Cascade Natural Gas customers will see their bills drop this week, but it could be hard to spot

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ)– The Oregon Public Utility Commission has approved a small reduction in rates for Cascade Natural Gas customers that goes into effect this Friday.

But the change could be hard to spot, as the average customer’s monthly bill will fall by less than $1, the PUC said Wednesday.

The agency says the small rate decline is the result of several annual filings, including a drop in natural gas prices.

Customer Impact

The combined result of those annual filings means the monthly bill of a typical residential customer, using an average of 56 therms per month, will decrease by $0.86 or 1.39 percent, for a new monthly bill of about $60.74.

The amount bills will fall for each customer varies, depending on customer type (residential, commercial, or industrial) and their energy use.

Reasons for Adjustment

Each year, the PUC reviews the actual cost of natural gas and approves adjustments annually to rates accordingly through a process called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (or PGA).

The PGA allows utilities to pass through the cost of purchasing natural gas to the customers without a markup on the price.

This year, the PUC said, “natural gas prices were moderate, and Cascade Natural Gas collected more than needed from customers last year. As a result, the PGA, combined with decisions on other rate-related filings that also go into effect October 31, resulted in a decrease in customer rates.”

PUC Chair Letha Tawney said, “Oregon’s purchased gas adjustment mechanism reflects that the cost of natural gas is driven largely by regional, national, and global factors outside the utility’s control, but it holds utilities accountable for careful management within those market conditions.”

“We are fortunate this year to see the stabilizing supply and demand of natural gas ease financial pressures on customers,” Tawney added.

It’s the second straight year Cascade Natural Gas customers will see a drop in rates. Last year, the impact of the lower rates was more sizable, as the average residential monthly bill fell by $9.47, or about 13.2%.

Before that, in the fall of 2023, a rate hike increased the average customer’s bill by $2.56 a month, or about 3.2%, and a 25% rate hike in 2022 boosted the average monthly bill by about $15.

Manage Energy Use and Bills

The PUC also offered these tips on ways to manage your natural gas costs:

• Explore rebates and energy-saving tips through the Energy Trust of Oregon.
• Learn about the CARES bill assistance program, help with past-due bills, and the Budget Pay Program that spreads costs evenly throughout the year, call Cascade Natural Gas at 888-522-1130 or visit their website for more information.
• Reach out to local Community Action agencies to find out what other support is available.

Cascade Natural Gas serves more than 75,000 customers in the Bend region and parts of Northeast Oregon.