NW Natural recently sent me a letter with “important information” about my bill, specifically about the Climate Commitment Act fee and credit I now see on my bill. The Climate Commitment Act requires NW Natural to take steps to reduce its emissions.
The information explains NW Natural is charging me the cost of its compliance, charging the fees to cover “customer emissions.” To translate: NW Natural sells me a fossil fuel, makes a profit on those sales, and then requires me to pay for emissions the state requires NW Natural to reduce.
I understand the Utilities and Transportation Commission approved the fees. But I resent the fact NW Natural blames the Climate Commitment Act for the bill increases. NW Natural is responsible for those increases and has determined it will protect its profits rather than comply with the act without assessing customers for its compliance costs.
Our Legislature enacted the Climate Commitment Act because it recognized the threat fossil-fuel emissions present to our health and economy. The Climate Commitment Act provisions are important to address that threat. The fact NW Natural chooses to protect its profits at customer expense isn’t a reason to blame the Climate Commitment Act for bill increases.
