Help for Those Facing Gas Shutoff

Posted by on October 28, 2005

Many low-income Philadelphia families risk losing their gas heating service next month because of their inability to keep up with payments. This situation has worsened for many other Philadelphians as gas rates jumped over the past few months.

There are several options for emergency cash assistance for households who face service cutoffs because of delinquency. They include:

. The Customer Responsibility Program
PGW offers a Customer Responsibility Program (CRP) to help low-income customers better afford their PGW bills and maintain natural gas service.

. LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
LIHEAP is a federal grant to assist low income customers with their annual heating bills.

. CRISIS
A federal CRISIS grant can help pay for heating costs in a heating emergency, when service is off or threatened to be shut off.

. Utility Emergency Services Fund
The UESF provides grants up to $500 to eligible low-income customers to help them pay off the balance of a bill.

. CARES (Customer Assistance Referral and Evaluation Program)
The CARES program helps customers with special needs.

. Conservation Works Program (CWP)
The PGW Conservation Works Program (CWP) is designed to reduce energy usage and help make energy bills affordable for low-income households.

. 20 % Senior Citizen Discount
PGW customers age 65 or older may qualify for a 20% Senior Citizen Discount Rate.

Information on accessing these resources is available through PGW at 215-684-6100, on their website at <a href="http://www.pgworks.com/customerservice/index.htm">http://www.pgworks.com/customerservice/index.htm</a>, or through one of the Neighborhood Service Centers or PGW Customer Service Centers on the list below.

NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTERS FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE

Carroll Park Community Council, Inc.
Service Area: West Philadelphia
5218 Master Street
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Phone: 215-877-1157
Fax: 215-878-2722

Congreso De Latinos Unidos, Inc.
Service Area: North Philadelphia, Logan, Olney and Nicetown
640 West Luzerne Street
Philadelphia, PA 19140
Phone: 215-763-8870
Fax: 215-763-8876

Diversified Community Services
Service Area: South Philadelphia, West of Broad Street
1920 South 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19145
Phone: 215-336-3511
Fax: 215-551-4327

Friends Neighborhood Guild
Service Area: North Philadelphia, East of Broad Street
704 West Girard Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Phone: 215-923-1544
Fax: 215-923-2502

Germantown Settlement
Service Area: Northwest Philadelphia
218 West Chelten Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Phone: 215-849-3104
Fax: 215-843-7264

New Kensington CDC
Service Area: Frankford, Kensington and Northeast Philadelphia
2513 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19125
Phone: 215-427-0350
Fax: 215-427-1302

South Lehigh Action Council
Service Area: North Philadelphia, West of Broad Street
2213 West Sergeant Street
Philadelphia, PA 19132
Phone: 215-229-2851
Fax: 215-229-2828

Southwest CDC
Service Area: Southwest Philadelphia
6328 Paschall Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19142
Phone: 215-729-0800
Fax: 215-726-5719

United Communities
Service Area: South Philadelphia, East of Broad Street
2029 South 8th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148
Phone: 215-467-8700
Fax: 215-467-1042

PGW Customer Service Centers

Center City
1137 Chestnut Street
Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday F 9am-5pm

Frankford
4410 Frankford Avenue
Open: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am-5pm

Germantown
212 W. Chelten Avenue
Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9am-5pm

North Philadelphia
1337 W. Erie Avenue
Open: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am-5pm

South Philadelphia
1601 S. Broad Street
Open: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am-5pm

West Philadelphia
5230 Chestnut Street
Open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9am-5pm