November 22, 2013 NWN OPUC Advice No

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1 ONITA R. KING Rates & Regulatory Affairs Tel: Fax: November 22, 2013 NWN OPUC Advice No VIA ELECTRONIC FILING Public Utility Commission of Oregon 3930 Fairview Industrial Drive SE Post Office Box 1088 Salem, Oregon Attn: Re: Filing Center Schedule B Bills and Bill Payment Options Auto Pay Plan and Bank Card Payments Northwest Natural Gas Company, dba NW Natural ( NW Natural or the Company ), files herewith the following revisions to its Tariff, P.U.C. Or. 25 to become effective with service on and after January 1, 2014 as follows: First Revision of Sheet iv, Tariff Index, Second Revision of Sheet B-1, Schedule B, Bills and Bill Payment Options, Second Revision of Sheet B-2, Schedule B, Bills and Bill Payment Options, First Revision of Sheet B-3, Schedule B, Bills and Bill Payment Options, First Revision of Sheet B-4, Schedule B, Bills and Bill Payment Options, and Original Sheet B-5, Schedule B Bills and Bill Payment Options.

2 Public Utility Commission of Oregon NWN OPUC Advice No November 22, 2013; Page 2 The purpose of this filing is to revise Schedule B to: (1) reinstate references to bank card payments under the Auto Pay Plan that were removed effective March 1, 2013 under NWN OPUC Advice No. 13-1, and (2) make other housekeeping changes as described below. Auto Pay Plan The Company implemented a fee-free bank card option for customer bill payments with the conclusion of the Company s last general rate case (Docket UG 221) effective November 1, Effective March 1, 2013 the Company filed to temporarily remove the option to make payments under the Auto Pay Plan with a bank card due to unanticipated complexities in the programming and implementation of the recurring Auto Pay concept. The Company has completed the programming and is now conducting the final testing of the program that will make this new option available to all eligible customers effective January 1, In developing the Auto Pay bankcard payment option, the Company learned that additional revisions to the tariff language are needed to distinguish the differences between an Auto Pay Plan that uses a bankcard as a payment option and an Auto Pay Plan that uses a savings or checking account option. For this reason, the tariff language proposed in this filing is different from the original language approved in Docket UG 221. The revised language in no way modifies the nature of the service that will be available to customers as adopted in Docket UG 221. Housekeeping Changes The Company proposes additional housekeeping changes that bring the language of the tariff into alignment with the Company s practices. These include: (1) removing the limitation for participation in the Auto Pay plan for payments made from a savings or checking account to make it available to all customer classes; (2) including the ability to complete a written enrollment in the Auto Pay Plan if a checking or savings account is the payment source -- a tear-off application is provided with each bill for this purpose; and (3) changes to the Bankcard Payment section, previously titled Credit or Debit Card Payment, to remove references to payment failures and NSF charges, as these do not apply to one-time bankcard uses, and to clarify when a bankcard payment may be denied. The changes discussed above also result in the movement of tariff language from one sheet to another which necessitates the addition of original sheet B-5. The Company requests that the tariff sheets filed herewith be permitted to become effective with service on and after January 1, Copies of this letter and the filing made herewith are available in the Company's main office in Oregon and on its website at

3 Public Utility Commission of Oregon NWN OPUC Advice No November 22, 2013; Page 3 following: Please address correspondence on this matter to me with copies to the Kelley C. Miller, Rate Specialist Rates & Regulatory Affairs NW Natural 220 NW Second Avenue Portland, Oregon Telecopier: (503) Telephone: (503) , x3589 kelley.miller@nwnatural.com and efiling@nwnatural.com Sincerely, NW NATURAL /S/ Onita R. King Onita R. King Rates and Regulatory Affairs attachments

4 P.U.C. Or. 25 First Revision of Sheet iv Cancels Original Sheet iv TARIFF INDEX SHEET GENERAL SCHEDULES Schedule A: Billing for City and County Exactions... A-1 Schedule B: Bills and Bill Payment Options... B-1 to B-5 Schedule C: Miscellaneous Charges and Credits... C-1 to C-4 Schedule M: Meter Testing Procedures... M-1 Schedule O: On-The-Bill Repayment Services Pilot Program...O-1 to O-3 Schedule P: Purchased Gas Cost Adjustments... P-1 to P-6 Schedule S: Service Solutions Dealer Appointment Service Program... S-1 to S-3 Schedule T: Customer-Owned Natural Gas Transportation Service... T-1 tot-6 Schedule X: Distribution Facilities Extensions for Applicant-Requested Services and Mains... X-1 to X-8 RATE SCHEDULES Schedule 2: Residential Sales Service to 2-2 Schedule 3: Basic Firm Sales Service Non-Residential to 3-4 Schedule 15: Charges for Special Metering Equipment, Rental Meters, and Metering Services to 15-4 Schedule 27 Residential Heating Dry-Out Service Schedule 31 Non-Residential Firm Sales and Firm Transportation Service to Schedule 32 Large Volume Non-Residential Sales and Transportation Service to Schedule 33 High-Volume Non-Residential Firm and Interruptible Transportation Service to 33-8 Schedule 60A: Special Contracts Index... 60A-1 Schedule 60: Special Contracts to Schedule 80: Firm Storage Service (Experimental) to (continue to Sheet v) (T) Issued by:

5 P.U.C. Or. 25 Second Revision of Sheet B-1 Cancels First Revision of Sheet B-1 AVAILABLE: In all territory served by the Company under the Tariff of which this Schedule is a part. DESCRIPTION: This Schedule describes the various billing and bill payment options available to the Company s Customers. Customers may use any one of the automated options in conjunction with an Equal Pay Plan. Once elected, the billing and payment option(s) will remain in effect until terminated by Customer, or until terminated by the Company should Customer fail to comply with its terms. STANDARD BILLING AND BILL PAYMENT: Unless a paperless billing option is elected, Customers will receive a printed bill via U.S. Mail. Bills may be paid by any one of the following methods: Online bill payment, electronic check payment, credit card, debit card, check, money order, or in cash. Payments made by means other than cash shall be considered valid only when honored by the financial institution. PAPERLESS BILLING: Paperless billing is an online bill presentment option available to most Customers directly through NW Natural. Under this billing option, a monthly bill notification is sent to the Customer fifteen (15) days prior to the stated due date. The bill notification includes the amount due, the due date, and a link back to a secure area in the Company s website where, upon valid sign-in, the Customer can view their bill statement. No paper bill will be issued. Customers that select this billing option may choose to pay their bill through any of the available bill payment options, including online checking account payments or signing up for Auto Pay. Customers can enroll in the bill presentment option via the Company s website. To enroll, Customers must register at the company s web site using a valid gas account number, and address. Paperless billing is available to most Customers from the Company s website. Customers on Interruptible Service or Transportation Service schedules or special contracts are not eligible to use this option. AUTO PAY PLAN: The Auto Pay Plan is an electronic bill payment option available to Customers as described below. Auto Pay allows for automatic bill payments to be made to the Company directly from Customer s checking, savings or bankcard account ( Bank Account ). To participate, Customers must provide valid account information to Company. Payments will be automatically deducted from Customer s Bank Account and credited to Customer s gas service account on the payment due date stated on Customer s bill (continue to Sheet B-2) (C) (C) Issued by:

6 P.U.C. Or. 25 Second Revision of Sheet B-2 Cancels First Revision of Sheet B-2 AUTO PAY PLAN : Checking or Savings Account. All Customers are eligible for the Auto Pay Plan using the checking or savings account payment option, except that Customers using the Company s Summary Bill services are not eligible. Customers may submit a written application, or may sign up through the Company s website where they will be required to provide an electronic signature. In the event that sufficient monies are not available in Customer s Bank Account on the payment due date, the Company will issue a letter to the Customer advising them of the payment failure, and requiring that payment be made by a different payment method. The available methods include cash, cashier s check, money order, or bankcard. Bankcard Account. Residential and Non-Residential Rate Schedule 3 Customers with annual usage of 25,000 therms or less are eligible for the Auto Pay Plan using a bankcard (credit or debit card), except that Customers using the Company s Summary Bill services are not eligible. Customers must sign up through the Company s website and will be required to provide an electronic signature. In the event that sufficient monies are not available in Customer s Bank Account on the payment due date, the Company will issue a letter to the Customer advising them of the payment failure, and requiring that payment be made by a different payment method. The available methods include check, cash, cashier s check, money order, or bankcard, provided funds are available at the time of payment. Should the Company find that a Customer no longer qualifies for the Bankcard Account option, regardless of the account status, the Company will notify the Customer and the Customer will be removed from the Auto Pay Plan Bankcard Account option. The Customer may sign up for the Checking or Savings Account Auto Pay Plan option provided they meet the eligibility requirements described in this Schedule B. Payments Not Honored. When any payment failure occurs, a Payment Not Honored charge as set forth in Schedule C will be assessed to Customer s account at that time, and the gas service account will be considered delinquent. Failure to pay such account will be cause for Disconnection of Service. Two (2) payment failures in a twelve-month period may be cause for the Company to automatically terminate Customer s Auto Pay Plan and the Customer may be restricted from enrolling in the Auto Pay Plan for the next 12-month period. In the event that a payment failure occurs because the Bank Account is reported closed, the Company will terminate the Customer s Auto Pay Plan. The Company will issue a letter to the Customer advising them of the termination of the Auto Pay Plan due to the closed Bank Account, and the gas service account will be considered delinquent. Failure to pay amounts due on such account will be cause for Disconnection of Service. The Customer may sign up for the Auto Pay Plan using a different Bank Account provided they meet the eligibility requirements described in this Schedule B. (C) (C) (continue to Sheet B-3) Issued by:

