# NW Natural

> NW Natural is a regulated natural gas distribution and storage company serving about two million people through more than 810,000 meters in Oregon and southwest Washington. Its strategy combines existing pipeline infrastructure, energy efficiency, renewable natural gas procurement and underground storage. It is a subsidiary of NW Natural Holdings.

- **Founded:** 1859
- **Headquarters:** Portland, United States
- **Founders:** Herman C. Leonard (Co-founder of predecessor business), Henry Green (Co-founder of predecessor business), John Green (Co-founder of predecessor business)
- **Products:** Natural gas distribution, Mist and North Mist gas storage, Smart Energy, Renewable natural gas procurement, Energy efficiency and bill support
- **Notable:** Completed replacement of all known cast iron and bare steel pipeline in its system by 2015., Introduced rate decoupling in 2002, described by the company as a first among standalone US gas utilities., Reported a 3.35% RNG purchase percentage for 2025 and contracts for 4% in 2026.

## Products & services

- **Natural gas distribution** — Regulated delivery to residential, commercial and industrial customers in Oregon and southwest Washington.
- **Mist and North Mist gas storage** — Underground storage for utility demand and contracted customers; North Mist serves Portland General Electric.
- **Smart Energy** — Voluntary customer-funded program supporting carbon offsets and renewable thermal certificates.
- **Renewable natural gas procurement** — Purchases RNG and environmental attributes and invests in selected production facilities; 2025 purchase percentage reported as 3.35%.
- **Energy efficiency and bill support** — Rebates through Energy Trust, income-qualified discounts, payment arrangements and weatherization partnerships.

## Achievements

- Completed replacement of all known cast iron and bare steel pipeline in its system by 2015.
- Introduced rate decoupling in 2002, described by the company as a first among standalone US gas utilities.
- Reported a 3.35% RNG purchase percentage for 2025 and contracts for 4% in 2026.
- Received the 2026 NEUAC Corporate Excellence Award; its Oregon low-income efficiency program had served 2,500 households.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Published 2026/27 purchased-gas adjustment information, including a roughly $5.08 monthly Oregon residential increase for average use and a roughly $1 Washington decrease in PGA-affected charges; separate Washington base-rate increases also apply.
- **2026-07** — Washington regulators approved a three-year rate plan with smaller increases than requested; first-year average residential bill increase was stated as $12.81 at 54 therms.
- **2026-07** — Announced 3.35% RNG purchases for 2025 and contracts for 4% in 2026.
- **2026-07** — Announced the NEUAC affordability award, presented in May.
- **2026-02** — Announced the roughly $300 million MX3 storage expansion, targeting completion by the end of 2029.
- **2026-02** — Withdrew the Lexington RNG cost-deferral application; Oregon docket UM 2422 closed without order on February 10.

## Links

- Website: https://www.nwnatural.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nw-natural
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/nwnatural
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/nwnaturalgas
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nwnaturalgas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWNaturalGas

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/nw-natural
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22