PGW has taken out ads in community papers like the Star reading:
"You Spoke... Our paying customers said: NO increased rates and NO paying for those who won't pay. We listened. The rules have changed... PGW will shut-off gas service this winter if you don't pay."
[their emphasis]

Nice way to deflect accountability by blaming payers for the non-payers' shut-offs, while blaming the non-payers for the payers rate increases.

LIHEAP information is available online, for those who may need assistance.

That's hysterical. It was the PUC which said that.

I believe there is an income cut-off on the winter shutoffs - if you are low income, etc., your heat will not be shut off until spring.

I don't know what they will do about the scuzzy landlords who roll gas payments into the rent but don't pay the bill. That's always been a large problem.

What does PGW do - shut off a multiple family building and put the tenants in jeopardy.

__________________
“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

Hi, I use PGW for radiator heat and have approx. an 850-sq. ft. apartment (with high ceilings). I am trying to estimate what my heating bills might be like this winter (I do have storm windows). If anyone out there has a similar space, could you help me out by telling me what you have paid for heat in winters past?


-seahorse.

Seahorse, it seems to me that you are asking the wrong question. The question should be ... what quantity of gas did you use to heat your space?

The fact that gas costs are rising so quickly and PGW efficiency is dropping so quickly makes the dollar cost of your heating situation a moving target. Get an estimate of the amount of energy used then compute your cost.

actually, this is the first winter i'll be spending in the apartment, so i'm not really sure what you mean. i was curious as to how much other folks' heating bills normally are for similar 1-br apartments in philly--so i could know what to expect my heating bills to cost this winter.

thanks,
seahorse

Call PGW. You may have to try a number of times but you might be able to get through.

As for the historical usage for that apartment. They ought to give it to you. The should also give you the amount - but that's not terribly important since the rates are way higher this year.

See if they will give you the current tariffs (rates) and the rates that are coming in in Dec.

Then it's simple multipication.

__________________
“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

Sadly PGW'S get tuff policy will cost some lives, we read about it every year. Many of the folks who won't have gas this winter have been shut off since the spring. I guess they figure they can get along without gas in summer. then fall comes along every one starts to panic. kinda like the ant and the grasshopper.

__________________
___________________
I have legalised robbery. Called it a belief
I have run with the money. And hid like a theif
I have re-written history. With my armies and my crooks
Invented memories. I did burn all the books
And I can still hear his laughter. And I can still hear his song
The mans too big. The mans too strong

Swift:

For many years, PGW would shut folks off in the spring/summer and then allow them to come back on in the winter (with a negotiated payment plan). Then, when they would ignore bills in the winter, they could not be shut off until spring.

So, in a sense, this new policy is overdue.

Unfortunately, many sub-standard landlords would game the system - taking rent which included heating but never paying the money to the utilities. I don't know what will happen to tenants in those situations.

As for the winter shutoffs, there is an income cut-off beneath which PGW cannot go. I will try to find it and post it here. It's sort of set up to get the people who can afford to pay, but simply do not pay. And we all know there are some of those.

That said, having faced incredibly out-of-line bills for a one bedroom apartment from PGW, I know that they make lots of billing errors and that it is nearly impossible to rectify their mistakes.

__________________
“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

Chris, I hadn't though of the landlord angle (never had an all util incl.) but that makes sense. I also think that, in the name of energy efficiency, everyone should have to foot the bill for thier utilities and not have it included in the rent. Also, I believe the income cutoff is around $17,000...which I think is the poverty line. Lastly, seahorse, a lot depends on the age of your apt, quality of windows and insulation, etc.

The problem is, El, that many of the conversiions have been done without breaking up the gas lines . . . and putting new meters in - which would be fairly expensive.

I suspect that lots of the Manayunk conversions are that way.

Lots of substandard landlords are not about to spend money to separately meter these structures.

__________________
“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs