Speak up about PSE and NW Natural Gas rate increases

Puget Sound Energy and Northwest Natural Gas customers have an opportunity to tell state regulators what they think about proposed utility rate increases.

Bellevue-based PSE, Washington’s oldest and largest energy utility, wants to raise rates for its more than 1 million electric customers and 725,000 gas customers in Western Washington. In addition, PSE’s parent company is proposing a sale of the company to an international consortium of investors from Australia, Canada, and the U.S. in a deal valued at more than $7 billion. If the acquisition moves forward, PSE will no longer be a publicly traded company.

Monthly bills, now arriving in the mail, include a special notice with details of the proposed rate increases and the sale transaction, as well as a detachable comment card for customers to tell the state Utilities and Transportation Commission what they think. Customers also have an opportunity to speak out during three public hearings scheduled this spring:

• BELLEVUE: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, Bellevue Community College, Room 130 B, 3000 Landerholm Circle S.E. 
• BELLINGHAM: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, Bellingham Senior Activity Center, 315 Halleck St. 
• OLYMPIA: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, Utilities and Transportation Commission Office, 1300 S. Evergreen Park Dr. S.W.

If the commission approves PSE's request, residential customers will see their monthly electric bills increase by nearly 12 percent, on average, while gas bills would rise by nearly 6 percent, on average.

• PSE proposals - Merger, Electric rate increase and Gas rate increase
• AGO Public Counsel news release

Public Counsel scrutinizing NW Natural Gas rate increase request

The Public Counsel Section within the Washington State Attorney General’s Office is also taking a hard look at NW Natural Gas’ new proposal to increase rates for its approximately 66,000 residential customers in Southwest Washington. If approved, average residential customers would see a nearly18 percent increase in their monthly bills.

The state Utilities and Transportation Commission has the final authority to approve or deny the request and is expected to make a decision next year.
Submit your comments online, via e-mail at comments@wutc.wa.gov or call the UTC toll-free 1-800-562-6150.