CUB Members and Community Groups Speak Out Against NW Natural
Posted on March 22, 2022 by Charlotte Shuff
Tags, Energy
The Public Utility Commission will be accepting public comments on the NW Natural Rate Case through March 31, 2022. If you would like to add your comments, you can do so using CUB’s Action Form or by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with the subject line “Public Comments on UG 435”.
On Thursday, March 10, the Public Utility Commission held a public hearing on NW Natural’s general rate case. The gas utility is asking for an 11.8 percent increase for residential rates. Community members, including some CUB members, spoke up against increasing bills.
NW Natural is asking to increase customers’ bills to fund shareholder profits, executive bonuses, and pro-gas advertising. On top of 2021’s 13 percent rate increase, NW Natural wants to raise rates again this year. With many customers struggling to make ends meet, Oregonians, especially low-income households, shouldn’t be on the hook for making the wealthy even wealthier.
Throughout nearly an hour of public comments, speakers from across the state expressed their concerns with the financial effect on Oregon households.
Adelante Mujeres, a community group representing Latina women in Forest Grove, commented, “As communities that are black, brown, indigenous in the state of Oregon, we have been hit hardest by the pandemic. This means that we are not being compensated as much. We are struggling to make ends meet.” The group spoke out against the unequal impacts of rising utility bills, adding, “We know that this price hike is going to affect our communities the hardest.”
Carly Werdel, a student at Oregon State University, detailed how this increase would affect her household. “Despite our best efforts to reduce our gas use, our bill this month was $116. This increase would result in an extra $15 per month in the winter months,” said Werdel.
PCUN, Oregon’s farmworkers union joined the hearing to share the impacts for low-wage workers: “Aside from rent, utilities were the most frequently mentioned expense that community members were unable to afford. And we all recognize how important utilities are to have in our home.”
Many of those at the public hearing spoke up to the Public Utility Commission for the first time, inspired by what they see as unfair rate increases.
CUB member Naomi Pusch said, “I am opposed to a rate increase on customers that would increase executive bonuses, increases in shareholder profits, and advertising. As we hopefully come out of the pandemic, we still see inequality and people struggling to pay their bills. I urge you to oppose this rate increase.”
CUB member Ramona Crocker shared, “I am concerned about the adverse effects on the environment and the adverse effect on the living income of customers of NW Natural. I thought that it was outrageous that they would ask for increases for executive bonuses.” Crocker, who lives on a fixed income, added, “This is not right, and it is not fair to the residential customers who are struggling at this time.”
CUB member Al LePage commented, “I am concerned about executive bonuses, increasing shareholder profits, and increasing pro-gas advertising.” He added, “It’s not justified or reasonable to go forward with this.”
The Public Utility Commission will make a decision on this rate case by October 2022. Any increase in rates will take effect for NW Natural customers in November of this year. CUB’s policy team will continue to advocate for Oregon households, fighting unfair rate increases. To read more about the details of this rate case, visit this recent post on the CUB Blog.
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03/22/22 | 0 Comments | CUB Members and Community Groups Speak Out Against NW Natural