In The News

PGW’S CUSTOMER CALL CENTER CLOSED FOR GOOD FRIDAY

PHILADELPHIA (April 6, 2023) – Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) Customer Call Center will be closed in observance of Good Friday, on April 7, 2023. PGW’s 24-hour Emergency Hotline will remain open for emergency calls. All odor calls or gas-related emergencies should be reported immediately by calling 215-235-1212.

PGW offices will resume regular business hours on Monday, April 10, 2023.

Customers who need to access account information or pay their bill online can log into their PGW My Account, pay by phone at 215-235-1000, or make cash payments in person at hundreds of local retailers, including Walmart, CVS, Dollar General, Family Dollar, 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Rite Aid. For information, visit pgworks.com/customer-care/your-home/ways-to-pay. 

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PGW and Temple University Announce Second Round Energy Innovation Lab Cohort

Energy entrepreneurs are encouraged to join the incubator to cultivate their products or services that advance clean energy and affordability.

PHILADELPHIA (March 7, 2023) – At Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) recent Energy Innovation Symposium, PGW and Temple University’s Small Business Development Center (TU SBDC) announced the second cohort of The Energy Innovation Lab. The lab serves as a small business incubator that hosts entrepreneurs whose ground-breaking products or services have the potential to reimagine the energy sector.

Established in 2021, the Energy Innovation Lab provides entrepreneurs with comprehensive TU SBDC entrepreneurship support and PGW mentors to advance their sustainable energy concepts that can help meet Philadelphia’s growing energy needs, promote energy efficiency and affordability, as well as help the City meet its 2050 goal of carbon neutrality. The chosen entrepreneur(s) will receive hands-on training, mentoring, and real-time feedback from PGW energy industry experts and TU SBDC business development consultants.

Applicants for the two-year program must have solutions that are beyond the proof-of-concept stage and moving to product development. Selected energy entrepreneur(s) will receive comprehensive business support services for the duration of the two-year program and a stipend of up to $30,000. Applications are being accepted through April 25, 2023.

A knowledgeable panel of volunteer judges from Philadelphia’s leading energy, innovation, and start-up development organizations will oversee a two-round evaluation process. Applicants’ proposals will be evaluated and ranked based on viability and alignment with PGW’s mission of enhancing the quality of life for all by delivering safe, reliable, affordable energy in an environmentally responsible way.

The lab currently supports two companies: ATP-PA, which is developing an economical method of capturing carbon dioxide; and Metal Light, which is developing a portable power generator fueled by metal and air with zero emissions.

“Having large groups like PGW and TU SBDC work with early-stage startups in this way is really important for growing the startup ecosystem, especially here in Philadelphia where there’s a lot of potential for that ecosystem,” said Ryan Geothals, Metal Light’s Chief Technology Officer.

Joe James, President of ATP-PA, added: “PGW is very committed to the quality of life and the health of the City. We’re honored to help them make Philadelphia an even better place.”

“We are excited to welcome a new cohort to the Energy Innovation Lab and to discover how their concepts can drive both our local economy and clean energy future,” said Elliott Gold, Vice President of Corporate Planning at PGW. “PGW sees tremendous potential from the entrepreneurs in the lab’s first cohort and we are honored to work with them. We appreciate our partnership with Temple University’s Small Business Development Center, the business community, and the volunteer judges for their vision and dedication in making the Energy Innovation Lab possible.”

To learn more about the program, application process, judges, and timelines please visit incubator.pgworks.com.

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PGW Files Request with Regulators to Increase Distribution Base Rates

The $85.8 million request will address rising costs, improve safety, and accelerate the City’s carbon reduction goals

(Philadelphia, Pa – February 27, 2023) – Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) announced today that it has filed a base rate case with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). The filing requests permission to increase rates by $85.8 million per year. If the request is granted, the bill for the average residential customer using 71 thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of natural gas per year would increase by about $3 a week or $12 a month.

PGW’s natural gas rates are made up of two main components: a delivery charge (or base rate) and a commodity charge (gas cost). The base rate reflects the cost of delivering natural gas to the customer’s residence, distribution system maintenance and customer billing costs. The gas cost is what PGW pays for natural gas and is passed on to the customer without markup.

Juxtaposed with today’s base rate filing, PGW filed a Gas Cost Rate (GCR) adjustment last week (Feb. 24), which will dramatically decrease the amount PGW customers pay for natural gas by 15.9% or $238.92 annually. All customers will see those savings effective March 1, 2023. 

The base rate change request filed today will address the recent rise in inflation for labor, materials, information technology, construction equipment, and capital costs.

The requested base rate increase will also reduce the time needed to replace PGW’s mature, cast iron infrastructure by 12.4% to 33.1 years. Increased investment in PGW’s 6,000-mile distribution system will improve system safety and further reduce methane emissions. As the energy provider that works for Philadelphia, and is owned by the City, the company is fully committed to supporting the City’s 2050 goal of carbon neutrality. Upgrades both reduce fugitive emissions and eliminate the cost of ongoing repairs that PGW customers would have to pay. 

“PGW strives to deliver on our promise of safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy,” said Seth Shapiro, PGW’s President & CEO. “We do not take lightly adding any dollars to our rate base; but we are committed to robust social programs to protect our most vulnerable customers and to doing everything possible to keep our systems operating safe for all Philadelphia residents. We constantly seek to find a balance between maintaining rates low enough to try to meet our affordability goals, while also sufficient to meet our safety, reliability and sustainability goals.”

Over the last two years, PGW has launched several initiatives to do more with less, carefully manage PGW’s expenses, and manage the costs of rate increases, including:

• A facilities consolidation that will centralize PGW’s operations into three buildings and cut its emissions by half and the company’s expenses by $100 million over the next 25 years.
• Launched new technologies to serve our customers more effectively and more efficiently with retail cash options and partnerships with Neighborhood Energy Centers. 
• Lowered the monthly bill amounts for low-income customers enrolled in PGW’s Customer Responsibility Program.

• Launched the PGW Marketplace, where customers can receive significant discounts on smart thermostats that regulate energy usage and help lower monthly energy bills.

“Natural gas is the cleanest, most reliable, and cost-effective energy solution to meet the City’s energy needs, and it’s estimated that natural gas could be up to 50 percent more economical than other fuels for the next 25 years,” Shapiro said.  “PGW recognizes our responsibility to help our customers better afford their natural gas bills and enjoy their natural gas service. We urge our customers to call us today to take advantage of programs and initiatives to reduce their energy burden and provide payment assistance.”

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