In Philadelphia, too many people are forced to make impossible choices between paying for energy and affording other basic needs like food, medicine, or rent. While some residents can get assistance with energy costs at a Neighborhood Energy Center, not everyone can get to a location.
The Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) and the Office of Sustainability have teamed up to close that gap. By launching the new Mobile Energy Center, we can bring critical energy assistance resources directly to Philadelphians across the city.
Introducing Philadelphia’s first Mobile Energy Center
The Mobile Energy Center is an electric van – powered in part by solar energy – that serves as an office on wheels. Instead of asking residents to visit one of ECA’s Neighborhood Energy Centers, the Mobile Energy Center delivers energy assistance directly to them. By meeting people where they are, it removes some of the biggest barriers that prevent households from getting support, including transportation challenges and limited mobility.
The Mobile Energy Center helps residents with:
- Utility grant applications
- Enrolling in utility assistance programs
- Energy-saving education
- Referrals to housing stability resources
For households facing high energy costs or the risk of utility shutoffs, the Mobile Energy Center’s convenience can make the difference between getting help and going without.
To request a visit from the Mobile Energy Center, reach out to communityphl@ecasys.org.
Reducing energy burden in Philadelphia
Philadelphia residents face some of the nation’s highest energy burdens, spending a higher-than-average percent of their household income on energy bills.
The Mobile Energy Center can help reduce energy burden by bringing support directly to people. This makes it easier for all residents – regardless of transportation or mobility issues – to access important services. More residents can get help, tools, and information to make their homes efficient, comfortable, and affordable. This is a key goal in the Office of Sustainability’s Energy Poverty Alleviation Strategy.
Reducing energy burden is a citywide effort. City departments and community-based organizations will continue to work together to create solutions. Together, we can make sure every Philadelphian has access to affordable energy that is clean, healthy, and safe.
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG) Award Number DESE0000325, awarded to the City of Philadelphia Office of Sustainability.
