PGW Brings Home the Gold: Honored by The APGA
Posted on: Aug 11, 2026American Public Gas Association recognizes PGW for excellence in operations in system integrity and improvement, employee safety and workforce development
PHILADELPHIA (August 11, 2026) - PGW received the American Public Gas Association’s (APGA) gold-level System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR), honoring its outstanding performance and excellence in operations of its natural gas utility. This distinction highlights PGW’s ongoing commitment to prioritizing safety, enhancing operational capabilities, and meeting challenges with innovation.
“This achievement belongs to our 1,600 employees, whose expertise, dedication and service strengthen our system,” said Robert K. Smith, Senior Vice President, Operations, Supply Chain & Gas Management at PGW. “We are honored to be recognized at the gold-level by the APGA, which reflects our core values, employing a safety-first culture, and our commitment to improving and investing in our system that provides safe, reliable natural gas to Philadelphians every day.”
This marks the first time PGW has earned the gold ranking from APGA, after previously receiving the silver-level award twice. PGW was selected as one of 11 gold-level awardees from among approximately 750 APGA member utilities. PGW received 164 of a possible 168 points in SOAR’s scoring rubric that focuses on four primary areas:
- System Integrity, which evaluates a utility’s commitment to safe operations through capital improvements, assets integrity management, and ongoing operations and maintenance activities. Through the Pipeline Infrastructure Improvement Program, PGW has significantly accelerated the installation of modern natural gas mains to increase safety, reliability and lower emissions. PGW expanded from installing approximately 18 miles annually a decade ago to more than 30 miles annually today. PGW also responds to more than 80,000 calls each year through Pennsylvania’s “One Call” system, which requires utilities to mark the location of their underground lines before any contractor or resident begins an excavation project to reduce the risk of damaging natural gas infrastructure or other underground utility lines.
- System Improvement, which assesses a utility’s commitment to continuous enhancement through the use of innovative tools and technologies, participation in voluntary industry initiatives, and the adoption of best practices. PGW uses advanced technology for its leak detection program to proactively identify leaks in the distribution system and potential methane escape. This program assists in prioritizing areas that need repair or replacement and helps reduce methane emissions. This work was supported through a total of $125 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) Grant Program.
- Employee Safety, which evaluates a utility’s commitment to protecting its workforce through training, clear procedures, strong policies, and the proper tools and equipment. PGW puts safety first and is committed to embedding a true “safety first” culture across the entire organization. PGW’s field operations are now based out of a new state-of-the-art training facility in Northeast Philadelphia. PGW empowers employees to immediately halt work if unsafe conditions arise through its “stop work authority”, provides mandatory training for employees as well as safety tips to make sure employees know how to stay safe.
- Workforce Development, which evaluates a utility’s effort to recruit, retain, develop, and support its employees. As PGW celebrates 190 years in the energy industry, it continues to invest in its employees and help build their knowledge by encouraging participation in community events, industry events and conferences, and professional education opportunities.
“PGW was highly rated in all four areas that are required of SOAR,” said APGA President and CEO Dave Schryver. “PGW consistently demonstrates a commitment to providing natural gas safely and efficiently to all those in their community and as such, serves as a model for all other natural gas utilities in the country,” Schryver said.
Employees across several departments collaborated on the award submission, providing data, anecdotes, and information to illustrate PGW’s efforts in each of SOAR’s four categories.
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