Cascade Natural Gas rate increase... 25 Percent

[merwin]

I'm completely fucking speechless.

http://www.cngc.com/PGA/index.asp

Consumers across the nation see energy prices rising. We are all in shellshock over the price of gasoline. According to the Northwest Gas Association, wholesale electricity and crude oil prices are soaring to new heights. Natural gas is another form of energy that has seen the wholesale price significantly increase over the last year. Even with the anticipated increase in natural gas rates, natural gas is still the cleanest and most cost effective fuel of choice for most homes and businesses in Cascade’s service territories.
Higher wholesale natural gas prices, which are the result of high demand for natural gas, means that rates will increase when Cascade files for its annual purchase gas cost adjustments (PGA) with the Washington Utility and Transportation Commission (WUTC) and the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC). A PGA is usually filed once a year and is designed to pass through the changes in the cost of natural gas and does not affect company profits. There is no mark-up or profit for Cascade in the PGA.

The amount of the adjustment is not finalized, but is anticipated to be fairly high. In Washington , natural gas price is estimated to increase by 25% to 30%. While in Oregon , natural gas price is estimated to increase by 15% to 20%. Typically rate adjustments due to a PGA become effective on November 1.