SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Public Utility Commission has approved rate changes for NW Natural customers that will increase the average residential customer’s monthly bill by approximately $6.30, or 7.3 percent.
The new rates take effect October 31, 2026, for residential customers and November 1 for commercial and industrial customers. The actual increase will vary depending on energy usage and the customer’s rate schedule.
According to the Oregon Public Utility Commission, the changes reflect several factors, including the cost of recently completed utility infrastructure projects, adjustments under the company’s Alternate Rate Mechanism, and changes in the annual cost of purchasing natural gas.
Under the approved agreement, NW Natural’s requested revenue increase was reduced to approximately $13 million. The decision also allows the company to recover costs for certain capital projects intended to maintain safe and reliable service, including landslide mitigation work on the Coos County Pipeline.
The commission also approved changes related to NW Natural’s annual Purchased Gas Adjustment, which accounts for the company’s expected natural gas costs for the coming year and reconciles projected expenses with actual costs from the previous year. Those costs are passed on to customers without additional profit for the utility.
This year’s adjustment is being driven in part by lower natural gas usage during last year’s unusually warm winter.
NW Natural serves more than 700,000 customers in northwest Oregon.
