Energy and climate journalist. I'd say something funny here but it would probably get me in trouble.
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Articles by Andrew Maykuth
Home heating prices are at their highest in years. Here’s how to reduce your heating bill in Philadelphia
Some Philadelphians are basically paying a second rent with how high heating bills are this winter. While rising heat costs can be partially blamed on record-setting inflation, it’s a bit more complicated than that, according to recent Inquirer reports. Pandemic-related supply chain and production issues, and the war in Ukraine leading to countries moving away from Russian oil, have all contributed to soaring prices.
Rebellious Montco residents take a novel legal approach to thwart a sewer system sale
An uprising by a Montgomery County township’s residents who are unhappy about the privatization of their town’s sewer system moved into uncharted territory this month with the creation of a panel to rewrite the town’s governing charter to block the sale of the town’s wastewater utility.
Seeking to block a sewer system sale, a Montco town's residents organize a new local government
An uprising by a Montgomery County town’s residents who are unhappy about the privatization of their town’s sewer system moved into uncharted territory this month with the creation of a panel to rewrite the town’s governing charter to block the sale of the town’s wastewater utility.
State College mini-casino project opposed by Philly rival
HARRISBURG (TNS) — Two major rivals in Pennsylvania's gaming industry have clashed in a high-stakes battle over Philadelphia investor Ira M. Lubert's bid to open a mini-casino just a few miles from the Pennsylvania State University campus. The Pennsylvania Gaming Board, meeting in Harrisburg on Wednesday, heard Cordish Gaming's challenge of Lubert's application to locate a satellite casino in the Nittany Mall, just outside State College.
BetMGM suffers a TKO for allowing Pa. wagers on unapproved Evander Holyfield boxing match
Pennsylvania has fined a casino and sports betting operator $10,000 for taking wagers on an unapproved 2021 event, an exhibition boxing match between aging fighters that was over in less than two cringeworthy minutes. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Wednesday approved a consent agreement with Hollywood Casino Morgantown, the licensed casino operator, and its sportsbook, BetMGM.
A State College mini-casino project runs into stiff opposition from a Philadelphia rival
Two major rivals in Pennsylvania’s gaming industry clashed Wednesday in a high-stakes battle over Philadelphia investor Ira M. Lubert’s bid to open a mini-casino just a few miles from the Pennsylvania State University campus. The Pennsylvania Gaming Board, meeting in Harrisburg on Wednesday, heard Cordish Gaming’s challenge of Lubert’s application to locate a satellite casino in the Nittany Mall, just outside State College.
Pennsylvania American customers will see higher bills starting in January
Water bills for Pennsylvania American customers are set to increase about 14.5% in January, and wastewater rates will go up a staggering 39.1% under a settlement approved Thursday that continues a trend of water-rate increases that outpace inflation. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, by a 5-0 vote, approved a $138 million rate boost for Pennsylvania American, the state’s largest water utility.
Donor-advised funds offer a charitable way to harvest a tax break and are growing in popularity
Americans contributed $72.7 billion to DAFs in 2021, up 47% from the previous year, according to the National Philanthropic Trust (NPT), a Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, charity that sponsors the accounts and also tracks the national DAF sector. DAFs contained $234.1 billion in assets at the end of 2021 and made $45.7 billion in grants to individual charities last year, said Eileen R.
Maximize your charitable tax deductions with a donor-advised fund
After charities experienced a gangbuster year in 2021 with record donations, philanthropic experts say that charitable giving is likely to plateau or decline this year after the stock market’s prolonged downturn. Even though the generosity of Americans may be diminished somewhat by the market’s misfortunes this year, an increasingly popular tool for maximizing the tax benefits from charitable deductions is still attracting interest.
A heavy burden: Winter energy bills are going up, no matter how you heat your home
Winter heating bills will be higher this year for most homeowners, regardless of how you heat your home. Residential customers will spend about 28% more to heat with natural gas than last winter, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, though gas prices appear to have stabilized somewhat since dramatic increases at the end of last winter.
