PHILADELPHIA GAS WORKS
ENERGY also share aging infrastructure in need of upkeep and renovation . In the City of Philadelphia , PGW is undertaking a major initiative to ramp up the rehabilitation of its own infrastructure , ensuring that it is able to provide better and more reliable service for years to come .
“ We are accelerating our program , as have other utilities in Mid Atlantic and Northeast regions — areas of the country that have a preponderance of cast-iron bare steel and unprotected steel ,” says White , explaining PGW ’ s most recent undertaking , which consists of excavating and removing existing outdated pipe to be replaced with modern updates . “ Newer systems are primarily plastic and welded steel , and we ’ re moving in that direction with our replacement program . We ’ re on pace to double our replacement of the aging infrastructure within a year .”
To accomplish this goal , PGW has increased its total yearly expenditure from $ 40 million up to $ 75 million — in other words , of the $ 100 million budget that PGW is allotted each year , 75 percent is currently being reserved toward replacing aging infrastructure . But according to White , as a matter of enhanced reliability and safety , it ’ s funding well spent .
Improving employee safety That matter of safety is vital to Philadelphia Gas Works . “ That ’ s what we ’ re here to do : we ’ re here to provide safe and reliable service ,” says White . This is a driving force in the company ’ s current emphasis on infrastructure building and replacement .
“ Replacing infrastructure reduces risk ,” White explains . “ When we talk about safety , we ’ re not only talking about safety as it pertains to our customers : we ’ re certainly also talking about safety as it pertains to our employees . We have extensive training programs , and much of what we do here at PGW is just to stress that safety is the most important aspect of what we do every day . I want my employees to go home safe to their families each and every day .”
Improving consumer satisfaction In addition to its daily focus on the well being of its employees , PGW also understands the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with its user base in both the
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