Facts And Help: PGW Can Shut You Off in the Winter

It was only less than a year ago that I wrote about this specific topic, and how no one was covering it.

They still aren't.

So, lets get some history and facts out there. First off, yes, PGW is legally allowed to turn off your heat in the winter. Not only that, but so can PECO and the Philadelphia Water Department.

In February of 2005, Governor Rendell passed the ironically named Responsible Utility Customer Protection Act. The law allowed for all utilities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to shut you off during the winter.

There was a loophole written into the law for just PGW Customers, but it isn't a big one:

PGW Specific

For PGW Only - Shut-Off of Utility Service - We have different rules for winter shut-offs. If your income is more than 150% but less than 250% of the poverty guidelines, PGW may turn off your service beginning January 1 unless:

• A person in your house is 65 years or older;

• A person in your house is 12 years or younger;

• A person in your house has a letter from a doctor;

• You have paid half of your last 2 bills or

• You have paid 15% of your household income in the last 2 months

For PGW Only - If your household income is low, we will turn on your service if you join PGW's Customer Responsibility Program (CRP). For example, this means if there are 3-people in your household your monthly income must be below $1,959.

For PGW Only - Based on your income, the amount of your deposit may be equal to one or two average bills. If you enroll in CRP, you do not have to pay a deposit.

So there are measurements in place to make sure you're OK with PGW during the winter. PECO, on other hand, doesn't. So if you're behind on those, you could face a shutoff. I talked to a few people about that, and they understood the PECO turning you off, despite the fact that you most likely will need electricity to turn on your heat.

My thoughts?

The fact that we allow this to happen in this state is APPALLING. The reason it shouldn't be legal is actually very obvious since, as I mentioned already, the toll on the person is astounding and the toll on the house or property can be incredibly costly. During the summer months it's not quite as bad, but winter is understood to be the worst time possible to carry out a shut off in this city.

At the same time, this effects the poorest of our friends and neighbors, and it's a devastating thing to happen to a persons emotional toll. I had my power turned off once and aside from the feeling of disappointment you feel in it happening, your angry and sad at yourself for falling so far from society. You feel like an outcast and a pariah.

The toll on the neighbors properties is debatable, but it is likely that a house that is flooding due to bad pipes in a row home will effect the neighbors.

In the end, this isn't helping anyone but the utilities and needs to go.



Photo Courtesy of I Am My Avatar