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Philadelphia Gas Works Celebrates 185th Service Anniversary

For nearly two centuries PGW has met the city’s evolving energy needs by providing safe, affordable and reliable energy, 24/7

PHILADELPHIA (February 10, 2021) – Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) is celebrating 185 years of service to the City of Philadelphia.  PGW was established in February 1836, marked by the lighting of 46 natural gas lights along Philadelphia’s Second Street on February 10. PGW has kept homes warm, essential services running and businesses operational through World Wars, the Great Depression, construction of City Hall, the 2008 financial crisis, the Eagles Super Bowl win, and now, the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the 1830s, Philadelphia desired to catch up with other cities in providing gas lighting for streets, businesses, and homes. Samuel Vaughn Merrick, one of the founders of the Franklin Institute and the first president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, was elected to the Common Council to push towards building a gas works.

Merrick, both an engineer and entrepreneur, designed PGW’s first coal-fired plant, located on the Schuylkill River between Market and Filbert Streets. The plant, once opened on February 8, 1836, used Pennsylvania coal to produce gas in its early years of operation. PGW installed cast iron pipes about two feet below the city’s surface to deliver gas to outdoor lamps lining Philadelphia streets, creating a distinct look that defined the appearance of all nineteenth-century cities. Soon after Philadelphia businesses and public spaces installed gas to replace oil for illumination.

Today, PGW – the largest municipally owned natural gas utility in the U.S. – continues to be an essential part of Philadelphia, contributing to the City’s economic growth, participating in community service, and enhancing quality of life for its customers for nearly two centuries. PGW manages and maintains a system of over 6,000 miles of natural gas mains and service pipes that deliver 78 billion cubic feet of safe, reliable natural gas to 500,000 customers each year.

The success of PGW did not happen overnight. Here are a few milestones that helped guide and shape the PGW that exists in 2021.

• 1836 -Forty-six natural gas lights along Philadelphia’s Second Street are lit for the first time by employees of the newly formed Gas Works.
• 1856 - PGW completed the construction of a new natural gas holder at the company’s Point Breeze Plant in South Philadelphia, which at the time was the largest in the nation.
• 1926 - PGW helped Philadelphia become one of the first U.S. cities to replace coal-fired hot water heaters with heaters powered by natural gas.
• 1932 - Girl Scouts of the USA baked and sold their very first cookies in the windows of the Philadelphia Gas and Electric Company’s Arch Street location, which later became part of PGW.
• 1945 - PGW developed the single-point ignition range, a first for the industry, to give thousands of customers the ability to conveniently light their burners.
• 1967 - PGW continued its stellar record of safety, setting records for work hours completed without a lost time accident.
• 1971- Cryogenics, the science of super-low temperatures, became firmly established at PGW as construction began for two 12-story-high Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage tanks at the Richmond Production Plant along the Delaware River.
• 1977 - Unprecedented cold weather brought an energy crisis to PGW and Philadelphia as the ground froze to a record depth of 48 inches.
• 1983 - PGW won the American Gas Association’s Merit Award for helping to start the Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF), which assists low income customers in paying their utility bills. 1983 also marked the “Great Blizzard of 1983” that dumped 22 inches of snow on the city over a two-day period. PGW worked long hours to ensure uninterrupted natural gas service.
• 2009 - PGW launched Pennsylvania’s largest natural gas energy conservation program, EnergySense, to help 100,000 customers become more energy efficient.
• 2019 - PGW was named an inaugural Employer of Choice by the City of Philadelphia and recognized for diverse hiring practices, strong workforce training education, internships and other work opportunities for youth, and promoted career advancement for employees.
• 2020 - PGW joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Methane Challenge Program and committed to lowering methane emissions by replacing at least two percent of cast iron and vintage steel mains with newer, modern pipes, along with new service lines, every year by 2022.
• 2020 - PGW’s installation of a Micro-CHP in Northeast Philadelphia marked its 23^rd combined heat and power (CHP) unit in the city. CHP is energy-efficient technology that generates electricity and captures the heat to provide useful thermal energy, and helps the system’s users reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

To build on this history and to strive for continued growth, PGW implements strategic decisions to improve the customer experience, build a clean energy future, maintain strong safety records, and connect with local, diverse businesses and suppliers. These guiding principles enable PGW to continually enhance the quality of life for all by delivering safe, reliable, and affordable energy in an environmentally responsible way.

