KENNEWICK, Wash. – Customers with Kennewick-based Cascade Natural Gas will begin seeing a rate increase on their bill this month.
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) approved new rates for Cascade Natural Gas customers, effective March 1, 2025, according to a UTC release.
For residential customers using 53 therms per month, bills will increase by $6.04 monthly in the first year and $2.06 in the second year. Commercial customers using 277 therms per month will see increases of $23.55 and $8.18 per month, respectively.
A “therm” is a unit used to measure the amount of heat energy produced by natural gas.
The utility company’s revenue is expected to increase by $29.8 million, or 7.88%, in the first year. In the second year, beginning March 1, 2026, revenue will rise by $10.8 million, or 2.64%.
UTC said in its release that the settlement allows Cascade to recover pipeline costs through base rates and introduces a tariff schedule to manage COVID-19-related deferred expenses over three years. It also removes some rate case expenses from the revenue requirement, reducing costs for customers.
To enhance service, Cascade will develop a language access plan for non-English speakers and track customer income allocation toward energy bills and disconnection frequency.
Cascade Natural Gas serves over 222,000 customers in 67 Washington communities, including Kennewick, and Yakima.
For more information on the UTC and its role, visit the UTC website.
