New Rates for Oregon Customers Take Effect
Even with increases, NW Natural customers are paying less for gas than 15 years ago. The company is also expecting to file for an estimated $40 million in customer bill credits.
Portland, Ore. – NW Natural customers in Oregon have new rates recently approved by the Public Utility Commission of Oregon (OPUC) that include the annual Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) to true-up the prior year’s gas purchases and project the cost of natural gas for the year ahead.
Oregon customers can expect to see new rates on monthly bills starting November 1:
- Rates for residential customers in Oregon will be about $7.50 more a month for customers using an average of 54 therms per month.
- Rates for small-commercial customers in Oregon will be about $36.21 more a month for customers using an average of 242 therms per month.
Mitigating this increase, NW Natural’s sales customers could see a one-time bill credit in February, which would equate to an approximate $35 credit on the average residential customer’s bill and an approximate $165 credit on the average small-commercial customer’s bill. Upon review and approval at the Commission, this upcoming request from NW Natural would return about $40 million in revenues to customers as a result of the company’s efficient pipeline and gas storage management from this past year.
Why the PGA rate change?
The primary reason is to reflect a pass-through of natural gas commodity costs to customers. The changes are driven by multiple factors, including economy-wide supply and demand impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with higher prices experienced during last winter’s heating season.
Natural gas continues to be an affordable and efficient source of energy. NW Natural customers are still paying nearly 30% less today for their bills than they did 15 years ago, due to lower commodity costs coupled with efficient operations and energy-efficiency measures.
More ways to save
Taking a whole-house approach to energy efficiency will help you get the most out of your monthly bill and keep your home at its peak comfort level. Free and low-cost improvements can reduce your energy consumption and your payments, especially in the cold winter months. For ways to save energy, visit: https://www.nwnatural.com/ways-to-save/efficiency-tips.
And during this challenging time, customers that need help making a past-due payment can contact NW Natural’s Customer Service department to discuss options. Financial assistance grants may also be available. Learn more at https://www.nwnatural.com/account/payment-assistance.
For more information, visit the Rates and Regulations section of nwnatural.com.
About NW Natural
NW Natural is a local distribution company that currently provides natural gas service to approximately 2.5 million people in more than 140 communities through more than 780,000 meters in Oregon and Southwest Washington with one of the most modern pipeline systems in the nation. NW Natural consistently leads the industry with high J.D. Power & Associates customer satisfaction scores. NW Natural, a part of Northwest Natural Holding Company, (NYSE: NWN) (NW Natural Holdings), is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and has been doing business for more than 160 years. NW Holdings owns NW Natural, NW Natural Water Company (NW Natural Water), and other business interests. We have a longstanding commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, and taking care of our employees and communities, learn more in our latest ESG Report.
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