In The News

PGW Announces Advanced Efforts to Cut Methane Emissions by 2050

Company’s new action plan bolsters City’s carbon neutrality efforts

PHILADELPHIA (June 3, 2021) – Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) has released their latest action plan to reduce methane emissions by 80 percent by 2050. PGW’s Methane Reduction Program will meet these accelerated targets by modernizing infrastructure and implementing new technology which, along with PGW’s energy efficiency initiatives, improves the quality of life for all Philadelphians and advances the City’s overall sustainability efforts.

The primary driver of PGW’s Methane Reduction Program is the replacement of its infrastructure, which is currently responsible for 72 percent of the methane emissions from PGW’s operations. Each year, PGW will upgrade approximately 30 miles of its natural gas mains with new, modern pipes. For each new mile installed, emissions along the new main are reduced to near zero. At this accelerated pace, PGW anticipates that all of its unprotected steel service lines and cast iron mains will be replaced by 2038 and 2058, respectively.

PGW will also continue offering and expanding its comprehensive energy efficiency program, EnergySense. The program provides efficiency rebates and grants for residential, commercial, and industrial customers who replace their heating equipment; educates end users on measures to help lower energy consumption and control home heating costs; and incentivizes developers and builders to implement energy-efficient construction practices.  

PGW will also continue offering weatherization and energy efficiency services through its Home Comfort Program which has weatherized over 23,660 low-income customer homes and 25 multi-family buildings (with a majority of low-income tenants) in Philadelphia since 2011.

Among the other highlights of PGW’s Methane Reduction Program are:

• Accelerating PGW’s leak reduction program to track, monitor, repair, and reduce the number of leaks in the distribution system.
• Promoting PGW’s damage prevention program to ensure that pipelines remain safe from damage during third-party excavation and demolition projects.
• Seeking renewable natural gas (RNG) sources for gas supply, along with other RNG development opportunities. 
• Introducing a pilot program (beginning later this year) at PGW’s Richmond Plant to implement “no-bleed” technology, which prevents the release of natural gas from valves into the atmosphere by cycling the gas back into PGW’s distribution system.

“Through our Methane Reduction Program, PGW is setting ambitious goals to become a greener company and further combat climate change,” said Janelle Johnson-Grummert, Director of Sustainability, at PGW. “Our infrastructure modernization program, equipment upgrades, and best practices will enable us to meet or surpass our methane reduction targets by 2050, while providing safe, clean, and affordable energy to our customers as well as supporting the City of Philadelphia’s 2050 carbon neutrality goals.”

PGW’s replacement of natural gas mains and service lines have reduced methane emissions by 48 percent since 1990; while EnergySense (which has provided 6,700 energy efficiency grants and rebates to residential, commercial and industrial customers) and the Home Comfort Program have reduced carbon emissions by 929,400 metric tons of CO2e or carbon dioxide equivalent.

For more information on PGW’s sustainability initiatives and to read PGW’s complete Methane Reduction Program, visit pgworks.com/community-impact/sustainability.

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Philadelphia’s Rental Assistance Program Offers Relief to PGW Customers

Customers may qualify for up to $2,000 to help with their PGW bills plus rent assistance

PHILADELPHIA (April 27, 2021) – Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) customers who have been financially impacted by the pandemic may be eligible for up to $2,000 for their past-due PGW bills through Phase 4 of Philadelphia’s COVID-19 Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program.

PGW recommends that customers visit PHLRentAssist.org immediately to apply for relief which is open to both tenants and landlords, and provides rental, gas, electric and water assistance. Under the program’s guidelines, utility payments:

• Can be provided for up to 18 months total;
• Must have been accrued on or after March 13, 2020;
• Can only be for the current month and past due utility payments; and
• Go directly to the utility provider (PGW). 

Tenants who previously received assistance program funding can apply for Phase 4 only for the months in which they have not received prior assistance. Landlords applying on behalf of an eligible tenant must have the tenant’s written permission. The program is administered by the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation and is open until funding runs out.

“PGW is grateful to the City for expanding the Rental Assistance Program to our customers who face ongoing financial challenges due to the prolonged health crisis,” said Craig White, President and CEO of Philadelphia Gas Works. “This relief funding will help PGW customers continue to enjoy their natural gas service, avoid debt, and give them some peace of mind.”

PGW is also encouraging customers to apply for a free Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grant in an amount of up to $1,000 before the April 30 deadline. Customers can call PGW’s Customer Care Team at 215-235-1000, Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., to receive a LIHEAP application or print the application at pgworks.com/liheap.

PGW will provide information on the Rental and Utility Assistance Program, as well as other PGW payment assistance options, at COVID-19 vaccination sites throughout the city.

For more information, visit pgworks.com/residential/customer-care/payment-assistance

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PGW Helps Customers Become More Energy Efficient

PGW’s Marketplace expands savings on smart thermostats to help customers conserve energy

PHILADELPHIA (April 21, 2021) –Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) Marketplace is giving customers a new incentive to lower their energy consumption and reduce their home heating costs. New price reductions on smart thermostats available through the Marketplace, combined with an instant $70 PGW rebate, make it more economical for PGW customers to purchase the energy-saving devices.

Smart thermostats can be controlled by a cell phone and include features like motion sensors, alerts, and integration with other smart devices, enabling customers to conserve energy. In alignment with the Earth Day 2021 theme of “Restore our Earth,” the energy efficiency gained through smart thermostats is effective in lowering carbon emissions and combating climate change, and also complements PGW’s suite of energy conservation programs.

“On this Earth Day, PGW reflects on our commitment to reduce emissions, and encourage our customers to become more energy efficient,” said Janelle Johnson-Grummert, Director of Sustainability, at PGW. “As we work each day to meet Philadelphia’s energy needs by safely delivering natural gas – the clean, reliable, and affordable energy solution – we also challenge ourselves to make choices that are good for the environment, from helping our customers reduce emissions with rebates, promoting combined heat and power and liquefied natural gas,  reducing the carbon footprint at our facilities, operating a fleet of vehicles fueled by compressed natural gas, and finding new ways that customers can conserve energy.”

In addition to PGW’s Marketplace, customers can also take advantage of PGW’s EnergySense program, which offers rebates of $350 - $1,300 for purchasing high efficiency heaters and hot water heaters, as well as rebates for commercial appliances.

PGW’s environmental efforts also include:

• PGW’s Home Comfort program offers free energy weatherization services to selected qualifying low-income customers. In just over a decade, PGW has invested $60 million to weatherize 23,660 low-income customer homes and 22 multi-family buildings (with a majority of low-income tenants) in Philadelphia. The average residential customer reduced their home energy usage by an estimated 13 percent in the first year after weatherization.
• Awarding more than 6,700 residential, commercial, and industrial customers efficiency rebates and grants (from 2011 to 2020), at a cost of $10.3 million. On average, residential customers save over $150 in utility costs during the first year after installation.
• Incentivizing developers and builders through PGW’s EnergySense program to implement energy-efficient construction practices by offering Residential Construction Grants worth up to $1,400 per home.

These initiatives have had a combined impact of reducing carbon by 929,000 metric tons, or planting over 15.3 million trees.

For more information on PGW’s sustainability programs, visit PGWEnergySense.com or pgworks.com/community-impact/sustainability.

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