PGW is now registering landlords who wish to participate in the new Landlord Cooperation Program (LCP). The LCP may protect owners against the placement of liens on their rental properties for unpaid tenant gas bills.

The program officially began on August 9, 2006. PGW is evaluating properties on a daily basis and will begin filing liens no sooner than November 10, 2006 on non-participating residential rental properties and those who do not comply with the LCP criteria for unpaid bills incurred by tenants after August 9, 2006. Registration, however, is ongoing and will continue for landlords who have not yet registered.

To register for PGW's Landlord Cooperation Program (LCP), click here.

Already registered? Click here to log in.

To view the Terms and Conditions of the program prior to registering, click here.

If you have questions about the program or registration, click here to view our Frequently Asked Questions. If you still have any questions about the program or registration, please feel free to e-mail us at lcp@pgworks.com.

The Responsible Utility Consumer Protection Act (Act 201) took effect on December 14, 2004. Among other provisions, the Act clarifies the right of PGW to file liens on landlord properties to secure the unpaid bills of tenants who occupied those properties.

For PGW, the goal is clear - we must be paid for gas provided to customers. While all efforts have been and will continue to be made to collect from the customer, in this case, the tenant, we will file a lien on the property if the bill is not paid. Rather than have the risk of nonpayment fall on all PGW customers, who have neither connection to nor benefit from provision of gas to the property, the landlord is the more appropriate responsible party.

PGW understands the concerns of landlords who own property in Philadelphia and has formulated a plan that we believe to be a fair process for implementation of the Act on a prospective basis. PGW's plan is as follows:

Any liens filed on landlord properties under the Act will be prospective and will be for debt incurred after August 9, 2006.

Under the current lien program for owner-occupied properties in which the owner is also the customer, it is PGW's policy that we notify the customer-owner by letter that a lien will be filed and explain ways to avoid the lien. It is our intent to continue to utilize an advance notice procedure for all liens in the future.

The policy being implemented has been formulated with substantial input from landlords and title companies to design a process that works and is fair to everyone.

For more information, please e-mail us at lcp@pgworks.com.