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File #: 230514    Version: 0 Name:
Type: Resolution Status: ADOPTED
File created: 6/15/2023 In control: CITY COUNCIL
On agenda: Final action: 6/22/2023
Title: Calling on PECO, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW), and the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) to develop comprehensive plans to reduce energy costs to consumers and to improve energy efficiency.
Sponsors: Council President Clarke, Councilmember Gilmore Richardson
Attachments: 1. Resolution No. 23051400, 2. Signature23051400

Title

Calling on PECO, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW), and the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) to develop comprehensive plans to reduce energy costs to consumers and to improve energy efficiency.

 

Body

WHEREAS, Rising inflation has increased the cost of living for many Americans, as reflected in the Consumer Price Index and other measures; and

 

WHEREAS, Philadelphia’s poverty rate is higher than the national average and Philadelphia’s median income is below the national average; and

 

WHEREAS, Philadelphians have felt the financial impact of rising inflation on household expenses; and

 

WHEREAS, In order to maintain affordability of energy costs, in 2019, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) amended the PUC’s Policy Statement on Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs) to establish the following maximum energy burden thresholds based on percentage of household income for low-income customers participating in CAPs who are in Federal Poverty Income Guideline (FPIG) tiers 51%-100% and 101%-150%: “6% for natural gas heating, 4% for electric non-heating, and 10% for electric heating”; and for customers in “FPIG tier 0%-50%, the maximum energy burden is 4% for natural gas heating, 2% for electric non-heating, and 6% for electric heating”; and

 

WHEREAS, High utility costs can be an unplanned financial burden on Philadelphians; and

 

WHEREAS, PECO is a privately-owned company providing electricity and natural gas to residential customers in the City of Philadelphia; and

 

WHEREAS, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) and the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) are municipally-owned utility companies providing natural gas and water to residential customers in the City of Philadelphia, respectively; and

 

WHEREAS, The implementation of a comprehensive plan to reduce residential utility costs will relieve the financial burden on many Philadelphians and improve energy efficiency; now, therefore, be it

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby call on PECO, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW), and the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) to develop comprehensive plans to reduce energy costs to consumers and to improve energy efficiency.

 

End