“Operating a natural gas utility in a historic city like Philadelphia is a tremendously meaningful responsibility. Every day, our dedicated team takes pride in knowing they are providing energy solutions to residents and businesses alike,” said Craig E. White, President and CEO of PGW. “As an essential city asset, our future business endeavors include creating solutions to meet the changing needs of our customers and the surrounding environment. On behalf of all of our employees, both current and former, PGW is excited to share this noteworthy milestone with our customers, key stakeholders and all Philadelphia residents as we, like the great city we serve, have a rich, dynamic history that is leading us into a promising, productive future.”

For more information about PGW and its history please visit pgworks.com/thankyoufor185.  PGW is dedicated to helping customers they’ve served for the last 185 years.

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PGW Honors Black Trailblazers in Energy During Black History Month

Natural gas is among the many industries that have benefitted from Black innovators

PHILADELPHIA (February 4, 2021) – During Black History Month, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) will honor the significant contributions of Black people throughout history that have driven innovation in the natural gas industry, impacted Philadelphia’s growth and success, and invented products and services that made life easier for all Americans.

Throughout February, some of the many achievements of Black Americans will be spotlighted on PGW’s @MyPGW Facebook, Twitter and Instagram social media accounts.

One such groundbreaker was Alice H. Parker, who designed a more effective home heating source than the fireplace. In 1919, Parker patented a heating system that used natural gas rather than coal or wood. Her invention inspired the central heating systems that are still in existence today, and made homes safer by eliminating potential fire hazards from burning wood unattended during cold nights.

“Black history is American history, but even now in 2021 the incredible contributions and sacrifices Black people made have not been fully recognized or appreciated,” said Melanie McCottry, PGW Vice President of Corporate Communications and External Affairs. “At PGW we hope to pay tribute to Black Americans during the month as a part of our larger vision of championing the significant contributions of Black people and create opportunity for greater inclusion and equality every month of the year.”

To learn more about Black energy innovators during Black History month, follow PGW at facebook.com/MyPGW, twitter.com/MyPGW, or instagram.com/mypgw and like and share!

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PGW COVID-19 Relief Grants Available Today for Utility Bills

UPDATE: FUNDS NO LONGER AVAILABLE

PGW COVID Relief Grant funds have been claimed. We’re still here to help. PGW has additional programs, grants and payment arrangements, click here. For more assistance, call us at 215-235-1000. We’re available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA (January 19, 2021) – Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) urges customers to call 215-235-1000 immediately to determine their eligibility for a free $300 COVID-19 Relief Grant.

The $2 million grant program launched today to help customers who have been financially impacted by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic better afford their natural gas bills during the winter months and avoid accumulating debt. 

Funding is limited and will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. Customers may qualify if their bill is past due and if their household meets any of the following conditions:

• Households experiencing financial hardship related to the pandemic.
• Households in which a member is furloughed from their job or has lost work, even if there is another income-earning member in the household.
• Households with a self-employed person and/or contract employee.
• Households in which a household member is caring for someone with COVID-19.
• Households with school-aged children impacted by stay-at-home orders.

If a customer’s service is currently off, in order to be eligible for a PGW COVID-19 Relief Grant, the customer must bring the amount due to $600 or less.

In addition to the COVID-19 Relief Grants, PGW offers several payment assistance programs such as LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) that help customers stay current on their home heating bills and avoid future service termination. The free LIHEAP federal grants range between $200 and $1,000.

Customers can print a LIHEAP application at pgworks.com/liheap, or call PGW’s Customer Care Team at 215-235-1000, Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., to receive an application by mail. The grants are based on household size and income, available to both renters and homeowners, and do not have to be repaid.

For more information on COVID-19 Relief Grants and LIHEAP as well as additional PGW payment assistance programs, visit pgworks.com/residential/customer-care/payment-assistance.

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