Action Alert: Public Hearing Allows Comments for NW Natural’s General Rate Case
Posted on March 2, 2022 by Charlotte Shuff
Tags, Energy
On March 10 at 6:00pm, the public will have an opportunity to provide comments on NW Natural’s proposed rate increase. Sign up with CUB to receive more information on how to add your own comments, reminders, and updates on this case!
On top of 2021’s 13 percent rate increase, NW Natural wants to increase rates for residential customers again by $57 million (12 percent) this year. Members of the public are invited to speak at the upcoming public hearing at 6:00pm on Thursday, March 10.
NW Natural is asking to increase customers’ bills to fund shareholder profits, executive bonuses, and pro-gas advertising. 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.
Included in this 12 percent requested increase for residential customers:
- $11 million in executive and employee bonuses
- $1.1 million in profit margin increases
- Estimated 30 percent increase in advertising costs
Executive and Employee Bonuses: NW Natural is asking to raise rates for residential customers to pay $11 million in bonuses, including $4 million for top executives. Executive bonuses are rewards for making the company more profitable. Shareholders should be held responsible for these costs, not customers.
Increasing Shareholder Profits: NW Natural is asking for more profits annually for its shareholders and wants customers to foot the $1.1 million bill. Since March 2020, the U.S. has seen widening income inequality and economic devastation for many families. This is the second time NW Natural has asked for shareholder payouts since 2020. Now is not the time to force struggling customers to pay for making wealthy shareholders more money.
Advertising to Boost Profits: NW Natural is asking customers to cover an estimated 30 percent increase in advertising. In the past year, NW Natural has promoted its business through misleading advertising using customers’ money. In 2021, NW Natural advertised the benefits of renewable natural gas before this fuel was being delivered to customers. Promoting renewable gas while selling a product that contains little or no renewable gas is misleading. NW Natural’s customers shouldn’t be paying for pro-gas messaging that seeks to benefit the utility’s bottom line.
How to Comment at the Public Hearing - March 10, 6:00pm
At 6:00pm on Thursday, March 10, the Public Utility Commission is hosting a virtual public hearing on this requested rate increase. Anyone is welcome to attend and provide comments on this proposal to increase customer bills.
Sign up with CUB to get more information on how to provide comments, reminders, and updates on this and other rate cases! (Not able to attend the hearing? You can still sign up to learn more about emailing in written comments.)
Anyone can log in at the time of the hearing using the Zoom information provided by the Public Utility Commission (call-in option available).
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03/02/22 | 5 Comments | Action Alert: Public Hearing Allows Comments for NW Natural’s General Rate Case