PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Northwest Natural customers and environmental justice organizations are expected to speak out against the gas company’s recent proposal to raise their rates in a public hearing Tuesday night.
If Oregon regulators approve the proposal, customers will be expected to pay an additional 18% for their gas usage in 2025. That means a single-family home with typical usage would see an estimated increase of $14.38.
The company claims the money would increase their profits by $154.9 million to account for “construction of seismically resilient regional resources, addressing capacity constraints on the system, actions to comply with federal pipeline and safety requirements, a meter modernization program, modernization of information and technology service systems, and inflation.”
Meanwhile, those opposed to the rate hike claim the company has chosen to “expand subsidies to grow the gas system instead of investing more wisely in clean energy infrastructure” and increase their profits “at the expense of customers.”
The public hearing is part of the rate increase’s year-long review process, which will end in October 2024. NW Natural may have other rate changes that could increase or decrease the overall percentage before a final decision is made.
If approved, these rate changes will go into effect Nov. 1, 2024.
According to the environmental groups Earthjustice, Sierra Club and Verde, NW Natural customers already pay – on average – 50% more than they did in 2020.
Tuesday’s meeting is expected to begin at 6 p.m. on Zoom.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.
