In short: Delaware’s grid is one of the most reliable in the country, with under two hours of outage per customer in 2024, but its power price jumped about 11% in a year to 18.5¢ per kWh in July 2026. Full retail net metering, now without a cap, plus state Green Energy Program rebates make Delaware a solid state for solar.
Delaware is small, but its energy picture is distinct: rising bills, a steady grid, good rules for solar and, unusually, decent wind at open rural sites. Here is what the state’s own numbers mean for solar, batteries, backup power, EV charging and small wind, with every figure sourced and dated.
Delaware at a glance
- Home electricity price: 18.48¢/kWh in July 2026 (EIA, preliminary), up from 16.58¢ in July 2025; 17.86¢ average for January to July 2026. U.S. average: 18.31¢ (EIA, July 2026).
- Outages in 2024: 116 minutes per customer including major events, 66 minutes without them; under one interruption per customer per year (EIA-861, 2024).
- Sun: about 4.1 kWh per square meter per day in Wilmington and 4.2 near the center of the state (NASA POWER, 2001–2020), roughly 1,190 kWh per kW of panels per year in Wilmington by our rough estimate.
- Net metering: full retail net metering with Delmarva Power, the Delaware Electric Cooperative and the municipal utilities; SB 239, signed June 10, 2026, removed the 8% cap.
- Plug-in (balcony) solar law: none as of October 2026.
- Electric vehicles: 16,000 battery-electric and 6,100 plug-in hybrid cars through 2025; 724 public charging ports at 229 locations, 309 of them DC fast (AFDC, October 2026).
- Main utilities: Delmarva Power (about 66% of customers), Delaware Electric Cooperative (23%), and the cities of Dover (5%) and Newark (3%) (EIA-861, 2024).
- Weather hazards: overall expected loss rated very low; winter weather and cold wave relatively moderate; hurricane relatively low (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Planned wildfire shutoffs (PSPS): no utility program found.
Backup power in Delaware
By the numbers, Delaware homes need less backup than most. The average customer lost 66 minutes of power on ordinary days in 2024 and 116 minutes in total, and FEMA rates the state’s overall expected loss from natural hazards as very low. The risks that do show up are winter weather and cold waves, both relatively moderate, with coastal storms a smaller factor. So size backup to your household, not to fear: what would an outage of a few hours, or the rare one-to-two-day storm outage, actually cost you?
- Most homes: a portable power station for internet, phones, lights and a fridge for a few hours is often enough.
- Medical equipment, home offices, sump pumps or a well: a home battery gives automatic, silent backup; with solar it can recharge itself.
- Rural and coastal homes worried about multi-day outages: a portable or standby generator gives the longest runtime.
Use generators the CPSC way: outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from windows, doors and vents, never in a garage, and battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms on every level. A licensed electrician should install the transfer switch or interlock. Try the battery backup calculator and the generator sizing calculator.
Solar in Delaware
Delaware keeps full retail net metering for customers of Delmarva Power, the Delaware Electric Cooperative and the municipal utilities in the DEMEC group. Every kWh your panels send to the grid is credited at the retail rate, so a kWh exported is worth about as much as a kWh used. In June 2026 the state removed the 8% aggregate cap with SB 239, so there is no longer a risk of the program filling up.
The 11% price rise between July 2025 and July 2026 also improves the math. Rough estimate: each kW of panels in Wilmington makes about 1,190 kWh a year, worth about $220 at 18.48¢. A 6 kW system makes about 7,140 kWh, worth up to roughly $1,320 a year. These are estimates, not promises; your roof, shading and usage decide the real figure. EIA counted 14,087 net-metered home solar systems in Delaware in 2024, about 108 MW. Run the solar potential calculator, see solar costs and read how net metering works.
Green Energy Program: DNREC’s Green Energy Program gives rebates to Delmarva Power customers for solar and small wind; residential solar rebates have typically been up to about $6,000. In August 2026 DNREC added rebates of up to $100,000 for nonresidential solar canopies and brownfield projects. Funds are first come, first served, and the Delaware Electric Cooperative and DEMEC municipal utilities run parallel programs for their customers. Check the program page before you sign; amounts change and funds can run out.
There is no plug-in solar law in Delaware yet, so plug-in kits follow your utility’s interconnection rules. The federal 25D credit ended for systems completed after December 31, 2025. More in our solar guide and incentives page.
