WASHINGTON ANNOUNCES PGW RECONNECTION PROGRAM

            PHILADELPHIA, December 10: Philadelphia natural gas customers whose service was terminated this year can be reconnected through a state-funded program, according to state Sen. LeAnna Washington (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery).

The program, which is funded by a continuing state grant program and managed through the cooperative efforts of Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) and the Neighborhood Energy Centers, helped to restore more than 1,500 homes last winter.

“Many families and older Philadelphians faced the tough financial decision this year to forego natural gas,” Washington said. “Now that we are experiencing much colder weather, we must ensure that these individuals have heat in their homes. Thanks to this funding and the efforts of the Neighborhood Energy Centers, a good number of Philadelphians will not be left in the cold.”

The initiative includes an outreach effort, led by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), to identify PGW customers who are without service and make them aware of the available aid.

Representatives from the Neighborhood Energy Centers will be contacting residents who currently do not have natural gas service to make them aware of this reconnection program.

From April until the beginning of December, when PGW is permitted to shut off service for non-payment, some low- and moderate-income people lose service to their homes. Then, as the weather turns colder, these customers face a $123 reconnection fee, as well as the rising cost of home winter heating bills.