Press Releases
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 8, 2024) – 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.
PA One Call notifies all possible affected property owners to mark out their underground structures ahead of evacuation or demolition work. PGW, in coordination with 811, processes the requests and marks lines to prevent injuries, property damage, and inconvenient and costly utility outages.
Pennsylvania residents and contractors are legally required to call the Pennsylvania One Call System 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 811 service is free to any homeowner and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Working in coordination with Pennsylvania 811, PGW safely addressed 65,000 One Call tickets in 2023 to mark underground utility lines across Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania law requires contractors and residents to contact PA One Call at least three business days prior to excavation – triggering alerts to all utilities within an intended digging area and prompting utilities to mark where their facilities are located. Pennsylvanians can dial 8-1-1 to connect with PA One Call, while out-of-state residents or businesses can call 1-800-242-1776.
It is vital to call 811 ahead of a project because:
- Nearly 56 percent of homeowners planning to dig will put utility lines at risk by not calling 811.
- Avoiding calling 811 results in an annual $30 billion societal cost of damages to underground infrastructure.
- Previously digging in the same spot does not make it safe to do so again. Erosion and earth’s movement can shift the location and distance of buried lines.
PGW also encourages City residents to call 811 to report any contractor suspected of digging without a valid Pennsylvania One Call ticket, which alerts all facility owners of a possible safety concern. Job sites that do not have visible paint or flag markings should be reported to 811. Natural gas lines are identified and marked by yellow paint or flags. Yellow is specific to natural gas, steam, and petroleum pipelines.
At any time, the smell of gas should be reported immediately to PGW’s emergency hotline at 215-235-1212.
Pennsylvania Offering Money for Utility Bills, Mortgage, Housing Expenses; PGW is Urging its Eligible Customers to Apply
The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund is now available for homeowners facing pandemic-related financial hardship.
(PHILADELPHIA-APRIL 2, 2024) The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency has reopened the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF) to homeowners struggling due to pandemic-related financial hardships. The fund has paid approximately $52 million to Philadelphia residents since launching in 2022.
PAHAF provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners for mortgage and housing-related expenses to address delinquency and avoid default, foreclosure, or eviction but had been paused since February 2023 to allow PHFA to focus on a backlog of applicants. The maximum amount of assistance for any homeowner is $50,000 with as much as $10,000 of assistance that can be directly applied to a customer’s PGW utility bills.
Pennsylvania was awarded $350 million for the administration of the program and the disbursement of funds as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. An estimated $50 million remains for eligible new applicants for pandemic-related mortgage reinstatement, forward mortgage assistance, tax assistance and delinquent utility bills.
An application does not guarantee funding, but homeowners can find out eligibility requirements and how to apply by visiting www.pahaf.org, or calling 888-987-2423, Monday Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
LIHEAP FUNDS STILL AVAILABLE THROUGH APRIL 5
There is also still time for PGW customers to apply for a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grant. Income eligible PGW customers may apply for a grant of up to $1,000 in free money toward their winter heating bills. PGW encourages both renters and homeowners to apply before the April 5, 2024 deadline.
There are several ways to apply for LIHEAP:
Download a LIHEAP application at pgworks.com/liheap or visit a Neighborhood Energy Center for in-person guidance and payment assistance counseling. A list of Neighborhood Energy Centers can be found here.
Last Call for LIHEAP: Apply Now to Receive Up to $1,000 for Home Heating Assistance
PHILADELPHIA (March 13, 2024) – There is still time for Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) customers to warm their homes more affordably with a federal grant. Income eligible PGW customers can apply for a LIHEAP grant of up to $1,000 in free money toward their winter heating bills. PGW encourages both renters and homeowners to apply before the April 5, 2024 deadline.
In October 2023, the federal government released nearly $3.7 billion in LIHEAP funding to lower energy costs for families. With the average yearly household heating bill at $1,355 LIHEAP could cover a substantial amount of a residential customer’s winter natural gas bills.
There are several ways to apply for LIHEAP:
- Text the word “CASH” to 77037 to receive an application.
- Download a LIHEAP application at pgworks.com/liheap.
- Visit a Neighborhood Energy Center to receive in-person guidance and payment assistance counseling. A list of Neighborhood Energy Centers can be found here.
Applicants must have a household income at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level to meet LIHEAP eligibility requirements. Eligibility guidelines are available at pgworks.com/liheap.
“LIHEAP removes a financial burden for many of our customers and ensures they have access to heat and hot water throughout the colder months,” said Denise Adamucci, Senior Vice President, Customer and Regulatory Affairs at PGW. “We urge customers who need help to apply for LIHEAP today.”
During the 2022-2023 LIHEAP season, 42,393 households in Philadelphia received a total of $23M in LIHEAP assistance toward their heating bills. Those without utility service or who have received a 10-day shut-off notice can apply for both Crisis Assistance and LIHEAP together. Crisis Assistance is an additional federal grant up to $1,000 that is awarded to income-eligible customers.
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