the analysis of grid-enhancing technologies across all electric utilities in Delaware, and a final report must be submitted by July 31, 2026, to: the Governor and all members of the General Assembly, with copies to the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Research of Legislative Council, and the Delaware Public Archives.”
For more information, please contact B. Scott Hunter, at Benjamin.Hunter@delaware.gov or 302-672-1158.
On Sept. 8, 2025, DNREC executed a contract with Siemens Energy (Siemens) to conduct an Analysis of Delaware’s Electricity Distribution Grids.
Siemens and SEO Staff held project kick-off meetings with the State’s three electric distribution companies (EDCs) and presented an overview of the project to the Governor’s Energy Advisory Council (GEAC). Advisory Council members and representatives of the electric distribution companies and other stakeholders were surveyed about their priorities for modernizing and hardening Delaware’s transmission and distribution grid.
The results of the survey, combined with the input and data collected from EDCs and other sources, were used to produce a Baseline Conditions Assessment of Delaware’s grid. The following highlights were underscored in a Preliminary Progress Report:
Based on the data collected, a benchmarking analysis of the distribution plans from leading distribution utilities and its own experience in the field, Siemens assessed the current state of Delaware’s electricity distribution grids.
An analysis of the capability and technology gaps to achievement of a future state of the grid was based on the objectives expressed in stakeholder surveys, HJR3 and the State Energy Plan. Stakeholders sought cost-effective grid modernization through non-wire alternatives, virtual power plants and distributed energy resources and management systems with added emphasis on climate resilience and equity.
The report found that our distribution grid operators have reported meeting benchmark reliability standards but systemic challenges exist (load growth, affordability, increased DER adoption etc.) to future reliability and resilience of the grid. The analysis recommended foundational investments necessary to fulfill the objectives identified by stakeholders.
To embark, EDCs should:
The Final Report was submitted to the Governor and legislature on July 30, 2026.
The State Energy Office anticipates using the study results to inform future implementation of USDOE BIL 40101(d) funding rounds in Delaware.
Related Topics: climate coastal energy, distribution, efficiency, energy, energy conservation, funding, incentives, resilience
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