For residential customers:

• Average Home option: For a fixed rate of $5.50 each month, you can offset the average residential customer’s natural gas use (630 therms per year), or
• Climate Neutral option: For about 10.5 cents per therm used, you can offset 100% of the carbon emissions from your natural gas use. The monthly cost of this option varies just as your overall natural gas bill would vary.

For business customers:

• Smart Energy Circle: Enroll to offset approximately 100% of the carbon emissions from your business' natural gas use and be eligible to receive exclusive marketing benefits.
• Flat Rate: Select a fixed monthly rate that offsets a percentage of your carbon emissions from natural gas use. The minimum enrollment rate is $10 a month, and each $1 increment provides a carbon reduction of 112 pounds.

Customers may change or cancel their participation at any time without penalty. Benefits may be subject to terms and conditions.

• In 2007, we became our own first Smart Energy customer, when we signed up for the program.
• We are committed to offsetting 100 percent of the CO2 associated with our natural gas heating use for the next five years.
• In 2019, there were 57,904 customers enrolled in the Smart Energy Program, reducing 1,039,103 total tons of emissions over the life of the program, which is equivalent to removing 200,140 cars from the road for (https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator)

We calculated the cost based on:
1) The market value of carbon-offset projects.
2) The amount of natural gas (and carbon dioxide emissions) participating customers are expected to use in an average year.

Yes, you'll see a separate line item for Smart Energy every month on your bill.

No. About 70% of customer contributions are used to support individual carbon offset projects. The remainder (about 30%) goes toward helping educate customers about greenhouse gas reductions and administering the program.

Yes. You can see annual program impact reports at smartenergynw.com.

A carbon offset is a scientifically quantified reduction in greenhouse gas emissions created when one metric ton of carbon dioxide emissions, or other greenhouse gas equivalent, is captured, avoided or destroyed in order to compensate for an equivalent emission made elsewhere.

NW Natural is legally required to provide the most cost-effective standard rate to customers. That’s why Smart Energy was designed as an optional program, so interested customers have an easy and affordable way to do more to reduce their carbon emissions.

In addition to offering Smart Energy, NW Natural is working on a number of other innovations to achieve a system-wide carbon reduction goal of 30% by 2035, while still maintaining affordable rates for customers. Learn more about our Low Carbon Pathway.

The Climate Trust is an internationally recognized nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon, that ensures only verified high-quality offsets are purchased and retired for the Smart Energy program. Learn more about The Climate Trust.

No. Smart Energy participants may also help fund other innovative projects that result in carbon reductions. Near Astoria, Oregon, for example, an improved forest management project facilitates natural forest growth and sequestering carbon emissions, while also protecting critical wildlife habitat.

Carbon offsets are retired for each month you participate in the Smart Energy program, in an amount equal to your enrollment level.

No. Only customers will benefit from carbon offsets purchased by Smart Energy. These offsets will not count against any emissions NW Natural is responsible for as a natural gas utility.

No. The Smart Energy Circle is for businesses only.

Yes! Any residential customer with a NW Natural gas account can participate in Smart Energy.