Your power company does not set your electricity rate. It asks. A state utility commission decides. In Delaware, the law gives the Public Service Commission “exclusive original supervision and regulation” of utilities and their rates. Michigan, Washington and other states give the same job to their own commissions.

How a rate case works. The utility files a request. Commission staff, the state’s consumer advocates and big customers can join the case and challenge it. There is written testimony, cross-examination, briefs, a recommendation from a judge, and then a vote by the commissioners.

The clock can favor the company. Michigan law gives its commission 10 months to decide. If it misses that deadline, the request “is considered approved.” And if there is no order within 180 days, the utility can start charging up to its proposed amount, subject to refund.

Case 1: Michigan, Consumers Energy, Case U-22070. Filed June 2, 2026. The company’s own summary puts the request at about $456 million a year in new electric revenue. Cross-examination is set for Nov. 4 through 10, briefs are due Dec. 3, and the judge’s proposed decision is due Jan. 21, 2027. The commission’s final order date is not set in the schedule.

Case 2: Delaware, Delmarva Power, Docket 25-1555. Delmarva first asked for $67.8 million, then raised the request on June 1 to $68,630,725, a 21.9% increase in distribution revenue. The commission let half of the increase take effect July 9, 2026, subject to refund with interest. For a home using 826 kilowatt-hours a month, the full request is about $9.31 more a month. Evidentiary hearings will be scheduled later.

Where you come in. Every rate case has a public comment process and a docket number. In Delaware, the commission reopened the floor: written comments are now due by Nov. 4, 2026, and a hearing examiner will take comments in person at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes and at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Carvel State Office Building in Wilmington. Evidentiary hearing dates are still not posted; the notice says they will come “after further public notice.” Michigan’s case is still in hearings. In Michigan’s case, 29 parties have joined, including the state attorney general, the Citizens Utility Board, Walmart and Kroger. Your bill is decided in that room whether you are there or not.

Correction, Oct. 19, 2026, 10:46 p.m. ET: an earlier version said Delaware’s written comment window closed Sept. 18. A later commission notice extends it to Nov. 4 and adds two in-person sessions on Oct. 20 and 21.