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Clarke: Doesn't "Anticipate" PGW Bill Introduction

    by Inquirer City Hall Staff
    Published 

Despite pressure from the Nutter administration, City Council President Darrell L. Clarke said Tuesday that "we don't anticipate" introducing legislation this week to sell the Philadelphia Gas Works to a private buyer.

The proposed buyer, UIL Holdings Corp. of Connecticut, can opt out of an agreement to purchase the municipally-owned gas company by July 15.

But Clarke called that deadline "artificial."

"At no point in time were those time lines discussed with members of the City Council of Philadelphia, the entity that ultimately would have to approve the sale," he said.

Clarke said his office has had discussions with UIL, but no one from the company had asked him to introduce the legislation before Thursday, when Council is slated to begin a 12-week summer recess.

"It appears the administration on a separate track is attempting to push the issue," he said.

On Tuesday, Council members also met with consultants from Concentric, the company Council hired to evaluate the proposed sale of PGW.

Council members said the consultants' full report isn't expected for weeks and would contain just an analysis, not a recommendation on whether to sell.

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