A heavy burden: Winter energy bills are going up, no matter how you heat your home
Winter heating bills will be higher this year for most homeowners, regardless of how you heat your home. Residential customers will spend about 28% more to heat with natural gas than last winter, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, though gas prices appear to have stabilized somewhat since dramatic increases at the end of last winter. Electric power will also cost more. The energy portion of a Peco electricity bill will go up 15.8% in Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs on Dec.
With a $1 billion order, Philly Shipyard shrugs off gloomy economy and steams ahead
The headlines these days are gloomy. Tech companies are laying off workers by the thousands. Cryptocurrency is melting down. Energy prices are up. Interest rates keep going up. But there’s no talk about recession at the Philly Shipyard Inc., which announced this month it signed a $1 billion contract to build three new container vessels for a Hawaiian shipping company.
Pennsylvania fines Parx Casino $12,500 for allowing underaged gambler to play craps
In seven minutes, the underaged gambler placed two $25 bets at a Parx Casino craps table. He lost both wagers. But the the brief incident ended up costing the casino much more. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Wednesday assessed $12,500 in penalties on Parx for allowing the 18-year-old man to sneak into the Bensalem casino last year. Despite showing a table games supervisor an ID for somebody who was also underaged, he was allowed to place bets.
After surge in kids left alone in casino parking lots, Pennsylvania launches crackdown on errant parents
The number of incidents involving parents who left children unattended to gamble in Pennsylvania casinos has soared about 60% this year over 2021, and disturbed state regulators on Wednesday launched a campaign to try to curb the bad behavior.
With dearth of orders, Philly Shipyard’s future is at risk
PHILADELPHIA — Ominous storm clouds are forming yet again over Philly Shipyard, the commercial shipbuilding operation in the Navy Yard that taxpayers have rescued twice in the last two decades. The company’s order book is empty, and shipowners are buying few new vessels.
A shared kitchen offers a recipe for success for emerging chefs
PHILADELPHIA — A decade ago, when Alonzo Coates cooked up the idea of opening a shared commercial kitchen in a Northeast Philadelphia garage he owns, he couldn’t have predicted that the project would test the limits of his patience. He hired an architect to design the facility off Bustleton Avenue in Mayfair and filed for a zoning variance in 2014. The zoning took two years and multiple lawyers to obtain. It took three more years to secure financing and city permits.
Anticipating a rush to electric vehicles, Pa. orders a review of EV charging rates
It seems as if every other car commercial these days is hawking an electric vehicle, and most major automakers have committed to aggressively switch production to EVs. But it’s still very early in the transition away from internal combustion engines: EVs made up less than 1% of the registered vehicles in Pennsylvania at the end of 2021.
Una cocina compartida ofrece una receta de éxito para chefs emergentes
Philadelphia — Hace una década, cuando Alonzo Coates concibió la idea de abrir una cocina comercial compartida en un garaje del noreste de Philadelphia de su propiedad, no podía predecir que el proyecto pondría a prueba los límites de su paciencia. Contrató a un arquitecto para que diseñara las instalaciones en la avenida Bustleton, en Mayfair, y solicitó una variante de zonificación en 2014. La obtención de la zonificación le llevó dos años y varios abogados.
A shared kitchen offers a recipe for success for emerging chefs
PHILADELPHIA — A decade ago, when Alonzo Coates cooked up the idea of opening a shared commercial kitchen in a Northeast Philadelphia garage he owns, he couldn’t have predicted that the project would test the limits of his patience. He hired an architect to design the facility off Bustleton Avenue in Mayfair and filed for a zoning variance in 2014. The zoning took two years and multiple lawyers to obtain. It took three more years to secure financing and city permits.
Kitchen Korners, a shared kitchen space, gives emerging Philly chefs a place to work
A decade ago, when Alonzo Coates cooked up the idea of opening a shared commercial kitchen in a Northeast Philadelphia garage he owns, he couldn’t have predicted that the project would test the limits of his patience. He hired an architect to design the facility off Bustleton Avenue in Mayfair and filed for a zoning variance in 2014. The zoning took two years and multiple lawyers to obtain. It took three more years to secure financing and city permits.
