Title
Authorizing the Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings to examine the processes used by the Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO), Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW), and the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) to determine customer eligibility for financial assistance programs, identify barriers to enrollment, and explore strategies to increase participation in such programs to prevent utility service shutoffs.
Body
WHEREAS, Access to essential utility services, including electricity, natural gas, and water, is critical to the health, safety, and well-being of Philadelphia residents; and
WHEREAS, The rising cost of utility services places a significant financial burden on households throughout Philadelphia, particularly low-income residents and families who may struggle to maintain consistent payments while meeting other basic needs; and
WHEREAS, According to records obtained by The Philadelphia Tribune, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) disconnected 29,388 residential customers for nonpayment between April and August 2026, compared to 21,176 during the same period in 2025, representing an increase of nearly 39 percent; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia residents may qualify for various utility assistance programs designed to reduce monthly utility costs, establish affordable payment arrangements, and help customers avoid service interruptions, including the Customer Assistance Program (CAP), Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and other assistance programs administered by individual utility providers; and
WHEREAS, Eligible residents may face barriers to enrollment, including a lack of awareness, complicated application processes, documentation requirements, recertification procedures, language barriers, and difficulty navigating eligibility criteria; and
WHEREAS, The processes used by PECO, PGW, and PWD to assess customer eligibility, communicate available assistance options, and facilitate enrollment warrant further examinat...
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