Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregonians who heat their homes with natural gas can expect to see their bills jump dramatically this winter.  Correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

Oregon’s three natural gas utilities told a state regulatory panel that residential prices could go up by 10 to 40 percent this winter.

The exact number won’t be known for another few months, but the state’s biggest natural gas supplier, Northwest Natural, is giving the most dire forecast.

Dan Kirschner is director of the industry group Northwest Gas Association, which represents utilities in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

Dan Kirschner:  “Natural gas costs have tripled over the last seven years, and rising global demand for natural gas as well as regional demand will only intensify this trend.”

The Northwest imports nearly all of its natural gas from either Canada or the Rocky Mountain states.

The utilities say they’ll be stepping up efforts to promote energy-efficient home improvements in advance of the rate hike.