Philly councilman wants developers who get tax breaks to patronize PGW

A Philadelphia councilman wants some home-team favoritism when it comes to purchasing energy. 

Councilman Alan Domb has introduced a bill requiring owners of commercial properties who get a hand from Philadelphia to buy their natural gas from the city.

“It’s important if we are going to give a commercial development an abatement that they at least use our utility company, and build value in that utility,” he said.

If the city is helping the property owners with tax breaks, they should — in turn — help the city thrive, Domb said.

“When we generate $3 million in utility revenue, we really generate $50 million to $60 million in the asset value of PGW,” he said. “And that’s what we have to build.”

A hearing on the matter is being scheduled