For many residents in the Pacific Northwest, opening a utility bill can feel like deciphering a secret code. You see the final amount due, but the string of line items—from "Purchased Gas Adjustments" to "Public Purpose Charges"—can be confusing. While it’s easy to focus solely on the "bottom line," understanding the specific categories of your natural gas bill is essential for managing your household budget and understanding how energy policy impacts your wallet. In our regi

A monthly newsletter for those interested in the PNW energy industry.

Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA) represents one of the most ambitious climate frameworks in the nation. Its goals—reducing emissions, accelerating electrification, and supporting a cleaner energy system—are broadly shared across the Northwest. As implementation progresses, however, the region is confronting an immediate practical challenge: how to meet these climate commitments in a way that preserves the reliability and affordability that customers count on. This ba

Energy access and sustainability are at the heart of Canada's economy and British Columbia is facing a pivotal moment. How can we ensure energy security, equitable access, and environmental responsibility in a rapidly evolving landscape? Join us on Conversations Live for a timely and thought-provoking panel on June 17 at 5:30 PM. We’ll explore BC’s current energy mix, still dominated by electricity and fossil fuels, and the practical realities of transitioning to alternatives

Energy officials at the Oct. 9 Regional Energy Symposium in Portland, Oregon, offered solutions to address the Pacific Northwest’s urgent resource-adequacy crisis—key among them being the need for more gas infrastructure and natural gas-electric coordination. Scott Kinney, vice president of energy resources and integrated planning at Avista, said the idea for the symposium could be traced to an outage at the Jackson Prairie natural gas storage facility—co-owned by Avista, Pug

By 2030, the region faces a supply shortfall of nearly 9 gigawatts, equal to Oregon's entire load, according to a new analysis. Read the full article here.

Does the Pacific Northwest have the energy it needs to prevent rolling blackouts? A new report commissioned by the region’s largest utilities has raised concerns. Starting next year, the Northwest could face a power shortage that would challenge the reliability of the grid during extreme conditions, according to the report. The report analyzed the region’s energy plans against potential weather and hydropower conditions across Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and parts of

Natural gas “line extension” policies determine how and when utilities connect new homes, businesses, and industries to their systems. Though technical in nature, these policies shape community growth, affordability, and reliability across the energy grid. The American Gas Association (AGA) recently published  The Current State of Natural Gas Utility Line Extension Policies   and a companion one-pager outlining how states balance cost recovery and fairness. Line extension rul

November 5, 2025 Oregon Building Codes Division 1535 Edgewater Street NW Salem, OR 97304 Re: Section N1105.8 (Heat Pump Requirement) in the 2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code, Chapter 11 – Energy Efficiency To BCD Staff and Members of the Committee: Thank you for the opportunity last week to comment on the 2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC), Chapter 11. I am writing to further express concern with Section N1105.8, which would mandate that any new dwelling with

The Seattle Times editorial “Natural gas still crucial to the WA grid; utilities” discusses the pressures on hydroelectric power in the Pacific Northwest. While solar, wind, and batteries are expanding, they are not yet enough to satisfy the growing electricity needs. The article states that natural gas supplies nearly 20% of Washington’s electricity and should serve as a “bridge” fuel while industry and regulators collaborate to ensure coordinated supply. It emphasizes the i

Earlier this month in Portland, industry professionals, utility executives and policy-makers gathered for the Regional Energy Symposium , co-hosted by the Northwest Gas Association (NWGA), the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee (PNUCC), Public Generating Pool (PGP) and the Western Power Pool (WPP) to confront one of the region’s most pressing energy questions: how do gas and electric systems coordinate to deliver a clean, reliable and affordable future? The answ

NWGA members have consistently supported thoughtful decarbonization that protects affordability and reliability and have already begun introducing Renewable Natural Gas and hydrogen into their systems. In today’s shifting energy landscape, regulators in the Pacific Northwest face increasing pressure to use utility policies as a tool for decarbonization, even at the expense of reliability and affordability. Some jurisdictions in the region have already begun to eliminate natur

The Pacific Northwest is at a critical energy juncture. As demand for electricity surges—driven by electrification, rapid growth in data centers, and high-tech manufacturing—our region’s energy system is being tested like never before. Recent weather events highlight an urgent truth: the reliability of our energy future depends on closer coordination between natural gas and electric utilities. Over the next decade, electricity demand in the Pacific Northwest is projected to i

As an essential component of the world’s transition to decarbonized energy sources, hydrogen is emerging as a crucial alternative fuel...