In The News

PGW HOME COMFORT HELPS OVER 2,000 LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS CONSERVE ENERGY

Demand-side management programs offer cost savings and reduce local emissions

PHILADELPHIA (April 21, 2022) – In the spirit of the Earth Day 2022 theme “Invest in Our Planet,”  Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) continues to invest in programs that last year reduced carbon emissions by 100,000 metric tons — equivalent to planting over 1.65 million trees. These programs include:

• PGW’s Home Comfort which invested over $9 million to help weatherize more than 2,000 low-income customers’ homes and four multi-family buildings (with a majority of low-income tenants) in Philadelphia. The average Home Comfort customer reduced their energy use by 14 percent in the first year after weatherization.

• PGW’s EnergySense which last year awarded $450,000 in rebates to more than 600 residential, commercial, and industrial customers who purchased high efficiency heaters, hot water heaters, and commercial appliances. The average residential customer is expected to save over $150 in utility costs during the first year after installation.
• The PGW EnergySense Marketplace which features price reductions on smart thermostats, along with an instant $70 rebate. Hundreds of PGW customers have purchased the energy efficient devices from the Marketplace.
• The Low Income Smart Thermostat program, launched in early 2022, provides free smart thermostats and complimentary installation for low-income customers.

“As an energy provider, PGW has a responsibility to inform customers about energy efficiency and provide conservation programs which can not only help protect the planet, but can potentially save customers money long term,” said Steven Jerue, Director of Customer Programs at PGW. “In just over 10 years, PGW has invested nearly $70 million in our Home Comfort and EnergySense programs combined, weatherized more than 25,000 low-income customers’ homes, and given grants and rebates to almost 6,800 residential, commercial, and industrial customers.”

Home Comfort and EnergySense are examples of PGW’s commitment to being a leader in Philadelphia’s clean energy future. Over the last year, PGW has announced:

• A Methane Reduction Program that will cut PGW’s emissions by 80 percent by 2050, and seek renewable natural gas (RNG) sources for gas supply, along with other RNG development opportunities;
• The launch of The Energy Innovation Lab, a two-year incubator to support young businesses that have the potential to bring innovation to the energy industry; and
• The construction of PGW’s North Operations Center that will consolidate eight PGW locations into a new, energy efficient building. The North Operations Center will reduce the carbon footprint of the eight buildings it replaces by 50 percent.

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

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PGW’s Customer Call Center Closed for Good Friday

PHILADELPHIA (April 14, 2022) – Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) Customer Call Center will be closed in observance of Good Friday, on April 15, 2022. PGW’s 24-hour Emergency Hotline will remain open for emergency calls. All gas leaks or gas-related emergencies should be immediately reported by calling 215-235-1212.

PGW offices will resume regular business hours on Monday, April 18, 2022.

Customers who need to access account information or pay their bill can log into their PGW MyAccount or make cash payments in person at hundreds of local retailers, including Walmart, CVS, Dollar General, Family Dollar, and 7- Eleven. For information, visit pgworks.com/customer-care/your-home/ways-to-pay.

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PGW Reminds Customers to Know What’s Below Before Digging

PGW marks Safe Digging Month with a reminder to call 811 ahead of any excavation project

PHILADELPHIA (April 6, 2022) – During National Safe Digging Month this April, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) reminds contractors and residents to call 811, or visit pa1call.org, before underground excavation (digging) or any building demolition work, regardless of a project’s size. Calling 811, Pennsylvania’s “One Call” system, alerts PGW and other utilities to identify and mark their service or distribution lines near the proposed worksites to prevent injuries, property damage, and inconvenient and costly utility outages.

Pennsylvania residents and contractors are legally required to call the Pennsylvania One Call System three to 10 business days prior to beginning an underground excavation project. Creating even a minor trench or hole can lead to significant problems if mishandled before breaking ground. The 811 service is free to any homeowner and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Working in coordination with Pennsylvania 811, PGW safely addressed 80,429 One Call tickets in 2021 to mark underground utility lines across Philadelphia.

It is vital to call 811 ahead of a project because:
 

• Nearly 40 percent of homeowners planning to dig will put utility lines at risk by not calling 811. As a result, 11 million homeowners will risk unintentionally damaging buried utility lines, causing disruption or harm to themselves and their communities – that was avoidable;
• Less than half of Americans are aware they are legally required to call 811 ahead of projects such as: installing a deck or patio, planting trees, bushes, or shrubs, or installing a mailbox; and
• according to 811, approximately 31 million homeowners plan to complete home improvement projects that involve digging this year.

PGW also encourages City residents to call 811 to report any contractor suspected of digging without a valid Pennsylvania One Call ticket, which alerts all facility owners of a possible safety concern. Job sites that do not have visible paint or flag markings should be reported to 811. Natural gas lines are identified and marked by yellow paint or flags. Yellow is specific to natural gas, steam, and petroleum pipelines. At any time, the smell of gas should be reported immediately to PGW’s emergency hotline at 215-235-1212.

This year, Pennsylvania 811 celebrates its 50^th anniversary. PGW congratulates Pennsylvania 811 on this milestone and its work to protect underground infrastructure.

For more information about safe digging practices, please visit, https://www.pgworks.com/safety-reliability/call-811-before-you-dig

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