Cascade Natural Gas seeks 4.1 pct. residential rate hike

Cascade Natural Gas said it filed a natural gas rate increase request with the Oregon Public Utility Commission on Friday. If approved, it would increase residential customers’ monthly bill by an average of $2.07 a month.

The main reason for the rate increase request is to recover infrastructure investments, such as the pipeline reconstruction work now underway in Bend, officials said.

“We have devoted a tremendous amount of capital to pipeline replacement and improvement projects over the last four years and will continue to do so over the next five years to ensure the integrity of our system,” said Scott Madison, executive vice president and general manager of Cascade.

“We also have increased our operating personnel in order to keep up with the demands associated with the pipeline projects, increased safety regulations and an increasing customer base.”

The proposed increase is for $1.9 million annually over current rates, or a 2.76 percent overall increase. Cascade serves about 70,200 customers in 25 Oregon communities.

The proposed increase for each rate class, which is based on rate class studies, is:

Residential 4.1 percent
Commercial 0 percent
Industrial 9.2 percent
Transportation 6.8 percent

The Oregon PUC has up to 10 months is issue a decision on the proposed increase request.

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 278,000 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.