Author: Lower Southampton Township

Acting Secretary of the Department of Health Dr. Debra Bogen announced the Shapiro Administration has launched a $1 million tuition assistance program to help recruit and retain Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals.

“Emergency medical services professionals are an essential part of the health care system,” said Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “Knowing that you will have well-trained and qualified individuals arriving to your door 24/7 in the event of an emergency is a safeguard that we want for all Pennsylvanians. The Shapiro-Davis administration is committed to helping people enter and remain in this vital profession, and this tuition assistance program supports these workforce efforts.”

Administered by the Department of Health, this program is funded by $1 million from the Fireworks Tax Act each year for the next three years. Pennsylvania residents who obtained a Pennsylvania state certification as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), or Paramedic after July 1, 2023, are eligible to have a portion of their tuition reimbursed.

In addition, Pennsylvania licensed EMS agencies are eligible to receive reimbursement of expenses related to recruitment and retention efforts, up to $1,250 per fiscal year.

This tuition reimbursement assistance builds on the Shapiro Administration’s support of Pennsylvania’s EMS industry after securing $20.7 million in the 2023-24 budget to increase mileage rates for ambulance services, ensuring that EMS workers and first responders are properly reimbursed for the critical care they provide. The investment in EMS protects critical access to health care in a state where EMS agencies respond to nearly 24 million 911 calls each year and 26% of the residents live in rural areas.

More information about how to obtain reimbursement is available at the Department of Health’s website here.

PECO is currently converting to a new, advanced customer billing system called CC&B. The process to fully convert this system is taking longer than originally expected, and the company is continuing to work to complete this upgrade. As this work continues, access to customer data and online self-serve features are currently unavailable through our website and mobile app. During this time, customers will not be charged any late fees and will not be disconnected for non-payment.

We remain committed to supporting our customers as we convert to a new advanced customer billing system. Our customer service representatives are able to support customer payments over the phone and those looking to start, stop, or move service by calling 1-800-494-4000. We expect higher than normal wait times for customers who remain on hold. Please note that if call volumes become extreme, the company may take steps to suspend incoming calls for non-emergent requests. Our in-person PECO Customer Solution Center also will remain closed until this conversion is complete.

It should be noted that our ability to provide safe and reliable service has not been impacted by this conversion. Our customer service representatives continue to handle emergency calls associated with electric and natural gas issues at 1-800-841-4141. During the conversion, customers continue to have the ability to report electric or natural gas issues.

We appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers as we continue to convert this system. Our team is continuing to work around the clock, but we currently do not have an estimated time for when the full conversion will be completed. Information regarding system availability will be posted on our Interactive Voice Response system, on our website at peco.com, on our mobile app, and on social media. Please direct constituents to those resources for continued updates on system status.

Once fully implemented, we expect this new advanced billing system will improve customer experience and provide greater flexibility in meeting future customer needs. The new system will provide more efficient and timely handling of customer inquiries, expanded use of self-serve options, new 10-digit account numbers for all customers, and a new look to PECO bills. Customers have received pre-event direct communications regarding the system conversion, and a webpage (www.peco.com/NewBill) has been created to provide current information and details on impacts.