Philadelphia Winter Shutoff Rules 2026–27: PECO and PGW Protections Explained
Updated: 3 hours ago
Pennsylvania's Winter Moratorium can keep the heat and lights on in Philadelphia from December 1 to March 31, but it isn't automatic. Here is who is covered, the notices PECO and PGW must send, and what to do if the utility says no.
AT A GLANCE
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This guide explains the rules the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) applies to PECO, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW), and other regulated utilities. Everything here comes from the PUC's own consumer fact sheets.
It covers who qualifies for winter protection, the notices you must get before any shutoff, the medical certificate, payment arrangements, getting service restored, and what to do if the utility says no.
Who the Winter Moratorium covers
The PUC's February 2026 fact sheet, Protections for Responsible Utility Customers, says these policies apply to electric distribution, water distribution, natural gas distribution, steam heat, and wastewater utilities. PECO and PGW customers are covered.
The Winter Moratorium protects consumers from termination between December 1 and March 31. The PUC lists two cases where a utility can shut off service in winter without PUC approval:
you fail to be a responsible utility customer, or
your income is outside the utility company's income-qualifying guidelines.
Even then, the PUC says the utility will give you the chance to make payment arrangements to avoid termination.
The income line
The PUC's older Responsible Utility Customer Protection Act fact sheet says winter shutoffs without PUC approval apply when household income is above 250% of the federal poverty level. That same sheet sets a 150% line for Philadelphia Gas Works customers.
The fact sheet is dated January 2020, so ask PGW which line applies to you today. The 2026 PUC fact sheet lists these monthly income guidelines:
Household size | 150% of poverty (monthly) | 250% of poverty (monthly) |
|---|---|---|
1 | $1,995 | $3,325 |
2 | $2,705 | $4,508 |
3 | $3,415 | $5,692 |
4 | $4,125 | $6,875 |
Each additional person | add $710 | add $1,183 |
The PUC notes that these guidelines are updated every January. Report your income to PECO and PGW. The utility can't apply the income-based protection if it doesn't know your household qualifies, and it may ask for proof of income.
The utility can't apply the income-based protection if it doesn't know your household qualifies. Report your income to PECO and PGW.
What the utility must do before any shutoff
The PUC's 2026 fact sheet lists the utility's responsibilities before a disconnection:
Send a 10-Day Notice.
Attempt to contact you at least three days before the disconnection date, by two attempts to reach you by phone, one attempt to visit you at home, or a text, email or other electronic message (only if you have agreed to it).
A termination notice is valid for 60 days. Service can be shut off any time between Day 11 and Day 60 after the notice is issued.
The PUC's Act fact sheet adds two more points:
In winter, if the utility can't reach you at the time of termination, it will leave a 48-hour notice at your home.
Utility service can be shut off any weekday except Friday.
When a shutoff can happen without notice
The PUC says a utility will disconnect without notice if you:
steal utility service
turn on service fraudulently
tamper with the equipment or cause unsafe conditions
use a bad check or an illegal form of payment
What makes you lose protection
A utility can shut off service if you fail to:
pay your bill
follow the terms of your payment arrangement
make a required deposit
allow the utility access to its equipment
Medical certificates
The PUC says the utility will not disconnect your service if you or anyone in your household is certified as seriously ill by a licensed health care provider.
Medical certificate detail | What the PUC says |
|---|---|
Who signs | A licensed physician, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner |
What it must say | That disconnecting utility service will harm the ill person living in the home |
Initial length | Up to 30 days |
Extensions | Up to an additional 60 days |
Your bill | You are still responsible for paying it while a certificate is on file |
How to use it: call PECO or PGW as soon as you get a termination notice. Tell them someone in the home is seriously ill, and ask your doctor, PA, or nurse practitioner to send the certification.
Keep paying what you can. The PUC stresses that your bill still has to be paid during the certificate period.
Payment arrangements
The PUC's 2026 fact sheet explains the rules:
The utility must offer one payment arrangement, and may be required to offer another depending on your circumstances.
The utility may voluntarily offer more than one.
The PUC may be able to set up one payment arrangement for you.
If you break a payment arrangement set up through the PUC, the PUC can't help you again unless your income changes significantly or you have special circumstances, such as:
a chronic illness that causes a significant loss of income
catastrophic damage to your home that cost you a significant amount
an increase in the number of dependents in your household
CAP customers
If you qualify for a utility Customer Assistance Program (CAP), the PUC says the CAP payment may be the lowest payment a utility can set. Current PUC policy does not allow the PUC to set up a payment arrangement on CAP arrears.
You also may not have to pay a deposit if you are income-qualified for a CAP.
Getting service back on
When you were shut off | Restoration time (per PUC) |
|---|---|
December 1 – March 31 | Within 24 hours after you pay and meet the utility's conditions |
December 1 – March 31, if street or sidewalk digging is needed | Up to 7 days |
Rest of the year | Within 3 to 7 days after you pay and meet the utility's conditions |
To restore or start service, the PUC says:
If you have broken two or more prior arrangements, the utility may require the full balance.
You may have to pay a deposit, which may be about two average monthly bills. It can be required if you have bad credit or no payment history, your service was cut off for unpaid bills, or you missed two payments in a row (or three payments in 12 months).
The 2020 Act fact sheet says any adult who lived at the home while the balance built up may be responsible for all or part of the overdue bill if they want service in their name. You may also be charged a reconnect fee.
Extra protections to set up now
Third Party Notification. Name a neighbor, friend, or family member to receive copies of late-payment and termination notices. The PUC says this person is not responsible for your bill. It helps if you are away for long periods or find the utility's rules hard to follow.
Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders. If you have a PFA order, contact your utility for information about special protections.
Before you call
☐ Your PECO or PGW account number and any termination notice, with its date
☐ Proof of household income, such as recent pay stubs or a benefits letter, for the income-based winter protection or CAP
☐ A medical certification from a licensed physician, PA, or nurse practitioner, if someone is seriously ill
☐ Your PFA order, if you have one
☐ Receipts for every payment and written notes of every call: the date, the representative's name, and what was agreed
What to do if the utility says no
The PUC's process is clear: contact your utility first.
Call your utility. Ask PECO or PGW for a payment arrangement, report your income, or raise a complaint.
Go to the PUC if needed. If you can't reach a resolution, you have the right to decline the utility's payment arrangement and file a complaint with the PUC.
Ask about assistance. If you have lost income or work hours, ask the utility whether you qualify for its customer assistance programs.
PUC contact | Details |
|---|---|
Hotline | 1-800-692-7380 |
Speech or hearing loss | Dial 7-1-1 (Telecommunications Relay Service) |
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 400 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120 | |
Consumer education | ConsumerEd@pa.gov |
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK
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More help in Philadelphia
See our Philadelphia financial help guides for utility, rent, food, and benefits help in one place.
Related guides
Official sources
Income guidelines are updated every January and utility policies change. Confirm your protections with PECO, PGW, or the PUC at 1-800-692-7380.
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