October 28, 2022 3:20 a.m.

The Oregon Public Utility Commission recently approved an increase in natural gas rates for Avista Utilities customers due to significant increases in global natural gas prices reflected in the annual purchased gas adjustment and related filings.

A release from the OPUC said the increase goes into effect November 1st.

The PUC approves adjustments annually to the rates of three regulated natural gas companies, including Avista Utilities, Cascade Natural Gas and NW Natural, to reflect changes in the actual cost of wholesale priced natural gas, known as the purchased gas adjustment.

The PUC recently approved an overall increase in rates of $25.6 million or approximately 20.4 percent for Avista customers due to the PGA and recent related filings when compared to 2021 company gross revenues.

As a result of the decision:

*Residential customers: The monthly bill of a typical residential customer using an average of 48 therms per month will increase by $12.53 or 18.4 percent, from $68.17 to $80.70.

*Commercial Customers: The monthly bill of a typical customer using an average of 203 therms per month will increase by $47.08, or 18.9 percent, from $248.72 to $295.76.

*Industrial Customers: The monthly bill of a typical customer using an average of 3,969 therms per month will increase by $919.77 or 36.5 percent from $2,517 to $3,437.26

Avista Utilities serves nearly $106,000 customers in portions of southwest and northeastern Oregon.