EXHIBIT 23.1 Consent of Independent Accountants We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Forms S-8 (File No. 333-1972 and File No. 333-05771) of Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc. of our report dated February 14, 2001 relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedules, which appears in this Form 10-K. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP New York, New York March 29, 2001