Cascade Natural Gas seeks rate increase
Cascade Natural Gas said it filed a natural gas rate increase request with the Oregon Public Utility Commission Tuesday . If approved, it would increase residential customers’ monthly bill by an average of $1.88 a month.
“To ensure that our system is safe and reliable we have made significant investments in our natural gas infrastructure,” said Scott Madison, executive vice president and general manager of Cascade.
“I believe we have the best employees in the business and every day they work extremely hard at watching our operating expenses and look for ways to more efficient.”
The utility said the main reason for the rate increase request is to recover the cost of the increased investment in natural gas facilities.
The projected 2015 year-end total gross investment by Cascade for Oregon natural gas operations is $193 million, compared with $41 million in 1988 when the last general rate case was filed.
The proposed increase is for $3.6 million annually over current rates, or a 5.11 percent overall increase. Cascade serves about 68,000 customers in 25 Oregon communities.
The proposed increase for each rate class, which is based on rate class studies, is:
Residential 3.48 percent
Commercial 5.98 percent
Industrial 6.78 percent
The Oregon PUC has up to 10 months is issue a decision on the proposed increase request. Cascade spokesman Mark Hanson said if the PUC were to take the full 10 months allowed for the process, the effective date (if an increase is approved by the commission) would be Feb. 1, 2016.
Cascade encourages customers to use energy wisely. Conservation tips, information on energy assistance and information on the company’s budget payment plan can be found on Cascade’s website: www.cngc.com .
Cascade Natural Gas is a natural gas distribution company serving approximately 272,600 residential, commercial, industrial and transportation customers in 96 communities in Washington and Oregon. Cascade is a subsidiary of MDU Resources Group, Inc., a diversified natural resources company traded on the New York Stock Exchange as “MDU.” For more information about MDU Resources, visit the company’s Web site at www.mdu.com .
