A Groundbreaking Collaboration
Pennsylvania’s largest natural gas utility has teamed up with a local startup to revolutionize energy affordability efforts
Peoples Natural Gas believes every person eligible to participate in its assistance programs should benefit from them, said Rita Black, Peoples community assistance programs director. And with winter underway, the importance of affordable and reliable heating becomes ever more critical.
“We know that, historically, many households that are eligible for bill assistance do not apply,” said Black. “We are always looking for new ways to increase awareness and engagement with these households.”
Recognizing this challenge, Peoples is taking proactive steps to support those most in need through an innovative pilot program in partnership with Peoples Energy Analytics – an independent startup born out of Carnegie Mellon University.
At the heart of the partnership is PEA’s proprietary algorithm, which analyzes a variety of factors including historic gas usage, billing data and temperature levels to identify the customers who are most vulnerable to negative outcomes such as frozen pipes or falling behind on energy bills. This analysis allows PEA to pinpoint not only individual customers but also “hot spot” areas where residents face heightened energy burdens—defined as spending more than 6% to 10% of income on energy bills. These data-driven insights inform Peoples’ customized and targeted outreach efforts, ensuring the right resources reach those who need them most.
“Through this partnership with Peoples, we have been able to find households before they fall into arrears and connect them with assistance,” said Dr. Destenie Nock, CEO of PEA and professor at Carnegie Mellon University. “Using analytics, we can connect thousands of in-need households with the type of assistance that is best suited to help them stay warm this winter. At PEA we believe this partnership is just the beginning of reaching the 20 million Americans who fall behind on their energy bills each year.”
These insights have already highlighted homes where gas usage remains constant despite fluctuating temperatures, a red flag for potential housing inefficiencies or financial insecurity. This analysis better equips Peoples to help customers enroll in assistance programs like the federally funded Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, or their own Customer Assistance Program.
“Collaborating with PEA has already helped us better identify individuals and areas in Allegheny County to target for additional outreach. We are excited to continue this work into 2025,” Black said.
By enrolling more customers in these programs, the partnership aims to lower monthly bills, making energy more affordable and accessible. The result is a more secure winter for some of Allegheny County’s most vulnerable residents.
For Allegheny County residents facing financial challenges, the partnership provides a lifeline—and the promise of a warmer, more secure winter. To learn more about available assistance programs, visit peoples-gas.com/help.