Protecting Affordability and Common Sense in Delaware

Reflections from the Board of Electrical Examiners Meeting

Today I attended the Board of Electrical Examiners meeting regarding a proposed change to Regulation 10.1.6 (Low Voltage Electric). The good news — for now — is that the proposed change has been withdrawn.

However, this issue is far from settled. The Board indicated the topic will likely continue in future meetings, and a subcommittee may even be formed to revisit the matter.

That means we must stay engaged.

Strong Public Opposition

The room was full. Many attended in person, as I did, and a large number participated virtually. During Public Comment, the overwhelming majority of speakers opposed the proposed regulation change. Others questioned why we were attempting to fix a problem that does not appear to exist in the first place.

One of the virtual comments came from Senator Brian Pettyjohn, who has firsthand experience with low voltage electrical work. His insight reinforced what many professionals in the field expressed: additional regulation without clear justification risks creating unnecessary burdens.

I was the only speaker who is not a low voltage installer. I felt it was important to offer a broader perspective — not just from the trade, but from the standpoint of Delaware families.

The Housing Affordability Crisis

Delaware is already facing a serious affordability challenge. We have a shortage of affordable housing, and construction costs continue to climb.

Adding permitting requirements or inspection mandates to low voltage work — including A/V systems, IT wiring, CCTV, satellite antennas, landscaping lighting, and similar installations — would increase project timelines and add additional costs to what are often simple, small-scale projects.

Before the meeting, I was informed that inspections for another trade in our county have already increased from 48 hours to 72 hours. If we were to layer additional inspections onto low voltage systems, we would:

• Increase project delays

• Create bottlenecks in county inspection scheduling

• Add labor and administrative costs

• Pass those costs directly onto homeowners and renters

In today’s market, even modest increases ripple outward. Every new permit, every inspection delay, and every compliance requirement ultimately shows up in the price of housing.

And Delaware families are already stretched.

The Bigger Picture: Energy and Cost Pressures

This issue does not exist in isolation. Delaware is at what Dr. David R. Legates of the Caesar Rodney Institute has called an “energy crossroads.”

Electricity demand is rising rapidly across the PJM regional grid, driven by:

• Growth of data centers

• Electrification of vehicles

• Electrification of heating, cooking, and appliances

• Population growth

At the same time, reliable power generation has declined, including the closure of the Indian River Power Plant near Millsboro in early 2025.

PJM has warned that brownouts or blackouts could occur as early as June 1, 2026, if supply does not keep pace with demand.

When reliable generation decreases and demand rises, prices go up. That is not politics — it is math.

As Michelle Parsons recently explained, Delaware families are already seeing rising electric bills due to:

1. The retirement of dependable power plants

2. Growing electricity demand

3. State renewable mandates that require utilities to purchase increasing percentages of wind and solar power — with penalties that ultimately show up on customer bills

If capacity pricing does not reflect true supply shortages, private investors hesitate to build new reliable power plants. That means tighter supply, higher prices, and greater reliability risk in the future.

Now imagine adding additional regulatory layers on construction and low voltage work at the same time energy costs are climbing.

We cannot afford policies that compound affordability problems.

Reliability vs. Regulation

Reliable, dispatchable power — such as natural gas and nuclear — can be turned on and off as needed to meet demand. Intermittent sources like wind and solar cannot.

As Delaware considers long-term solutions, serious discussion must include:

• Support for dispatchable energy sources

• Reexamining renewable mandate penalties

• Evaluating participation in programs like RGGI

• Considering emerging technologies such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

Energy policy decisions affect everything — from utility bills to construction costs to business growth.

Regulatory decisions in seemingly narrow areas, like low voltage permitting, are part of that same ecosystem.

We Must Protect Delaware Families

As I shared with the Board, we must continue to fight for Delawareans.

Housing affordability is already out of reach for many. Energy costs are climbing. Inspection timelines are lengthening. Families and small businesses cannot absorb endless regulatory expansion.

If there is a clear safety issue or documented systemic failure, we should address it responsibly. But we should not create new layers of bureaucracy in search of a problem.

Good governance means:

• Identifying real problems

• Measuring unintended consequences

• Protecting affordability

• Preserving reliability

• Listening to public input

Today, the public spoke clearly.

The proposal was withdrawn — but the conversation is not over.

We must remain engaged, informed, and willing to stand up for common-sense policy that keeps housing affordable, electricity reliable, and Delaware competitive.

Delaware families deserve nothing less.