Delmarva Power program helps customers get back on track

Delmarva Power has launched a pilot program to help its customers who are behind on their energy bills get back on track.

The Arrearage Management Program, also known as AMP, was developed in collaboration with community organizations across Delaware and helps low-income residential customers reduce or eliminate past-due balances. When a customer enrolls in AMP and makes timely payments, in full, on their bills for 12 months, Delmarva Power will forgive their past-due balance – up to $6,000.

“We are committed to ensuring all customers have the ability to heat and cool their homes, especially for those customers struggling to meet their energy needs,” said Gary Stockbridge, Delmarva Power region president. “This new program demonstrates how, together with Exelon, we are a stronger, more innovative, and better-resourced company. Through AMP, we are not only able to provide customers with financial forgiveness, but also the tools and resources they need to better understand their energy usage and manage their energy costs in the future.”

Interested customers must meet the following qualifications to enroll in the program: be a residential Delmarva Power customer (natural gas and electric customers) with a past-due balance of $500 or more; earn at or below 60 percent of the Delaware state median income; not have services disconnected for more than 30 days due to nonpayment; and not have active medical certifications on file with Delmarva Power

Once enrolled, customers are switched to Budget Billing, one of Delmarva Power’s most successful and highly used payment plans. Budget Billing helps customers avoid seasonal peaks in energy bills by dividing their payments evenly over the course of the entire year. Customers then make a single energy payment per month on a regular schedule. Customers who make timely payments in full on their energy bill during the program will have a portion of their past-due balance forgiven each month, up to $6,000 total over the year.

As part of the program, customers can learn how to manage their energy costs better. My Account provides customers with resources to manage their energy needs efficiently. It contains tools and detailed energy usage information that allow customers to track their energy use, compare usage trends, and discover the results of energy-saving practices.

Enrollment in AMP is managed in conjunction with community organizations across Delaware. Customers must contact these groups first to determine income eligibility. To see all participating community organizations and their contact information, go to www.delmarva.com/AMP.

The AMP pilot was funded as a benefit of the company’s merger with Exelon. Since Delmarva Power became part of the Exelon family of companies three years ago, its customers in Delaware have seen improved efficiency, reliability, savings, and a wide range of benefits, including $1.5 million the company has provided for workforce development initiatives in partnership with Delaware Technical Community College, Delaware State University, the United Way, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware.

In addition to AMP, Delmarva Power offers a number of resources and payment plans that help customers who may be struggling to meet their energy needs.

The company’s customer advocacy team works daily with community organizations to connect customers with energy assistance programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, to provide additional support. In 2018, Delmarva Power’s efforts helped more than 17,000 Delaware customers secure $4.3 million in energy assistance. For more information about available energy assistance programs and other ways to save money and energy, go to www.delmarva.com/waystosave or www.delmarva.com/energyassistance.