NW Natural Spread Misinformation in the Oregon Legislature
Posted on May 9, 2023 by Jennifer Hill-Hart
Tags, Energy, General Interest
The Utility Consumer Protection Bill (HB 3152) is officially dead. This bill would have safeguarded utility customers in Oregon from financial risk during the clean energy transition. The proposed bill added protections by moving the cost of fossil fuel expansion away from customers.
In this session, NW Natural and its allies aggressively targeted the Utility Consumer Protection Bill. Through lobbying, astroturfing, and misinformation, the gas industry showed that its priority is expanding the gas system, not protecting customers.
This is not the first time that NW Natural has spread misinformation to antagonize policies meant to protect consumers. We have seen similar tactics at the Eugene City Council, in front of Multnomah County Commissioners, and even in Oregon schools.
NW Natural Spread Misinformation in the Oregon Legislature
NW Natural and its allies succeeded in killing the Utility Consumer Protection Bill by inaccurately framing it as a de facto gas ban. In fact, the legislation would have simply phased out the practice of current customers paying for expanding the natural gas network by subsidizing new customer hookups. The bill would not have prevented new gas customers from being connected. Nor would it prevent NW Natural from continuing this practice, but without using funds from existing customers.
Right now, utility companies can charge Oregonians the cost of connecting new customers to the gas system. For NW Natural customers, this comes to about $2,400 per new connection. (This is commonly referred to as a line extension allowance.) HB 3152 would have shifted this subsidy away from customers. Without customer money, utilities would have to think twice about new gas system investments.
In written communications with legislators, NW Natural framed a simple step to remove fossil fuel subsidies as a de facto ban on gas in new homes. This is false.
Astroturfing: New Gas Industry Front Group Takes the Stage
The misleading rhetoric is even more pronounced in public comments from the fossil fuel front group NW Coalition for Energy Choice. In this example, the commenter says HB 3152 would “eliminate my option to choose the type of energy I want in my home.” This example makes the same claim. Dozens more of these written testimonies use language created by the front group.
According to the Oregon Secretary of State, NW Coalition for Energy Choice is a nonprofit registered to the Executive Director of the Northwest Gas Association, a gas industry trade association. Although this front group is presented as a group of concerned citizens, its deep ties to the gas industry say otherwise.
Advocates Call for Accountability
Advocates say NW Natural should be held accountable for misleading legislators about how HB 3152 would impact utility customers. Late last month, Representative Khanh Pham took to the House floor to issue a formal remonstrance of NW Natural for aggressive lobbying efforts to prevent regulation.
CUB took special efforts in the Utility Consumer Protection Bill conversation to correct gas industry misinformation. While our efforts were ultimately unsuccessful for this bill, we started a good conversation. As a result of our work this session, lawmakers are now more aware of the risk that the gas system has to customers. And they are more aware of NW Natural’s efforts to mislead decision-makers for their own profits.
Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues
CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.
To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
05/09/23 | 1 Comment | NW Natural Spread Misinformation in the Oregon Legislature