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PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 18, 2020) – Today, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) joins Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS) in recognizing Utility Scam Awareness Day, part of the week-long International Scam Awareness Week to educate customers and expose tactics used by scammers.
PGW reminds customers to always ask for identification before letting anyone claiming to be a utility worker enter their home or businesses. All PGW employees will have identification badges, arrive in official PGW vehicles with clearly visible PGW logos, and have PGW branded clothing. Customers suspicious about the identity of a PGW worker are urged to call 911 before allowing anyone into their home. The Philadelphia Police Department has a direct line to PGW and can verify if the person is an employee.
In addition, PGW will not ask customers for personal information or demand payment by phone or email. Customers suspicious of a telephone caller claiming to come from PGW should ask the caller to verify the customer’s account; ask the caller to verify the customer’s last payment; or ask for the name of the caller’s supervisor. Customers who remain suspicious can hang up and call PGW at 215-235-1000 to verify the call.
“With the economic and personal challenges our customers may be facing at this time, we do not want them to fall victim to bad actors and utility scams,” said Melanie McCottry, Vice President, Corporate Communications & External Affairs at PGW. “PGW takes customer safety very seriously. We care about our customers and their loved ones.”
UUAS, a consortium of more than 145 U.S. and Canadian electric, water, and natural gas utilities and their respective trade associations, continues to create awareness of common scams and new scam tactics being used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through its work and with the help of customer reporting, UUAS has succeeded in taking nearly 9,500 toll-free numbers used by scammers against utility customers out of operation.
“It is no surprise that scammers have been seeking to exploit the heightened anxiety of people coping with the pandemic,” said UUAS Founder and Executive Committee Chairman Jared Lawrence. “I am proud to report that UUAS’ education efforts and utilities’ well-publicized customer testimonials have prevented a drastic increase in victims. However, the relentless attempts by these criminals make it clear that we must continue to actively work to protect our customers and to keep scammers from casting confusion on our pandemic recovery messages.”
Customers can find information about protecting personal data on The Federal Trade Commission’s website, at www.utilitiesunited.org, or by following UUAS on Twitter and Facebook.
PGW’s “Imposter Awareness” page at pgworks.com/safety-reliability/imposter-awareness also has tips customers can use to identify PGW employees and protect their personal information.
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PHLADELPHIA (Nov. 10, 2020) – In honor of those who have served and are now serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) offices will be closed in observance of Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020.
All gas leaks or any gas-related emergency should be immediately reported to PGW’s 24-hour Emergency Hotline at 215-235-1212. PGW offices will resume normal business hours on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020.
PGW encourages employees and customers to reflect on, and be thankful for, the selflessness, sacrifice, bravery, and patriotism of America’s service men and women. PGW is particularly grateful to military veterans from Philadelphia who have not only defended our nation, but who have lived, worked and created businesses in the City, have been leaders in our communities, and have given back to our neighborhoods.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, PGW’s five Customer Service Centers are closed until further notice. Customers can manage their accounts online anytime by registering at pgworks.com or pay their bills with cash at these participating local retailers: 7-Eleven, CVS, Family Dollar, Speedway and Dollar General.
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Philadelphia, PA (November 9, 2020) – On October 22, 2020 the Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation (PFMC) elected Leigh Whitaker as the new Chair of its Board of Directors. PFMC oversees the operations of the Philadelphia Gas Works.
Leigh Whitaker is the Director of City Relations for the University of Pennsylvania. In her role at the university, Whitaker serves as Penn’s liaison with the City of Philadelphia and City Council and advises the Penn community on matters relating to local government.
Prior to joining Penn, Whitaker served as the Vice President of Communications for SugarHouse Casino, Deputy Chief of Staff for the School District of Philadelphia, and as Chief Legislative Aide for Philadelphia City Council President (then Councilman) Darrell L. Clarke. Whitaker is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and Temple University’s School of Law, and is a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Welcome America, Inc., and KIPP Administrative Services Corporation (KASC).
In addition to Whitaker’s election as Chair on October 22, 2020, Lauren Gilchrist was recently appointed to the Board by the Honorable James F. Kenney, and elected Secretary. The Board also approved the appointment of Seth A. Shapiro as Chief Operating Officer for PGW, effective January 4, 2021, as well as to the position of President and CEO of PGW, effective December 2021. Mr. Shapiro’s appointment is subject to the approval of the Gas Commission.
Lauren Gilchrist is Senior Vice President/Senior Director of Research for JLL in Philadelphia, where she directs JLL’s local market research platform for the region. Gilchrist’s specialties include urban and regional economics and demography.
Prior to joining JLL, she served as the Manager of Research & Analysis at the Center City District in Philadelphia and as a Research Analyst/Program Manager at the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness in Arlington, Virginia. Gilchrist is a graduate of Bucknell University and Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University with an M.S. in Public Policy and Management (Highest Distinction).
Shapiro is the immediate past chair of the PFMC, and has served in leadership positions with publicly and privately held development companies, including the Goldenberg Group, Toll Brothers, Inc. and Westrum Development Corporation.
Prior to serving as Chair of PFMC, Mr. Shapiro served for five years as Chair of its Finance and Audit Committee and five years as Vice Chairman before being appointed Chair in 2016.
He is currently Chairman of the Board of the Chestnut Hill Business District, and has served in leadership positions on a variety of community based non-profits, including Mt. Airy USA and Operation Understanding. Mr. Shapiro graduated from Cornell University with a B.A. in Government.
Under a contract with the City, the Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation, a non-profit corporation, oversees Philadelphia Gas Works, the largest municipally owned utility in the nation. The Board is appointed by the Mayor and its responsibilities, as set forth in a Management Agreement between the City and PFMC, make PFMC responsible for all operations of PGW through an executive management team including a chief executive officer, a chief operating officer, and a chief financial officer.
The members of the PFMC Board of Directors are appointed for two-year terms by the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. More information on each Board member is listed below.
Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation BOARD MEMBERS
Leigh Whitaker, Chair, is the Director of City Relations for the University of Pennsylvania.
Jim Engler, Vice-Chair, is Chief of Staff to Mayor James Kenney. He was previously Deputy Mayor for Policy and Legislation for the City of Philadelphia.
Catherine Paster, Treasurer, is recently retired as the City’s First Deputy Finance Director, having served in that role since 2008. Previously, Paster spent almost eight years with Temple University.
Lauren Gilchrist, Secretary, is Senior Vice President, Senior Director of Research for JLL in Philadelphia.
Albert Mezzaroba is an attorney with Genova Burns. Mezzaroba has held executive positions at Lower Bucks Hospital, the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, and the City Council of Philadelphia, where he served as Chief Counsel.
The Honorable Marian Tasco, first elected to Philadelphia City Council in 1987. Tasco previously served as Majority Leader and Councilwoman representing the Ninth District.
Photographs are available upon request.
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Page 46 of 82 pages.