How to get help paying your electric bill in Delaware

Your summer shutoff protection in Delaware

A medical certificate can block or reverse a disconnection under the PSC rules.

Assistance programs in Delaware

• Delmarva's Arrearage Management Program can forgive a large past-due balance (commonly cited up to ~$6,000) after 12 on-time payments — ask Delmarva directly.
• The Energize Delaware Customer Relief Fund gives Delmarva customers up to $300 toward the bill while funds last.

Your utility's own programs

Which help you get depends on who your electric company is, not just your state. Find yours below — these programs are often the biggest, most durable relief, because they lower the bill going forward, not just once.

• Delmarva Power (Delaware) — assistance & Customer Relief Fund → · 1-800-375-7117

• Energize Delaware — Delmarva Customer Relief Fund → · 1-888-735-1510

  up to $300

Step by step, when a shutoff is looming

1. 1

   Read your notice for the real deadline

   Find the shutoff date and the exact amount needed to avoid termination — it's often less than your full balance.

2. 2

   Call your utility before that date

   Even with no money in hand. Ask for a payment plan and whether enrolling in assistance or a payment plan pauses the shutoff.

3. 3

   Apply for assistance

   Apply for LIHEAP (DEAP) — with Summer Cooling Assistance (302-654-9295) and ask your utility about its own program. A pending application can hold off a disconnection.

4. 4

   Use a medical certificate if anyone is vulnerable

   A medical certificate can block or reverse a disconnection under the PSC rules.

5. 5

   Escalate if the rules are broken

   If your utility won't follow the rules, contact DE PSC / Public Advocate at 302-241-2555.

If the main programs are tapped out

When government funds run dry or you're just over the income line, these are the backstops:

• Delaware 211 → · 211
• Delaware Public Advocate — bill assistance → · 1-888-607-2427

One warning, because this audience gets targeted: your real utility will never demand a gift card, and a genuine shutoff never happens in the next hour over the phone. If someone says that, it's a scam — hang up and call the number printed on your bill. More on utility scams →

The honest read on Delaware

• Delaware does have a summer rule, but it's a high bar — a 105°F heat index — and it only protects that specific day, so treat it as a backstop, not a plan.
• The standout here is debt relief: Delmarva's Arrearage Management Program can wipe a multi-thousand-dollar balance if you keep up the payments.

Common questions

Can my electricity be shut off in summer in Delaware?

In Delaware, you can't be disconnected for nonpayment on a day the 8 a.m. forecast puts the heat index at 105°F or higher (between June 1 and Sept 30). During the cooling season (Jun 1–Sep 30), no shutoff on a day the 8 a.m. NWS forecast predicts a heat index of 105°F+ within 50 miles. It's a per-day rule, not a whole-summer ban. (A 2025 rulemaking proposed lowering the threshold — confirm the current number.) It's worth knowing the exact rule, because it may mean you're already protected today.

What's the fastest way to stop a shutoff in Delaware this week?

Call Delmarva at 1-800-375-7117 for a payment arrangement and ask about the Arrearage Management Program. Apply for energy assistance through Catholic Charities for your county, and on a 105°F-heat-index day you can't be cut off.

How do I apply for help paying my electric bill in Delaware?

Start with LIHEAP (DEAP) — with Summer Cooling Assistance, run by DE DHSS, intake by Catholic Charities (Diocese of Wilmington). Has a summer cooling component. Apply through Catholic Charities for your county. You can apply online or by phone (302-654-9295). Also ask your own utility about its assistance program — that's often the bigger, longer-term help.

Does applying for assistance stop a disconnection in Delaware?

Often, yes. In many cases, having a pending assistance application or an accepted payment plan postpones a shutoff — you don't always have to wait for the money to land. Say so explicitly when you call your utility, and get a confirmation number.