Cascade Natural Gas Corp., the provider for much of Central Oregon, has asked the Oregon Public Utility Commission to reduce rates for its residential and commercial customers.
The utility, based in Kennewick, Wash., filed its request with the PUC on Friday. If the PUC approves the request, the new rates will go into effect Nov. 1, according to a news release issued by Cascade Natural Gas on Tuesday.
Typical Oregon residential customers using an average of 55 therms a month could see their monthly bills drop by about $10. Commercial customers averaging 231 therms a month could have a decrease of nearly $42 a month, according to the news release.
In Central Oregon, Cascade provides natural gas to Bend, Chemult, Crescent, Gilchrist, La Pine, Madras, Metolius, Prineville, Redmond and Sunriver, according to the company’s website.
The price reduction would be the fourth in as many years and reflects the increased production of natural gas in the U.S., which has lowered the cost.
“The price reduction for customers is a reflection of the (cost) of natural gas," said Mark Hanson, Cascade Natural Gas spokesman.
