On December 29, 2017, Northwest Natural Gas Company (NW Natural), for the first time since 2011, has filed for a general rate increase with the Public Utility Commission of Oregon (OPUC). The filing includes a requested $52.4 million annual revenue requirement increase, or a net revenue increase of $40.4 million or about 6% after an adjustment for the Company’s conservation tariff deferral. The revenue requirement is based upon the following assumptions or requests:

This general rate case filing does not include the impact of the newly passed federal tax legislation. The implications of tax reform will be addressed with the OPUC in the coming months through this general rate case filing or as part of other regulatory processes that could include all utilities in Oregon.

A copy of the press release announcing this filing is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

The information contained in this Item 7.01 and in the accompanying exhibit shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing of NW Natural, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, unless expressly incorporated by specific reference to such filing. The information in this Item 7.01, including the exhibit hereto, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Forward-Looking Statements

This report, and other presentations made by NW Natural from time to time, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipates,” "assumes," “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects” and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the following: plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, investments, customer growth, weather, commodity and other costs, customer rates or rate recovery, customer savings, use of underground storage, growth, financial positions, revenue requirements, targeted capital structure, return on equity, cost of capital, rate base, revenues and earnings and the timing thereof, operating and maintenance expense, customer service, system reliability and resiliency, timing or effects of future regulatory proceedings or future regulatory approvals and rate cases, regulatory prudence reviews, effects of regulatory mechanisms, including, but not limited to, SRRM, effects of new, or changes in, laws or regulations, including recent tax legislation, and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts.

Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. We caution you therefore against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future operational, economic or financial performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are discussed by reference to the factors described in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors”, and Part II, Item 7 and Item 7A “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk” in

the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Part I, Items 2 and 3 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”, and Part II, Item 1A “Risk Factors”, in the Company’s quarterly reports filed thereafter.

All forward-looking statements made in this report and all subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral and whether made by or on behalf of the Company, are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for the Company to predict all such factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

(d) Exhibits

See Exhibit Index below.

NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS CO Exhibit
EX-99.1 2 a991pressrelease-ratecase.htm PRESS RELEASE Exhibit     Exhibit 99.1For Immediate ReleaseDecember 29,…
To view the full exhibit click here

About NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY (NYSE:NWN)

Northwest Natural Gas Company is engaged in the distribution of natural gas. The Company’s segments include Local Gas Distribution, Gas Storage and other. The Company maintains operations in Oregon, Washington and California and conducts businesses through NW Natural and its subsidiaries. The local gas distribution business, referred to as the utility segment, serves residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Oregon and southwest Washington. The Company gas storage business, referred to as the gas storage segment, provides storage services for utilities, gas marketers, electric generators and industrial users from storage facilities located in Oregon and California. The Company’s other segment is referred to as non-utility and consists of non-utility investments and other business activities. The other segment consists of an equity method investment in Trail West Holdings, LLC (TWH) and other pipeline assets in NNG Financial Corporation.