SALEM, Ore. — Many Oregon users of natural gas will see an increase in their bills starting in November.
The Statesman Journal reported the Oregon Public Utility Commission has approved rate hikes for the state’s three gas utilities, only the third time in the last 10 years.
The increase in the wholesale cost of natural gas is blamed on a pipeline explosion last winter which impacted regional gas supplies, according to a statement from the Public Utility Commission.
An overall increase of $15.142 million was approved for NW Natural, which serves nearly 670,000 customers in the Willamette Valley and on the Oregon Coast from Astoria to Coos Bay.
Typical residential customers of NW Natural using 54 therms per month will see their bill increase by $2.31, or 4.4 percent, from $52.43 to $54.74.