Pa. approves Peco gas-rate increase. Bills will go up 9% in Jan. 1
The natural gas bills for more than half a million Peco Energy customers will increase 9% on Jan. 1, according to a rate settlement approved Thursday by state regulators. The increase is separate from any change in energy costs, which have soared this year. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) unanimously approved a settlement with the Philadelphia utility that will increase a typical monthly bill for a residential customer by $8.57, or 9%, from $95.31 to $103.88.
Inside a Chester County e-waste recycler where thousands of old laptops get restored — or destroyed — every month
Wilson Jaffa handles an old Chromebook the way many of us can only dream of treating an uncooperative laptop: He rips it apart, piece by piece, in very short order. For Jaffa, it’s not cathartic. It’s business. With a power screwdriver, Jaffa — a technician at Chester County electronics recycler Sycamore International Inc. — removes the Chromebook cover and loosens the circuit board. He pries out the valuable microprocessor, like an oyster shucker at a shellfish farm.
A thief wandered a Philadelphia casino’s restricted areas for hours, pilfering wallets, phones and paper, regulator says
The alleged thief spent several hours wandering around the Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia in May 2021, entering restricted areas such as offices and the poker dealers’ lounge, going through desk drawers and purses, lifting wallets, a cell phone and voucher paper used in slot machines. She was unchallenged by staff, and undeterred by doors left propped open by employees.
Extension cords across sidewalks: Charging an electric vehicle in Philly is a challenge
Anthony Wong and Robert Berkowitz waited several years for a back-ordered Tesla, the popular electric vehicle brand. By the time the new car was delivered in 2018, Philadelphia had canceled its controversial program to set aside curbside parking spots for EVs. That left the Bella Vista residents with few options for charging their new Tesla at home. Like many urban EV owners without off-street parking, Wong and Berkowitz improvised.
Boil water alert lifted for Norristown, parts of Montgomery County
Pennsylvania American Water has lifted a boil water advisory for customers in Norristown and several surrounding Montgomery County towns after resolving a low-pressure situation caused by a water main break. The company said Sunday night that customers in its Norristown water system were no longer advised to boil water they consumed. The notice applied to about 11,000 residents in some sections of Norristown borough, and portions of East Norriton, Whitpain, and Plymouth Townships.
Boil your tap water, Pennsylvania American advises customers in several Montgomery County communities
Pennsylvania American Water on Friday advised customers in parts of Norristown and Montgomery County to boil tap water after a water main break raised the risk of contamination in its distribution system. The notice applies to about 11,000 residents in the north and east sides of Norristown borough, and portions of East Norriton, Whitpain, and Plymouth townships. The affected areas also include part of the Plymouth Meeting Mall and several office complexes.
Gov. Wolf, Republicans agree to fill 3 seats on Pa. utility commission
Gov. Tom Wolf and Pennsylvania Senate Republicans have set aside a longstanding dispute that has depleted the membership of the Public Utility Commission, setting the stage for three nominations to the commission, including the reappointment of a Republican whose term is set to run out soon. The three nominations include two Democrats and Republican John Coleman Jr., the longest tenured commissioner who was first appointed in 2010.
With election day looming, Gov. Wolf and Republicans agree to fill three seats on depleted Pa. utility commission
Gov. Tom Wolf and Pennsylvania Senate Republicans have set aside a longstanding dispute that has depleted the membership of the Public Utility Commission, setting the stage for three nominations to the commission, including the reappointment of a Republican whose term is set to run out soon. The three nominations include two Democrats and Republican John F. Coleman Jr., the longest tenured commissioner who was first appointed in 2010.
Pa. casino fined for allowing underaged gambling, including an 11-year-old
HARRISBURG (TNS) — Pennsylvania hit Mount Airy Casino Resort in the Poconos with nearly $266,000 in fines and penalties for gaming-law violations, including three incidents of gambling by people under 21.
