Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) is the United States' largest municipally owned natural gas utility.Wereschagin, Mike. "Philadelphia Gas Works to 'aggressively' replace old gas lines." Tarentum, Pennsylvania: TribLive, October 22, 2015. Construction was completed by engineer Samuel V. Merrick on January 22, 1838,"The Gas Works." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The United States Gazette, October 3, 1838, p. 2 (subscription required). and operations continued from the 1800s to the present day."The Gasworks of Philadelphia." Charleston, South Carolina: The Charleston Daily Courier, February 27, 1847, p. 3 (subscription required)."Gas Trust Incidentals." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Times, May 9, 1882, p. 1 (subscription required).
History
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,"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."Proceedings of City Councils." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 25, 1837, p. 2 (subscription required).
In 1841, PGW came under city ownership."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."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 .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."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.
Notes
References
External links