Philadelphia Gas Works

File:Acorn Gas Range publicity leaflet extract, c. 1932-33 Philadelphia Gas Works.jpg, from a PGW brochure of c. 1932–33.Blaszczyk, Regina Lee. (2012) "Imagining Consumers: Norman Bel Geddes and American Consumer Culture", in Norman Bel Geddes Designs America, ed. by Donald Albrecht. New York: Abrams. pp. 70-93 (p. 72).]]

Less than a year after the passage of "An Ordinance For the Construction and Management of The Philadelphia Gas Works" by the Select and Common Councils of Philadelphia on March 21, 1835,"[https://www.newspapers.com/image/346686623/?terms=%22Philadelphia%20Gas%20Works%22&match=1 An Ordinance For the Construction and Management of The Philadelphia Gas Works]." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 4, 1835, p. 2 (subscription required). the Philadelphia Gas Works began providing gas service to the City of Philadelphia when the city's first 46 gas lights were turned on along Second Street, between Vine and South Streets on February 10, 1836. Construction of the Philadelphia Gas Works was subsequently completed by engineer Samuel V. Merrick on January 22, 1838."The Gas Works," The United States Gazette, October 3, 1838."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/346612935/?terms=%22Philadelphia%20Gas%20Works%22 Proceedings of City Councils]." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 25, 1837, p. 2 (subscription required).

In 1841, PGW came under city ownership."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/40140974/?terms=%22Philadelphia%20Gas%20Works%22 The Gas Works]." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Public Ledger, June 21, 1841, p. 1 (subscription required)"The Gasworks of Philadelphia," The Charleston Daily Courier, February 27, 1847. Half a century later, the UGI Corporation (then United Gas Improvement Company) was contracted by the city in 1897 to operate and manage PGW."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/168281012/?terms=%22Philadelphia%20Gas%20Works%22 The Gas Works Lease]." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 18, 1897, p. 7 (subscription required).

By the 1940s, PGW was serving some 500,000 customers in Philadelphia, providing 99% of the gas distributed within the city limits.Castaneda 1993, pg. 105 At this time, the gas provided was primarily carbureted water gas. In 1947, the City of Philadelphia stated that it valued PGW at more than {{currency|100,000,000}}.Castaneda 1993, pg. 107

Similar contracts to the one implemented with UGI in 1897 continued to be approved by city leaders until December 1972, at which time Mayor Frank Rizzo and the Philadelphia City Council contracted with the nonprofit Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation (PFMC) to operate and manage PGW, beginning on January 1, 1973."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/180342804/?terms=%22The%20Gas%20Works%22 Gas Works Strike Threatened Jan. 1]." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 20, 1972, p. 33 (subscription required).

The seven-member board of directors of the Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation is appointed by the mayor. Its charge, as set forth in a management agreement between the City and the PFMC, makes the PFMC responsible for all operations of PGW through an executive management team, which includes a chief executive officer, chief operating officer, and chief financial officer.{{Cite press release |title=Officers Elected for the Board of Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation − the Governing Body for Philadelphia Gas Works |date=May 24, 2016 |url=https://www.pgworks.com/files/assets/PGW_Board_Elections__Final.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317205231/http://www.pgworks.com/files/assets/PGW_Board_Elections__Final.pdf |archive-date=Mar 17, 2017 |url-status=live |publisher=Philadelphia Gas Works |location=Philadelphia}}

In 2014, the City of Philadelphia attempted to sell PGW to UIL Holdings Corporation for {{currency|1.86 billion}}, pending approval from the Philadelphia City Council,{{cite web | url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/morning_roundup/2014/03/pgw-sold-for-186-billion.html | title=PGW under agreement for $1.86 billion | work=Philadelphia Business Journal | date=March 3, 2014 | accessdate=March 7, 2014 | author=Shelly, Jared | url-status=live | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307132312/http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/morning_roundup/2014/03/pgw-sold-for-186-billion.html | archivedate=March 7, 2014}} which was ultimately declined.{{cite web |last=Maykuth |first=Andrew |date=December 4, 2014 |title=UIL ends its bid to buy PGW |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20141205_UIL_ends_its_bid_for_owning_PGW.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204130842/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/business/20141205_UIL_ends_its_bid_for_owning_PGW.html |archive-date=December 4, 2019 |accessdate=22 October 2016 |publisher=Philadelphia Inquirer}}

In 2021, Philadelphia Gas Works executives agreed to begin exploring ways to reduce the utility's carbon footprint in furtherance of city objectives to reach net zero carbon emissions by the year 2050 in an effort to help fight climate change.Phillips, Susan. "[https://whyy.org/articles/report-explores-a-decarbonized-future-for-pgw-cites-its-current-structure-and-business-model-as-challenges/ Report explores a decarbonized future for PGW, cites its current structure and business model as challenges]." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: WHYY-Radio, December 9, 2021.

In 2022, state utility regulators approved gas main replacement plans by the Philadelphia Gas Works to upgrade more than 1,000 miles of pipes that had been installed prior to World War II.Maykuth, Andrew. "[https://www.inquirer.com/business/philadelphia-gas-mains-replacement-pgw-cast-iron-20220825.html State OKs PGW gas-main replacement plan, including nearly 1,000 miles of pipes installed before WWII]." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 25, 2022 (subscription required).

The American Public Gas Association has awarded PGW its 2010 Marketing and Sales Award.{{cite news | title = PGW Wins National Award | date = 2010-09-09 | publisher = James Tayoun, Sr. | url = http://issuu.com/phillyrecord/docs/pr-554-p | work = Philadelphia Public Record | pages = 6 | accessdate = 2010-09-10 | quote = The Philadelphia Gas Works has received the American Public Gas Association's prestigious 2010 Marketing and Sales Award after a national competition. Jeffery Tuttle from CPS Energy said, 'PGW is the oldest municipal gas system in the US and on the eve of the 50th anniversary of APGA, it is an honor to recognize PGW with this Marketing and Sales Award.'}} In 2009, PGW had an advertising campaign showing customers and the public about the value of natural gas.

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• {{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MX3Gnr5pyHoC | title=Regulated Enterprise: Natural Gas Pipelines and Northeastern Markets, 1938–1954 | publisher=Ohio State University Press | author=Castaneda, Christopher James | year=1993 | isbn=9780814205907 | series=Historical perspectives on business enterprise series}}

{{Portal|Philadelphia}}

{{commons category|Philadelphia Gas Works}}

• {{Official website |1=www.pgworks.com}}
• {{HAER |survey=PA-41 |id=pa1314 |title=Philadelphia Gas Works, Point Breeze Meter House}}

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Category:Buildings and structures in Philadelphia

Category:Historic American Engineering Record in Philadelphia

Category:Natural gas companies of the United States

Category:Public utilities of the United States

Category:1836 establishments in Pennsylvania