Pa. casino fined for allowing underaged gambling, including an 11-year-old
Pennsylvania on Wednesday hit Mount Airy Casino Resort in the Poconos with nearly $266,000 in fines and penalties for gaming law violations, including three incidents of gambling by people under 21. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board fined the Monroe County casino $160,000 for three incidents in the last year in which people under the legal gambling age of 21 passed unchecked through security at the casino entrances and played slot machines, sometimes with the assistance of their parents.
Comcast promises energy efficiency improvements for its vast cable and internet system
PHILADELPHIA — Comcast on Monday pledged to double the energy efficiency of its vast nationwide broadband system that channels a torrent of cable and internet data into millions of homes. The global media and technology company with headquarters in Philadelphia said it plans to double its network energy efficiency by 2030, cutting in half the electricity consumed per terabyte of data delivered.
Comcast promises energy efficiency improvements for its vast cable and internet system
Comcast on Monday pledged to double the energy efficiency of its vast nationwide broadband system that channels a torrent of cable and internet data into millions of homes. The global media and technology company with headquarters in Philadelphia said it plans to double its network energy efficiency by 2030, cutting in half the electricity consumed per terabyte of data delivered.
Pennsylvania fines Verde Energy $1 million for ‘slamming’ customers and ‘egregious’ marketing violations
Pennsylvania on Thursday imposed a $1 million fine against a Texas-based energy supplier, Verde Energy USA, for allegedly committing a wide range of “egregious” marketing violations, including switching customers’ energy supply without their consent.
State will investigate PGW’s rates after summer ‘weather normalization’ debacle
Philadelphia Gas Works will not be allowed to immediately implement a cap on its weather normalization adjustment, which caused thousands of heating customers to get massive bills after an abnormally warm May.
With campaign-style mailing, Aqua Pa. pressures Delco to allow sewer system sale to close
Fresh off the collapse of its proposed acquisition of the Bucks County sewer system, Aqua Pennsylvania is mounting pressure on Delaware County to finalize a disputed 2019 agreement to sell that county’s regional wastewater system, a contentious deal fraught with bare-knuckle Delco politics.
Aqua Pennsylvania bails out of Bucks sewer sale talks after commissioners signal thumbs down
David McMahon, an opponent of the proposed $1.1 billion sale of the Bucks County sewer system to Aqua Pennsylvania, set up a folding table Wednesday outside the Bucks County Courthouse, upon which he placed hot coffee, doughnuts, and anti-privatization buttons and signs. But McMahon’s megaphone remained tucked inside a box.
A suburban Philadelphia firm bets on new technology to store solar power 24/7 Original
In a repurposed mushroom barn in Chester County, Sycamore International Inc. recycles electronic equipment, including refurbishing 30,000 old laptops a month for resale. Steven Figgatt, Sycamore's chief executive, says his West Grove company is all about the circular economy. In keeping with its sustainable mission, Sycamore earlier this year installed a rooftop solar system to convert its operations to renewable energy.
A suburban Philadelphia firm bets on new technology to store solar power 24/7
PHILADELPHIA — In a repurposed mushroom barn in Chester County, Sycamore International Inc. recycles electronic equipment, including refurbishing 30,000 old laptops a month for resale. Steven Figgatt, Sycamore's chief executive, says his West Grove company is all about the circular economy. In keeping with its sustainable mission, Sycamore earlier this year installed a rooftop solar system to convert its operations to renewable energy.
Bucks County nixes proposed $1.1 billion sewer sale to Aqua Pennsylvania
Bucks County on Tuesday called off a proposed $1.1 billion sale of the county’s sewer system to Aqua Pennsylvania after an upwelling of public opposition to the audacious proposal, which would have been the largest privatization ever of a U.S. public wastewater system. All three Bucks County commissioners on Tuesday came out publicly to oppose the sale ahead of a planned rally by opponents on Wednesday at the Board of Commissioners’ meeting.
Sycamore International Inc. bets on iron-flow batteries, solar power and the Inflation Reduction Act
In a repurposed mushroom barn in Chester County, Sycamore International Inc. recycles electronic equipment, including refurbishing 30,000 old laptops a month for resale. Steven Figgatt, Sycamore’s chief executive, says his West Grove company is all about the circular economy. In keeping with its sustainable mission, Sycamore earlier this year installed a rooftop solar system to convert its operations to renewable energy.
