Philadelphia Gas Works cut off residential gas service to 29,388 customers from April through August as unpaid household balances climbed past $160 million in May.
The figures show how quickly utility debt can impact families amid broader cost-of-living pressures.
Here's what to know
Residential nonpayment shutoffs totaled 29,388 from April through August, up from 21,176 in the same five-month stretch of 2025, an increase of nearly 39%, the Philadelphia Tribune reported.
The newspaper also noted that residential arrearages rose to $161.7 million in May of this year, up from $146.9 million in May 2025.
The shutoffs picked up after winter shutoff protections ended on March 31 — under Pennsylvania rules, most qualifying low-income households cannot have such services shut off from December to March unless the Public Utility Commission approves. Still, by the end of August, PGW had almost reached the prior year's full April-through-November total of 29,810 shutoffs.
Speaking to the Tribune, Philadelphia City Councilmember Nicolas O'Rourke — who launched the city's Cost of Living Task Force in 2025 — said, "Philadelphia was, until recently, the poorest big city in the country; now it's second."
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O'Rourke also said about one in five Philadelphians live in poverty, while nearly half of residents are considered "cost-burdened."
A task force report cited by the Tribune found that roughly a quarter of low-income households spend nearly 20% of their income on energy, leaving less money for food, rent, and health care.
The report also identified low-income renters, older adults, and people with disabilities as especially vulnerable. Other city efforts have also documented disproportionate impacts on Black households.
What's being done?
In a statement cited by the Tribune, PGW President and CEO Seth Shapiro said, "We understand how stressful and overwhelming an increased bill can feel. It is important to contact PGW immediately if you are concerned about paying your bill."
The utility said its cost-reduction Customer Responsibility Program may lower monthly payments for qualifying households and help erase past-due balances. But only about 32% of income-qualified households are enrolled in the program, the Tribune reported.
"Enrollment barriers including complex paperwork, landlord-tenant friction, recertification, language barriers and lack of awareness effectively ration benefits by administrative capacity rather than need," O'Rourke told the newspaper.
Payment plans are also available regardless of income. Meanwhile, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program — or LIHEAP — is for households that have already lost heat or risk losing it.
Pennsylvania estimates that 393,356 households may receive cash assistance and another 100,424 may qualify for emergency help.
Where can I learn more?
These stories look at bill anxiety, gas policy fights, fossil-fuel infrastructure, and utility oversight in Pennsylvania and beyond:
• Pennsylvania has pressed utilities to prove they're fixing grid losses that waste power.
• In New York, lawmakers moved to nix subsidies for gas hookups as electrification efforts expand.
• After 10 Massachusetts communities went fossil-fuel free, utilities still poured $100M into gas lines.
• Across the U.S., many households are losing sleep as utility bill anxiety deepens.
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