PGW Offers Customers Tips on Managing Heating Costs and Staying Safe as Winter Weather Arrives

PGW helps customers prepare for winter with information on energy savings and energy safety

PHILADELPHIA (November 17, 2022) - In preparation for cold winter weather, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) is sharing important information that can help customers save energy, manage heating bills, and stay safe at home.

Managing Energy Use and Lowering Heating Bills

PGW customers can take simple, economical steps to prevent heat from escaping their homes, which helps reduce energy usage and lower home heating bills. These include:

Keeping doors and air vents closed in rooms that are not being used.
Opening shades during the day to take advantage of the sun’s warmth.
Covering bare floors with carpeting or rugs. The layers add comfort and retain heat.
Caulking and weather stripping around doors and windows to reduce air flow.
Installing a door sweep, or weather stop to keep cold air out and warm air in.
When home, setting thermostats to 68 degrees, and adjusting thermostats to approximately 58 degrees if leaving the home for more than a few hours.

One of the most effective ways to manage energy use and reduce costs is to use a smart or programable thermostat, which can be automatically set to adjust temperatures when asleep or away from home. Smart thermostats with an instant $70 rebate are available through the PGW Marketplace.

Customer Safety at Home

While encouraging customers to utilize energy saving tips, PGW also urges customers to take the following measures to stay safe in their homes:

Homes should be equipped with carbon monoxide (CO) detectors on each floor to alert residents of leaks of this odorless gas.
Avoid using an oven or natural gas stove as a heating source, which can be dangerous and seriously harmful.
Have the home’s natural gas furnace inspected annually. PGW customers may enroll in PGW’s low-cost Parts & Labor plan where a certified PGW technician performs equipment inspections and repairs through its Check and Adjust program.
Place one smoke alarm on each floor of a home, including the basement. Philadelphia residents may request smoke alarms through Philly311 (via the app or by phone), which can be installed by the Philadelphia Fire Department. Test batteries on carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms and replace batteries twice a year.

Anyone who smells natural gas or any foreign odor must leave the area immediately and then call PGW at 215-235-1212. Call 9-1-1 if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning.

For more information on energy conservation and safe practices, visit pgworks.com.

Philadelphia Gas Works to Close in Honor of Veterans Day

PHILADELPHIA (November 10, 2022) – Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) offices will be closed in observance of Veterans Day on Friday, November 11, 2022. All odor calls or gas-related emergencies should be immediately reported by calling 215-235-1212.

PGW offices will resume regular business hours on Monday, November 14, 2022.

PGW thanks the dedicated, courageous men and women of the United States military for their heroic acts of bravery and strength while defending the nation abroad or at home. PGW is proud to honor and recognize its many employees and retirees who have served and are serving in the military, as well as acknowledge all active-duty military, veterans, and their families for the service and sacrifice they have made to this country and its citizens.

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

PGW Customers Can Now Apply for Up to $1,000 in Free Money for Heating Bills

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program grants are available now to help households with natural gas bills

PHILADELPHIA (November 1, 2022) – Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) urges families struggling with the rising costs of goods, services, and housing to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to receive up to $1,000 in free money for their natural gas bills. LIHEAP grants help households afford their winter heating bills, are available for both homeowners and renters, and do not have to be repaid.

The LIHEAP application period runs from November 1, 2022, through April 28, 2023, or while funding lasts. With the average annual residential heating bill at $1,405, a LIHEAP grant could cover most customers’ winter heating costs.

“Prices are increasing for many basic goods and most customers have to make tough budget decisions to pay for basic household necessities,” said Denise Adamucci, Vice President of Regulatory Compliance and Customer Programs at PGW. “LIHEAP helps relieve those concerns with grants that households can use to keep their homes warm and comfortable. The grants do not have to be repaid. Each year, unfortunately, a large number of customers do not apply for LIHEAP and miss out on grant funds that could ease their financial strain.”

Adamucci added, “This year, there are many options for customers to apply and receive in-person payment assistance counseling. Customers can visit one of more than a dozen Neighborhood Energy Centers around the city or visit the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ new LIHEAP office at 1163 S. Broad St.* We hope that everyone who is eligible will request LIHEAP assistance.”

PGW customers can print a LIHEAP application at pgworks.com/liheap or text the word “CASH” to 77037 to receive an application. Applicants must have a household income at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level to meet LIHEAP eligibility requirements. Eligibility guidelines are available at pgworks.com/liheap.

LIHEAP grants for PGW customers are applied directly to the “Please Pay” amount of their bill. Customers enrolled in PGW’s Customer Responsibility Program (CRP) benefit from both their regular CRP discount and the additional LIHEAP grant when paying their bills.

Those without utility service or who have received a 10-day shut-off notice can apply for both Crisis Assistance and LIHEAP together. Crisis Assistance is an additional federal grant up to $1,000 that is awarded to income-eligible customers.

After receiving LIHEAP or Crisis grants, customers needing further assistance may apply to the Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF), a privately funded grant. UESF funding, which PGW matches up to a maximum of $1,500, is available to income-eligible customers in danger of service termination or whose service was terminated. The grant is designed to pay off the balance of a customer’s unpaid utility bill and bring it to zero.

For more information on LIHEAP, Crisis Assistance, and additional PGW payment assistance programs, visit pgworks.com/residential/customer-care/payment-assistance.

*New location: The LIHEAP office is in a new location this year – 1163 S. Broad St, Phila, PA 19147.

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