Starting November 1, 2024, new rates go into effect for Oregon customers. Oregon residential customers using an average of 55 therms per month will see their bill go up by about $4 per month. Small-commercial bills will increase by about $23 based on average usage of 248 therms per month. Large industrial firm bills will decrease by about $520 based on average usage of 21,180 therms monthly, and large industrial interruptible bills will decrease by about $1,315 based on average usage of 43,228 therms monthly.

Separately, on December 30, 2024, NW Natural filed a general rate increase proposal with the OPUC. The proposed increase will cover costs associated with operating and maintaining the company’s natural gas distribution system and continuing to provide safe and reliable service to customers. If the current request is approved as filed, residential customers using an average of 54 therms per month would see a monthly bill increase of about $5.55. The filing will not affect customer bills this winter, but if approved by the OPUC will likely take effect Nov. 1, 2025.

Starting November 1, 2024, new rates went into effect for Washington customers. Washington residential customers using an average of 57 therms per month saw their bill go down by about $8 per month. Small-commercial bills decreased by about $33 based on average usage of 254 therms per month. Large industrial firm bills decreased by about $1,635 based on average usage of 13,556 therms monthly, and large industrial interruptible bills decreased by about $2,739 based on average usage of 16,942 therms monthly.

NW Natural has also recently filed a request with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) for a decrease in the monthly Climate Commitment Act fee to comply with Washington’s state-mandated Cap & Invest Program, and an increase in the Washington Bill Discount Program assessment, which funds assistance for low-income NW Natural customers in Washington. Pending approval by the WUTC, these rate adjustments may go into effect January 1, 2025.

If all rate changes are approved as filed starting January 1, 2025, bills will change as follows:

• Premises connected to gas system before July 25, 2021: Residential bills will decrease about $5 per month on average use of 57 therms, and small commercial will decrease about $30 per month on average use of 254 therms. Large industrial firm bills will increase about $47 per month on average use of 13,556 therms, and large industrial interruptible bills will increase about $88 per month based on average use of 16,942 therms.
• Premises connected to gas system after July 25, 2021: Residential bills will decrease about $14 per month on average use of 57 therms, and small commercial will decrease about $63 per month on average use of 254 therms. Large industrial firm bills will decrease about $3,431 per month on average use of 13,556 therms, and large industrial interruptible bills will decrease about $4,301 per month based on average use of 16,942 therms.
• Low-income customers: Bills will increase by less than $1 a month on average use of 57 therms per month. Low-income customers are held harmless from all Climate Commitment Act costs.

These are different because under Washington state law, customers whose premises are connected to the gas system prior to July 25, 2021, are eligible for Climate Act Credits.