Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) has filed a request with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) to increase the gas base for residential properties by 13% and I oppose this increase. When I think about PGW, I think about how fossil fuels like natural gas continue to harbor hazards for Philadelphians. On Sunday, a Philly resident at a nearby church asked if they could borrow a gas leak detector. This is a clear reminder of the issues surrounding natural gas. I have called PGW several times regarding smelling gas. It's a caring thing to do and it matters because leaks happen.  

On South 8th Street, two people were killed and five homes were destroyed when a leaking gas pipe from 1928 detonated a blast. Per WHYY, in 2022 PGW said more than half of its over 3,000 miles of gas mains were deemed “at-risk". There are environmental issues in extracting and transporting natural gas to our homes and businesses. And, of course, there's the varying costs of natural gas and the expense of cobbling together aging infrastructure to move it around.  

Adding pollution to injury, the American Public Gas Association, in which PGW is an active member, is lobbying to defund federal clean energy programs for Philadelphia. This is clearly the wrong move. 

As moneyed households move from fossil fuels to cleaner energy solutions, a vicious circle is created. Lower income households struggle with old worn-out pipes and skyrocketing bills while higher income households enjoy lower energy bills and a cleaner home environment. PGW must work quickly to help every customer move to cleaner energy solutions to combat climate catastrophes, diversify revenues, and keep as many customers as possible. This way, PGW can continue to conduct business in a powerful way.

Jayson Massey

Nicetown