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April Marks National Safe Digging Month

Calling 811 ahead of any excavation project is not just the safe thing to do, it’s the law.

 

PHILADELPHIA (April 14, 2026) – 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.  

 

Pennsylvania One Call System (PA 811) triggers alerts to all utilities and notifies all possible affected property owners within the intended digging area so their underground structures can be marked ahead of excavation or demolition work. In coordination with PA 811, PGW processes the requests and marks gas lines to help prevent injuries, property damage, and inconvenient and costly utility outages. In 2025, working in coordination with PA 811, PGW safely addressed over 77,000 One Call tickets to mark underground utility lines across Philadelphia.

 

Pennsylvania law requires residents and contractors to call PA 811 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 PA 811 service is free and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

 

Pennsylvanians can dial 8-1-1 to connect with PA One Call and out-of-state residents or businesses can call 1-800-242-1776. PGW encourages Philadelphia residents to call 811 to report any contractor suspected of digging without a valid Pennsylvania One Call ticket, which will alert all property owners of a possible safety concern. Job sites that do not have visible paint or flag markings should be reported to 811 immediately. Natural gas lines are identified and marked by yellow paint or flags. The yellow color is the standardized safety color specific to natural gas, steam, petroleum, and other flammable materials.

 

At any time, the smell of gas should be reported immediately to PGW’s emergency hotline at 215-235-1212.


PGW’s Customer Call Center to Close for Good Friday

PHILADELPHIA (April 2, 2026) – Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) Customer Call Center will be closed in observance of Good Friday, on April 3, 2026. PGW’s 24-hour Emergency Hotline (215-235-1212) will remain open only for odor calls and gas-related emergencies.

PGW offices will resume regular business hours on Monday, April 6, 2026.

Customers who need to access account information or pay their bill online can log into their PGW My Account, pay by phone at 215-235-1000, or make cash payments in person at hundreds of local retailers, including Walmart, CVS, Dollar General, Family Dollar, 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Walgreens. For information, visit pgworks.com/customer-care/your-home/ways-to-pay. 

Additionally, customers can now manage their My Account from the PGW mobile app. The one-stop app is a convenient way to manage your account, monitor usage, make payments, and more! Customers can download the app for free on the Apple store or on Google Play.


Need Help With Heating Bills This Winter? Philadelphia Gas Works is Offering Support for Customers

PGW may have resources to assist customers, no matter their situation or their income

PHILADELPHIA (March 11, 2026) –This winter was especially cold and when temperatures drop, homes use more energy to stay warm. That means many households are seeing higher than usual heating bills this month. If a customer is concerned about past, present, or future bill(s), Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) is urging customers to call PGW’s Customer Care Team at 215-235-1000 during operating hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

“We understand how stressful and overwhelming an increased bill can feel,” said Seth Shapiro, President and CEO of PGW. “It is important to contact PGW immediately if you are concerned about paying your bill. We can help you access resources that meet you where you are and put the right support in place.”

Customers who reach out to PGW will have one-on-one attention with a member of our Customer Care Team who will guide customers to identify a program that fits their financial needs or answer account questions.

PGW has support for many situations, including these programs:

  • Payment Plans are available, no matter the customer’s income, if they are at risk of falling behind or have fallen behind on their PGW bills.
  • Budget Billing helps create a consistent monthly bill. PGW estimates customer’s yearly gas usage then divides the total evenly over 12 months to avoid spikes in their heating bill.
  • Instant rebates are available with the purchase of any smart thermostat on the PGW Marketplace. Order it at pgwenergysense.com. While customers are there, they can see what other rebates and offerings may help their family. 
  • CRP (Customer Responsibility Program) is for Income-eligible customers to lower monthly bills and erase past debt. CRP customers could pay as little as $25 a month. Call us or apply online: pgworks.com/help.
  • Free Money with LIHEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program). The grant offers up to $1,000 for income-eligible customers to pay their heating bills. This does NOT have to be paid back and homeowners and renters are eligible.
  • Crisis Assistance helps income-eligible customers without natural gas service or who have received a shut-off notice from PGW get up to $1,000 to cover past due bills. This money is free and can be combined with our LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) grant.   
  • CARES provides payment assistance for customers with special circumstances, including medical emergencies, unemployment or other temporary difficulties. 

If you or someone you know is struggling to afford their PGW bill, let them know that help may be available. Additionally, customers can manage their My Account from the PGW mobile app as a convenient way to monitor usage, customize alerts and make payments. Customers can download the app for free on the Apple Store or Google Play. Don’t wait. Contact PGW today!


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