Home batteries in Delaware
With full retail net metering and a reliable grid, a battery in Delaware is mostly about peace of mind, not savings. EIA recorded only 3 battery-paired net-metered solar homes in the state in 2024, which reflects that. It makes the most sense if someone relies on medical equipment, if you work from home, or if you want your solar to keep running during an outage (standard grid-tied solar shuts off when the grid does). We found no confirmed state battery program. See our home battery guide and home battery costs.
EV charging in Delaware
Delaware had 16,000 battery-electric cars through 2025 and 724 public charging ports, about 22 cars per port. A high share of those ports, 309 of 724, are DC fast chargers. Home charging is still the cheapest: using about 30 kWh per 100 miles, the kind of rating fueleconomy.gov lists, 100 miles cost about $5.55 at 18.48¢, and 12,000 miles a year about $665 (estimate).
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Delaware: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
A Level 2 charger needs a 240-volt circuit installed by a licensed electrician, with a permit. The federal 30D credit ended September 30, 2025, and the 30C charger credit ended for chargers placed in service after June 30, 2026. Ask Delmarva Power or your co-op about any current charger or off-peak programs. See our EV charging guide and the EV charging cost calculator.
Small wind, off-grid and micro-hydro
Small wind is more plausible in Delaware than in most Eastern states in our data. NASA POWER puts the average wind at 50 meters at about 6.4 m/s near the center of the state and 5.9 m/s around Wilmington, well above the roughly 4.5 m/s the U.S. Department of Energy suggests for a grid-tied home turbine. Our estimate is “good at open rural sites”: small turbines sit lower than 50 meters, and trees and buildings slow the wind, so measure before you buy. The Green Energy Program covers small wind as well as solar. Read more on wind energy.
Fully off-grid homes are uncommon here, but barns, sheds and boats can run on small solar-and-battery systems; see off-grid power. Delaware’s mostly flat land offers little drop for micro-hydro; our hydropower page explains why drop matters.
Licensing and permits in Delaware
Delaware has no separate solar license; solar, battery, generator and EV charger wiring is electrical work licensed by the Board of Electrical Examiners in the Division of Professional Regulation. Check a license with the state’s DELPROS license verification. Permits come from your city or county, and Delmarva Power, the co-op or your municipal utility must approve interconnection before a solar or battery system goes live.
Local guides in Delaware
Utilities, rates, outage records, permit offices and local programs for each area:
Where we cover in Delaware
- Wilmington–New Castle County: Wilmington, Newark, Middletown
- Dover: Dover, Milford
- Coastal Delaware: Georgetown, Lewes, Rehoboth Beach
Local pages for these areas will follow as we verify local information and installers.
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Delaware energy FAQs
Does Delaware have net metering?
Yes, full retail net metering with Delmarva Power, the Delaware Electric Cooperative and the DEMEC municipal utilities. SB 239, signed June 10, 2026, removed the 8% statewide cap, so new customers can still join. Confirm your utility’s current terms before you sign a contract.
What is Delaware’s Green Energy Program?
A DNREC rebate program for Delmarva Power customers who install solar or small wind; residential solar rebates have typically been up to about $6,000. Funds are first come, first served, and the co-op and municipal utilities run similar programs. Check the program page for current amounts.
Why did electricity get more expensive in Delaware?
EIA’s figures show the average home price rose from 16.58¢ in July 2025 to 18.48¢ in July 2026, about 11%. EIA does not give the reasons in that table, and 2026 values are preliminary. Your own bill shows your supply and delivery charges, which is the best starting point for any savings estimate.
Do I need a generator in Delaware?
Many homes do not. Customers averaged under two hours without power in 2024 (EIA-861), and FEMA rates Delaware’s overall natural hazard risk as very low. A generator makes sense if you have a well, sump pump or medical needs, or live where storm outages last longer. Otherwise a power station or battery may be enough.
Can a small wind turbine work in Delaware?
At an open rural site, possibly. NASA POWER averages about 6.4 m/s at 50 meters in central Delaware, above the Department of Energy’s rough threshold, and the Green Energy Program includes small wind. Turbines sit lower and trees slow the wind, so measure on site first.
Sources
Electricity prices: EIA Electric Power Monthly, July 2026 (preliminary). Outages, utilities and net-metered solar: EIA-861, 2024. Weather hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Sun and wind: NASA POWER, 2001–2020 averages. EV registrations and charging ports: Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), 2025 registrations and station counts read October 3, 2026. Net metering: Delaware General Assembly (SB 239). Green Energy Program: DNREC, checked October 3, 2026. Licensing: Delaware Division of Professional Regulation. Generator safety: CPSC.