Understanding your natural gas bill.
Learn how your natural gas bill is calculated and about the information included on your bill. You can always view or print a copy of your most recent or past bills at Payment & Bill History.
Don't have an online account? Register your account at Account Settings.
How to read your natural gas bill
Follow the key below to help understand your natural gas bill each month. If you have questions about how your bill is calculated or what's included on it, please contact customer service at 800-422-4012, 7am to 6pm, Monday through Friday. NW Natural’s customer service team can also assist you in additional languages by interpreter.
- Quick reference information including your account number, bill date, due date and amount due.
- Natural gas usage information for the billing period.
- Service address is the physical location of where the gas service is being provided.
- Account summary lists the details of your bill, such as your rate schedule, previous balance, payments received, current charges (service charge, gas usage, program enrollment fees, local taxes and the public purpose charge), and your total account balance.
- Important message and ways to manage your natural gas bill.
- Your natural gas use over the past 13 months (if available) and the average temperature for the current month and the same month last year. Sign in to your Account Overview to view more detailed information.
- Promotion box that features messages about your service, ways to save energy, and available billing options.
- If you are enrolled in Auto Pay, this is a reminder to not send a payment and when your payment will be deducted from your account.
How your gas bill is calculated
Our rates are regulated and approved by the Public Utility Commission of Oregon (OPUC) and the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC). The current charges on your bill are based on up to five components.
Monthly service or minimum charge
Gas usage cost
Smart Energy carbon offset program charge
Local taxes
Public purpose charge
For every dollar you paid on your gas bill, your money went to:
Overall, about 90% of your bill goes toward the cost of gas, delivery and the services provided to you as a customer, with the remaining 10% going toward regulated rate of return on NW Natural’s investment in the gas system.
Natural gas rates compared to everyday items
NW Natural customers are paying less today for their bills than they did 15 years ago, while the cost of many everyday goods and services are on the rise. How is this possible? Lower commodity costs coupled with efficient operations and energy-efficiency measures mean you benefit from the savings. [1] Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Postal Service.
