OLYMPIA, Wash. – Cascade Natural Gas customers will have the opportunity to comment on a proposed rate change for the company’s request to adjust its natural gas rates at a virtual public comment hearing on Jan. 26.
WHAT
Virtual Public Comment Hearing
WHO
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC)
WHEN and WHERE
Tuesday, Jan. 26
6 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Only
Participate by Microsoft Teams.
We encourage participation by Microsoft Teams, if possible.
Participate by phone
Call 253-372-2181 and use Conference ID 683 125 418#
If you intend to speak at the meeting, please sign up at least one day in advance at records@utc.wa.gov or by telephone at 360-664-1234.
Translation services are available at no cost to you. If possible, please inform the commission at least one business day prior to the meeting by calling 888-333-9882, or by sending an email to comments@utc.wa.gov.
If you are unable to participate during the virtual meeting, you can submit comments:
- online,
- via telephone at 888-333-9882,
- by email at comments@utc.wa.gov, or
- by mail to P.O. Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504.
BACKGROUND
On June 19, 2020, Cascade Natural Gas Corporation filed revisions to its current tariff.
In November, commission staff recommended a rate decrease for Cascade customers.
The three-member commission, which is not bound by the company’s request or staff’s recommendation, will make a final decision on the utility’s rate hike request this spring. New rates would go into effect on May 21, 2021.
In its request, Cascade cited a $14.3 million revenue deficit. UTC staff found fault with the company’s submitted costs, and instead calculated a revenue surplus of $508,968. To avoid a future surplus, staff recommend the company reduce rates by the surplus amount.
A significant part of the company’s request was $66 million in projected plant investments for 2020. UTC staff verified that Cascade only completed four projects totaling $6.9 million.
UTC staff objected to Cascade’s request to increase its rate of return to 7.54%, recommending the commission instead set the company’s rate of return to 6.93%.
Cascade also requested $1 million to increase employee salaries by 3%, which if approved would be the third year in a row for such a wage increase. UTC staff recommended that the commission deny this request.
Kennewick-based Cascade Natural Gas Corporation serves almost 220,000 residential and business customers in 68 communities throughout the state, including Aberdeen, Bellingham, Bremerton, Kennewick, Longview, Moses Lake, Mount Vernon, Sunnyside, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, and Yakima.
The UTC is the state agency that regulates private, investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities in Washington. It is the commission’s responsibility to ensure regulated companies provide safe and reliable service to customers at reasonable rates, while allowing them the opportunity to earn a fair profit.
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The UTC is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to meeting participants with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodation, please contact the commission at (360) 664-1243.
If you need this information in a different format, call 1-800-833-6384 or dial 711 for Text Teletype (TTY) through Washington Relay Services.
Language Assistance: The UTC can help you in multiple languages. Please call 1-888-333-9882 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and ask for an interpreter.