Gas Commission asks PGW for a full accounting of its CEO's gifts and trips
The city's utility watchdog wants records by Nov. 13 after WHYY reported years of trips paid for by outside groups. Council, meanwhile, has authorized hearings on a jump in PGW shutoffs but has not set a date.
The Philadelphia Gas Commission, the five-member board that oversees the finances of the city-owned gas utility, has asked Philadelphia Gas Works for "a complete accounting" of gifts, tickets, meals, travel and entertainment received by CEO Seth Shapiro, WHYY reported. PGW has until Nov. 13 to answer.
PGW serves about 500,000 homes and businesses, and its customers pay for most of what it spends. It raised rates 6.6% last December, WHYY noted. How its leaders handle outside gifts is a question about a public utility that ratepayers fund.
What the commission asked for
The Oct. 23 memo goes beyond what the state Ethics Act requires, according to WHYY. It asks for:
- the details and value of every gift and trip since Jan. 1, 2022, when Shapiro became CEO;
- a list of events he attended as CEO, and which other PGW employees went;
- whether any of the groups giving gifts do business with PGW, and Shapiro's role in those decisions;
- his original and amended financial disclosure forms;
- whether PGW's ethics counsel was consulted;
- any internal reviews or corrective actions.
What WHYY found
WHYY reported that public filings show the Philadelphia Phillies paid for Shapiro to attend spring training in Florida for at least four straight years, 2022 through 2025. PGW is a major Phillies advertiser, spending more than $1 million from October 2022 to November 2024, and the CEO approves that spending, the station reported. Other groups also provided hospitality, WHYY said.
WHYY reported that Shapiro disclosed dozens of trips but did not list their values on his state ethics forms for 2022 through 2025, as state law requires. He amended his 2025 form after the state Ethics Commission asked him to, following WHYY's questions. PGW's own code bars gifts that could reasonably be seen as influencing an employee's duties, and gifts worth more than $250 need written approval from its ethics officer.
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Shapiro and PGW did not respond to WHYY. A spokesperson for City Controller Christy Brady, who chairs the commission, said she could not comment on a personnel issue. No finding of wrongdoing has been made.
What our records add
Council does not set PGW's rates, but it does vote on PGW's money and has already turned its attention to the utility this fall.
- Shutoff hearings, no date yet. On Oct. 22 Council adopted Resolution 260897, from 4th District Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr., authorizing hearings on residential shutoffs. It has 16 sponsors. Our calendar shows no hearing scheduled for the Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities yet. We covered the resolution, and the 39% rise in shutoffs it cites, here.
- PGW's capital budget. Council approved PGW's fiscal 2027 capital budget, Bill 260511, 17-0 on June 11, 2026.
- PGW borrowing. Council authorized the continued sale of Gas Works revenue notes, Bill 260112, 17-0 on March 12, 2026, along with a gas storage agreement, Bill 260113, by the same margin.
Those votes are listed for context. They are routine financing measures and are not connected to the gift questions.
What's next
PGW's response is due Nov. 13. Whether the Gas Commission releases it, and whether Council's shutoff hearing gets a date, are the next things to watch. If you are behind on a gas bill, PGW and the state run assistance programs, and the Council hearing is expected to look at how many eligible households miss out.