Customer questions and answers.

Quick Facts Card, effective February 2023

What are NW Natural customer emissions?

NW Natural meets about 90% of the energy needs for our residential space and water heat customers on the coldest winter days[1]/NW Natural resource planning calculations, based on winter peak hour energy usage as forecast in NW Natural’s 2016 Integrated Resource Plan for an average Portland residence. During that coldest winter day, space and water heating combined require 91% of all energy in use with lighting, appliances and electronics at just 9%. Energy consumption was estimated using data from Pacific Northwest homes in the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s 2009 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS). Available at: https://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2009/.

And yet, the natural gas our residential and commercial customers use accounts for around 6% of Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions[2]/NW Natural sales load data from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality In-Boundary Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 2019 data. Available at: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/ghgp/Pages/GHG-Inventory.aspx/.

Are electric appliances fossil-free?

NO. Oregon electric utilities rely on about as much natural gas for power generation as all the natural gas utilities in the state deliver to customers[3]/From December 2021 through November 2022, Oregon’s natural gas deliveries for electric power was 142 Bcf. Natural gas deliveries for residential, commercial and industrial sectors were 138.8 Bcf. Source: EIA annual natural gas deliveries to consumers, Oregon, available at: https://www.eia.gov/beta/states/states/or/data/dashboard/consumption.

Coal is also still used to generate electricity delivered in Oregon even as new state law requires our electricity to be 100% clean by 2040[4]/Oregon Department of Energy, “Electricity Mix in Oregon,” 2022. Available at: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/energy-oregon/pages/electricity-mix-in-oregon.aspx. 

So, what a “ban” on the use of natural gas some groups are advocating for really means is removing it as a choice in appliances for homes and businesses, while continuing to use it in power plants.

Is ventilation needed while cooking?

YES. It’s important to have good kitchen ventilation each time you cook, whether on a gas or electric stove, which is why exhaust fans are required for new homes regardless of the fuel type. Externally vented exhaust fans and range hoods help remove emissions directly at the stove before they mix in to the surrounding air. Learn more at nwnatural.com/cooking

What is renewable natural gas? 

Renewable natural gas (RNG) is not a fossil fuel and does not add more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. RNG is derived from biogas, which is produced from decomposing organic waste from landfills, agricultural waste and wastewater from treatment facilities, that has been captured and cleaned for the pipeline[5]/EPA, “An Overview of Renewable Natural Gas from Biogas,” 2021. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-02/documents/lmop_rng_document.pdf.

Learn more at nwnatural.com/rng

Can we decarbonize and still ensure reliability?

The Pacific Northwest power grid is already facing challenges, so having two energy systems is more important than ever[6]/Oregon Public Utility Commission Investigation into Resource Adequacy, docket no. UM 2143. Available at: https://apps.puc.state.or.us/edockets/docket.asp?DocketID=22698.

For example, many natural gas appliances continue to work in power outages. Removing the option for natural gas and forcing all electric appliances for homes and businesses could worsen the strain on the electric grid and require costly new electric generation and transmission lines[7]/E3, Pacific Northwest Pathways to 2050, Nov. 2018. Available at:  https://www.ethree.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/E3_Pacific_Northwest_Pathways_to_2050.pdf.

NW Natural is pursuing renewable resources and new technologies to reduce carbon emissions affordably and reliably, with one of the tightest, most modern distribution networks in the nation. Learn more at nwnatural.com/DestinationZero

What do voters think?

According to the respected and nonpartisan firm, DHM Research, 70% of voters in Oregon and Southwest Washington oppose a ban on new natural gas hookups in homes and buildings[8]/Survey conducted for NW Natural by DHM Research, 2021. Available at: https://www.nwnatural.com/about-us/the-company/newsroom/2022-renewable-energy-survey. 

Learn more at nwnatural.com/ESGreport