(Philadelphia, PA – April 1, 2004) – The Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) is now shutting off service to customers who are more than thirty days past due on their gas bills and have not made any effort to contact the company to make payment arrangements. More than 130,000 customers owe in excess of $140 million in unpaid debt to the company.

PGW urges low-income customers who have received a shut off notice to apply for a LIHEAP and/or CRISIS grant before this year’s program ends on April 9.

“With the end of the winter restrictions on turning off customers, we will seek payment and payment arrangements from our customers. We will employ the most aggressive turn-off program in recent memory to get our message across,” said Thomas Knudsen, PGW President and CEO.

To prevent shut off, customers who have past due accounts should mail their payments as soon as possible, or make payment arrangements by contacting PGW at 215-235-1777. Customers also may pay by check or with their Visa or MasterCard over the telephone, or make payment arrangements at one of PGW's six customer service centers.

PGW’s six Customer Service Centers are normally open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the designated days as follows:

Center City, 1137 Chestnut Street – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Frankford, 4410 Frankford Avenue – Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Germantown, 210 W. Chelten Avenue – Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
North Philadelphia, 1337 W. Erie Avenue – Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
South Philadelphia, 1601 S. Broad Street – Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
West Philadelphia, 5230 Chestnut Street – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Founded in 1836, PGW is the nation’s largest municipally owned natural gas utility, serving a half million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the City of Philadelphia.

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