Oregon Utility Commission Approves Cascade Natural Gas Rate Hikes

The Oregon Public Utility Commission approved new rates for Cascade Natural Gas customers effective October 31, 2026. A typical residential customer using 57 therms per month will see a monthly bill increase of approximately $7.38, representing a 10.7% rise.

This final increase is lower than the 17% originally requested by Cascade Natural Gas. The commission attributed the reduction to partial stipulations among parties, lower wholesale natural gas prices, and reduced energy usage during the mild 2025-26 winter. The rate adjustments enable the utility to recover costs for maintenance, system upgrades, new investments, and environmental compliance.

As part of the decision, the commission established a pilot program offering a $1,500 incentive for eligible customers who install qualifying heat pump equipment and approved a three-year phase-out of line extension allowances. The Purchased Gas Adjustment portion of the ruling remains under review and may lead to future customer refunds.