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Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aids in accelerating PGW’s Main Replacement Program to significantly reduce methane emissions, improve safety, lower costs, and enhance service reliability.
(PHILADELPHIA - May 13, 2024) Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) has been provisionally awarded a $75 million Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), established by President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Tristan Brown, Deputy Administrator of PHMSA, announced the grant for PGW this morning at PGW headquarters.
“This first-of-its-kind infrastructure grant program helps modernize older, higher risk, leaky pipes--improving safety, reducing environmental impacts, and saving consumers money on their energy bills,” Brown said. “These new investments from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will also help create hundreds of good-paying pipeline jobs.”
The funding will be used toward PGW’s Main Replacement Program, which directly supports the delivery of safe, reliable energy and advances PGW’s methane reduction program efforts. Replacing aging cast iron pipes with upgraded material that does not rust or corrode and that eliminates methane escape will help PGW meet its 2050 goal of reducing methane emissions by 80 percent.
“We are extremely grateful to PHMSA for its commitment to improving natural gas safety and service for Philadelphia residents,” said Seth Shapiro, PGW President and Chief Executive Officer. “This PHMSA grant will further support our installation of new natural gas pipelines that make operations safer for our communities and our employees and contribute to the climate goals of PGW and the city,” he said. “This award also delivers real bill savings to PGW customers by reducing the financial costs related to upgrading existing pipelines and performing ongoing maintenance costs of aging infrastructure.”
“Each year PGW upgrades approximately 30 miles of cast-iron mains to support our environmental and safety goals,” said Janelle Johnson-Grummert, PGW’s Director of Sustainability. “This grant will enhance our efforts to replace aging infrastructure, currently responsible for nearly three-quarters of methane emissions from PGW operations. For each new mile installed, emissions along the new main are reduced to near zero,” she explained.
PGW expects to complete its cast iron replacement project by 2058. This $75 million grant will allow the replacement of 40 miles of cast iron main. In 2023, PGW received a NGDISM grant of $10 million that will be used to replace five miles of cast iron mains.
The PHMSA NGDISM grant program helps improve public safety, protect public health, and reduce methane emissions from natural gas distribution pipes. The grant provides nearly $1 billion in funding over five years to modernize municipal and community-owned natural gas distribution systems, like PGW, helping to keep communities across the country safe from pipeline leaks.
You can find more information on the NGDISM grant program here and to learn more about PGW’s pipeline improvements, visit pgworks.com/pipeline-map.
PGW ambitiously challenges the norms of energy production and delivery in Philadelphia as an influential force in the city’s clean energy future. Accelerating its main replacement program is one among many initiatives PGW is pursuing to build a cleaner and greener Philadelphia for generations to come. Recently, PGW:
These and future programs are designed to support PGW’s long-standing and evolving commitment to sustainability. PGW is focused on upgrading its infrastructure, installing new, emission-reducing equipment, helping customers reduce energy usage, and seeking new opportunities for energy innovation and greenhouse gas emission reductions.
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Calling 811 ahead of any excavation project is not just the safe thing to do, it’s the law.
PHILADELPHIA (April 8, 2024) – During National Safe Digging Month this April, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) reminds contractors and residents to call 811 or visit pa1call.org, before underground excavation (digging) or any building demolition work, regardless of a project’s size.
PA One Call notifies all possible affected property owners to mark out their underground structures ahead of evacuation or demolition work. PGW, in coordination with 811, processes the requests and marks lines to prevent injuries, property damage, and inconvenient and costly utility outages.
Pennsylvania residents and contractors are legally required to call the Pennsylvania One Call System three to 10 business days prior to beginning an underground excavation project. Creating even a minor trench or hole can lead to significant problems if mishandled before breaking ground. The 811 service is free to any homeowner and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Working in coordination with Pennsylvania 811, PGW safely addressed 65,000 One Call tickets in 2023 to mark underground utility lines across Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania law requires contractors and residents to contact PA One Call at least three business days prior to excavation – triggering alerts to all utilities within an intended digging area and prompting utilities to mark where their facilities are located. Pennsylvanians can dial 8-1-1 to connect with PA One Call, while out-of-state residents or businesses can call 1-800-242-1776.
It is vital to call 811 ahead of a project because:
PGW also encourages City residents to call 811 to report any contractor suspected of digging without a valid Pennsylvania One Call ticket, which alerts all facility owners of a possible safety concern. Job sites that do not have visible paint or flag markings should be reported to 811. Natural gas lines are identified and marked by yellow paint or flags. Yellow is specific to natural gas, steam, and petroleum pipelines.
At any time, the smell of gas should be reported immediately to PGW’s emergency hotline at 215-235-1212.
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The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund is now available for homeowners facing pandemic-related financial hardship.
(PHILADELPHIA-APRIL 2, 2024) The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency has reopened the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF) to homeowners struggling due to pandemic-related financial hardships. The fund has paid approximately $52 million to Philadelphia residents since launching in 2022.
PAHAF provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners for mortgage and housing-related expenses to address delinquency and avoid default, foreclosure, or eviction but had been paused since February 2023 to allow PHFA to focus on a backlog of applicants. The maximum amount of assistance for any homeowner is $50,000 with as much as $10,000 of assistance that can be directly applied to a customer’s PGW utility bills.
Pennsylvania was awarded $350 million for the administration of the program and the disbursement of funds as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. An estimated $50 million remains for eligible new applicants for pandemic-related mortgage reinstatement, forward mortgage assistance, tax assistance and delinquent utility bills.
An application does not guarantee funding, but homeowners can find out eligibility requirements and how to apply by visiting www.pahaf.org, or calling 888-987-2423, Monday Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
LIHEAP FUNDS STILL AVAILABLE THROUGH APRIL 5
There is also still time for PGW customers to apply for a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grant. Income eligible PGW customers may apply for a grant of up to $1,000 in free money toward their winter heating bills. PGW encourages both renters and homeowners to apply before the April 5, 2024 deadline.
There are several ways to apply for LIHEAP:
Download a LIHEAP application at pgworks.com/liheap or visit a Neighborhood Energy Center for in-person guidance and payment assistance counseling. A list of Neighborhood Energy Centers can be found here.
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