DE SB264

Allows electricity providers to count energy efficiency savings exceeding 15% by 2015 toward renewable energy portfolio standard requirements, providing utilities greater flexibility in compliance while benefiting consumers.

Establishes an advisory council to oversee an alternative compliance pathway for affected energy providers, requiring approval of only cost-effective, reliable, and feasible energy efficiency and demand reduction programs that reduce average customer bills.

Eliminates the authority to impose an energy efficiency surcharge; instead treats energy efficiency as an energy resource recovered through the same mechanisms as other supply resources.

Adds fuel switching programs that lower overall energy consumption as eligible energy efficiency measures, and expands the definition of eligible renewable energy resources to include ocean energy and other technologies.

Synchronizes integrated resource planning for regulated utilities with energy efficiency planning cycles on a three-year schedule, with reporting deadlines changed from 2011 to 2013 for statewide consumption data.