All clear now, Pennsylvania American says to water customers in Chester, Lancaster counties
Pennsylvania American Water has lifted an advisory in several communities in Chester and Lancaster Counties to boil their tap water after a water main break Tuesday in Parkesburg Borough put the system at risk of contamination. The notice applies to about 300 customers in Parkesburg Borough and some customers in parts of Atglen Borough in Chester County and Bart Township, Lancaster County. Pennsylvania American, a subsidiary of American Water Works Co. Inc.
Boil water alert issued for communities in Chester, Lancaster counties
Pennsylvania American Water on Tuesday called on residents in several communities in Chester and Lancaster Counties to boil their tap water after a water main break in Parkesburg borough put the system at risk of contamination. The notice applies to about 300 customers in Parkesburg Borough, and in addition to some customers in parts of Atglen Borough and Bart Township, Lancaster County. Pennsylvania American, a subsidiary of American Water Works Co. Inc.
In a reversal, Mariner East will pay smaller penalty for Delco noise violations
State regulators have reduced a $51,000 penalty imposed in June on Sunoco Pipeline LP for violations during construction of its contentious Mariner East pipeline system through a Delaware County apartment complex. The pipeline company now faces only $3,000 in fines.
State fines Peco for improper shut offs of nearly 50,000 electric customers
Like many cascading failures, it all started with a software glitch. It ended up with Peco Energy facing $225,000 in penalties for improperly terminating service for nearly 50,000 electric customers and the utility company being forced to refund about $1 million in reconnection fees.
State OKs PGW gas-main replacement plan, including nearly 1,000 miles of pipes installed before WWII
You may have noticed quite a few street closures in Philadelphia in recent years to dig up and replace aging gas mains. The work is not going to let up. State regulators on Thursday approved a plan for city-owned Philadelphia Gas Works to continue an accelerated pace of refurbishing its aging and leaky natural gas distribution system, including more than 950 miles of gas mains that were installed before World War II.
Pay no attention to that Peco past-due notice
Here’s a way to wake up the region on a drowsy summer afternoon: Send out a mass e-mail warning customers their electric bills are overdue, even if their accounts are in order. Peco Energy, the Philadelphia utility with 1.6 million electric customers, sent out electronic messages to a scad of customers Monday afternoon under the jarring headline, “You Can Reduce Your Past Due PECO Bill.” “Dear Customer,” the email began.
Energy bills are high and not coming down soon. Here are ways to cut costs
If you haven’t examined your monthly utility bill lately, brace for a shock when the cost of air-conditioning comes due in the next few weeks. If the AC bill doesn’t raise your pulse, your heating tab next January might, assuming that global energy markets remain unsettled. According to the most recent Consumer Price Index data, energy prices rose 41.6% in the last year, the largest 12-month increase since April 1980.
NextEra Water enters competition for Pennsylvania municipal water systems
Towamencin Township, a suburban Montgomery County community with a population of about 18,000, received bids in February from five suitors to acquire its municipal sewer system. The offers left township supervisors breathless. Pennsylvania American Water, the state’s largest private water utility, offered to pay $92.4 million for the township’s system, about 71% more than the bid of its principal rival, Aqua Pennsylvania, the state’s second largest water utility.
New Jersey American's water, wastewater rates are set to increase Sept. 1
New Jersey regulators have approved a water and sewer rate increase for New Jersey American Water, about half the amount the utility initially requested. A typical residential water bill will increase $2.92 per month, or 4.7%, on Sept. 1. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on Wednesday approved a settlement between the company, the BPU staff, the New Jersey Rate Counsel or public advocate, and several intervenors.
PGW proposes to cap its weather normalization charge to prevent future billing mayhem Original
Philadelphia Gas Works wants to cap its monthly weather normalization adjustment to prevent the excessive charges that caused thousands of heating customers to get massive bills after an abnormally warm May. The city-owned natural gas utility has asked the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) to quickly approve the change, which would cap the weather normalization charge at no more than 25% of a customer’s monthly delivery charges.
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