(Philadelphia, PA – November 10, 2004) – The Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) is now signing up eligible customers for Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grants at neighborhood Customer Service Centers.

LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered by the state to help low-income households with home heating bills. Applications for this winter’s program will be accepted until March 24, 2005. Applicants do not have to be on public assistance to be eligible for LIHEAP. Grants are also available for renters, as well as for homeowners.

To be eligible, an individual could have an annual income of $12,569. A household with two members could earn up to $16,862, and a home with three occupants could have a total income of as much as $21,155. Income levels for four or more household members may be determined by adding an additional $4,293 for each additional occupant.

Applicants must provide proof of income and proof of social security numbers for all members of their household, as well as their most recent heating bill. Additional information is available through PGW’s LIHEAP Hotline, 215-684-6100, or on PGW’s Web site, www.pgworks.com.

PGW customers may apply for grants at the following offices 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, 1334 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.

The PGW North Central Customer Service Center, 1800 N. 9th Street, will be open for LIHEAP applications only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Also, PGW will take applications at its Community Outreach Vehicle in Northeast Philadelphia at Castor Avenue and Hoffnagle Street from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

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