In The News

My Account

Email and Password are required

Press Releases

PGW OFFERS MONEY & ENERGY SAVING TIPS IN THE GRIP OF COLD WEATHER

Weatherization, smart thermostats, payment assistance programs, and tax credits are tools available to help keep customers warm and save them money

PHILADELPHIA (February 3, 2022) – As winter weather blankets the city, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) offers customers several tips on how to stay warm in their homes, conserve energy, and manage their home heating bills.

Customers can reduce their home heating costs and conserve energy by converting to smart thermostats, available with an instant $70 rebate through the PGW Marketplace. Smart thermostats can be controlled by a cell phone and include conservation features such as motion sensors, alerts, and integration with other smart devices.

A limited number of low-income customers may be eligible for free smart thermostats, including installation, at no cost.

PGW’s EnergySense offers rebates of up to $1,300 for customers installing high-efficiency heating and hot water heating equipment that maintain comfort while using less gas. The new, affordable EnergySense incentives offer income-qualifying customers with larger rebates of up to $1,800.

PGW programs such as Home Comfort offer low-income customers free energy weatherization services which improve comfort and reduce energy use. In the more than 10 years since the program began, PGW has invested over $75 million to weatherize 25,550 low-income customer homes and 26 multi-family buildings (with a majority of low-income tenants) in Philadelphia.

PGW also encourages customers to take steps to weatherize their homes to maximize indoor heat and save money by:

Applying caulk to wall cracks, gaps, or joints smaller than one-fourth inches wide.
Applying weather stripping around doors and windows.
Covering windows from the inside with plastic sheeting or shrink film.
Installing foam draft guards at the bottoms of external-facing doors.
Ensuring heating vents are not blocked by rugs or furniture to allow air to circulate properly.
Setting the thermostat as low as comfortable during waking hours and lowering the thermostat seven to 10 degrees while asleep or away from home.
Taking advantage of natural light for home heat during the day.

For those who need help with their monthly natural gas bills, PGW encourages customers to apply for several payment assistance options such as LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), a federal grant of up to $1,500 for homeowners and renters that does not have to be repaid. In addition to LIHEAP, customers who have received a 10-day shut-off notice can apply for Crisis Assistance, a federal grant of up to $1,200 awarded to income-eligible customers.

Additionally, some PGW households may qualify for an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for as much as $6,738 from the Internal Revenue Service. Approximately 226,000 Philadelphians were eligible for EITC last year, yet nearly 20 percent of qualifying households did not apply. Families filing for the first time could receive refunds for 2018-2020. The filing deadline is April 18, 2022. For more information, visit phila.gov/documents/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc-employer-notice.

To learn more about PGW’s customer assistance programs, go to pgworks.com/customer-care/payment-assistance.

PGW WILL CLOSE IN OBSERVANCE OF NEW YEAR’S DAY

PHILADELPHIA (December 30, 2021) – Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) offices will be closed on Friday, December 31, 2021, and Saturday, January 1, 2022, in observance of New Year’s Day. 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, January 3, 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 CVS, Dollar General, Family Dollar, and 7- Eleven. For information, visit pgworks.com/customer-care/your-home/ways-to-pay.

PGW encourages everyone to welcome in the new year on a positive note. Be sure to be safe during celebratory activities. In the event of an emergency, always call 911.

PGW AND TEMPLE UNIVERSITY’S SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER CHOOSE ATP-PA, LLC AND METAL LIGHT TO JOIN THE ENERGY INNOVATION LAB

Two start-ups selected for small business incubator after pitch contest among energy entrepreneurs

PHILADELPHIA (December 16, 2021) – Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) and Temple University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) announced that ATP-PA, LLC and Metal Light have been selected to join The Energy Innovation Lab, a small business incubator designed to empower energy entrepreneurs whose product or service ideas have the potential to reimagine the future of the energy industry. PGW and SBDC created the incubator in the summer of 2021 to foster environmentally friendly concepts that meet the evolving energy needs of Philadelphia residents, underserved communities, and businesses.

At a virtual pitch competition on December 15, 2021, a panel of judges from Philadelphia’s leading energy, innovation, and start-up development organizations evaluated the ideas of three finalists: ATP-PA, Metal Light and EnMeter. Judging criteria included the proposals’ viability; alignment with PGW’s mission of enhancing the quality of life for all by delivering safe, reliable, affordable energy in an environmentally responsible way; and increasing energy access for underserved communities.

ATP-PA’s winning entry is its founder’s patented Combined Remediation Biomass and Bio-Product Production (CRBBP) Process, an economical method of capturing carbon dioxide to combat climate change and provide other environmental services, and then converting the harvested material into bio-products for use in the circular economy. The four-year-old, Pennsylvania-based company was founded by Joe James, a former economic development professional.

Metal Light’s winning concept would develop the first portable power generator fueled by metal and air as a backup power source for urban households. The generator is intended to operate safely and silently indoors and is emissions free. The idea is the brainchild of Minhal Dhanjy, CEO of Metal Light; Ryan Goethals, Metal Light’s Chief Technology Officer; and James Pikul, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

When ATP-PA and Metal Light begin their two-year incubation at The Energy Innovation Lab, headquartered at Temple’s SBDC, they will receive hands-on training, mentoring, real-time feedback from PGW energy industry experts and SBDC business development consultants, and up to $30,000 each in seed funding.

“The Temple SBDC was interested in hosting an energy incubator to add to our services for small, energy focused businesses like ATP-PA and Metal Light,” said Maura Shenker, Director of Temple University’s Small Business Development Center. “We’re excited to see what the future holds for these outstanding energy entrepreneurs and the impact their solutions will have on making Philadelphia a cleaner, greener city.”

The Energy Innovation Lab is an extension of PGW’s long-standing, proactive commitment to expand energy access and affordability, develop new business opportunities in Philadelphia, and lead the drive toward a clean energy future for the City.

“Both ATP-PA’s and Metal Light’s solutions align with The Energy Innovation Lab’s mission of leveraging the creativity and diversity of the entrepreneurial community to develop the next generation of environmentally friendly energy solutions,” said Elliott Gold, Vice President of Corporate Planning at PGW. “We’re excited to work with both companies and see their ideas come to fruition. PGW is also proud to continue our partnership with SBDC to promote small business development and further energy entrepreneurship.”

To learn more about The Energy Innovation Lab, ATP-PA, LLC, and Metal Light, please visit incubator.pgworks.com.

Page 32 of 81 pages.