7 P.U.C. Or. 25 First Revision of Sheet B-3 Cancels Original Sheet B-3 BANKCARD PAYMENT: Residential Customers and Non-Residential Rate Schedule 3 Customers with annual usage of 25,000 therms or less can make bill payments with a bankcard (credit card or debit card) at any time. Payment by bankcard can be made online on the Company s website or through the Company s Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) system. Customers will be provided a payment confirmation number as part of a completed transaction. The Company may limit the number of transactions that can be made in any given time period. The Company reserves the right to deny a Customer the use of the bankcard payment option when the bankcard interchange network declines a Customer s transaction for reasons of fraud or other illegal use. ONLINE CHECKING ACCOUNT PAYMENTS: Customers can make a secure online checking account payment each month at the Company s web site. To use this payment option, Customers must provide NW Natural valid checking account information for the account from which payments are to be deducted. When making an online checking account payment, payments will be automatically deducted from Customer s bank account and credited to Customer s gas service account on the date specified by the Customer, or the following business day if the date specified is a weekend or Holiday. In the event that the payment is returned to NW Natural by the Customer s bank, the Company will issue a letter to the Customer advising them of the payment failure, and requiring that payment be made in cash, or by a cashier s check or money order. When any payment failure occurs, an NSF charge will be assessed to Customer s account at that time, and the account will be considered delinquent. Failure to pay will be cause for Disconnection of Service. RESIDENTIAL EQUAL PAY PLAN: Residential Customers whose gas service accounts are current may sign up for the Equal Pay Plan at any time during the calendar year. The Residential Equal Pay Plan is a bill payment option designed to levelize Customer s monthly payments for gas service over an eleven-month period. Levelized monthly payments are based on (a) the rates stated in Customer s respective Rate Schedule and (b) an estimate of Customer s projected annual usage requirements, determined from prior usage history at the service address, or from a calculated usage adjusted for Customer s current requirements. (continue to Sheet B-4) (C) (C) Issued by:

8 P.U.C. Or. 25 First Revision of Sheet B-4 Cancels Original Sheet B-4 RESIDENTIAL EQUAL PAY PLAN : The monthly payment will equal one-eleventh of Customer s estimated annual obligation, and will be payable each month for the succeeding eleven (11) months. Billings in the 12 th month will reflect over or under payments. Overpayments of more than $75.00 shall be refunded. Unless Customer requests otherwise, lesser amounts will be credited to Customer s account and reflected in the level payments for the following Plan year. Underpayments will be due in full on or before the 12 th month s billing due date. The Company will re-estimate the amount of Customer s level payments each succeeding Year that Customer remains on the Plan. During the Plan Year, monthly payments will be periodically reviewed and may be adjusted to reflect rate changes, to more accurately reflect usage, or to reflect a change in service address. Level payments under the Equal Pay Plan shall not be construed as a guarantee or assurance that the annual cost of gas service will not exceed the estimate upon which they are based. Customers that become delinquent will be notified in writing that they may be removed from the Plan if the Plan is not brought current. A Customer with a delinquent collect balance on the Plan s account receivable will be subject to Disconnection of Service pursuant to Rule 11. A Disconnection of Service will not occur on Plans that have a credit balance on the Plan s accounts receivable. A Customer that is unable to make regular payments under the Plan or is unable to pay the accounts receivable balance at the end of the Plan term may be eligible for a Time Payment Agreement as described in Rule 9. A Customer whose service is disconnected under Rule 11 may establish a new Equal Pay Plan upon bringing the accounts receivable balance to zero. NON-RESIDENTIAL EQUAL PAY PLAN: Qualifying Non-Residential Customers may sign up for the Equal Pay Plan at any time during the calendar year. To qualify for the Equal Pay Plan, Non-Residential Customers must: (a) Take service under Rate Schedule 3 of this Tariff; (b) Have a good credit status with the Company; (c) Be current on their gas service account; (d) Have had an active gas service account for at least twelve (12) consecutive months previous to the date the Customer requests to participate in the Equal Pay Plan; and (e) Take service at a premise for which the Company has at least twelve (12) consecutive months of gas usage history. The Company, in its sole discretion, may refuse to allow a Customer whose annual gas usage exceeds 25,000 therms per year to participate in the Equal Pay Plan. The Non-residential Equal Pay Plan is a bill payment option designed to levelize Customer s monthly payments for gas service. The Customer s monthly payment will be calculated as set forth below. Monthly payments will be levelized over the eleven-month period May through March, with the balance of the plan being adjusted to zero in the month of April. (continue to Sheet B-4) Issued by:

9 P.U.C. Or. 25 Original Sheet B-5 NON-RESIDENTIAL EQUAL PAY PLAN : The levelized monthly payment for a Customer whose Equal Pay Plan is effective in any month other than the month of May will be based on the number of months between the sign up month and the month of April. Thereafter, the monthly payments will be levelized over the eleven-month period May through March. Billings in the month of April will reflect over or under payments. Overpayments of more than $75.00 shall be refunded. Unless Customer requests otherwise, lesser amounts will be credited to Customer s account and reflected in the level payments for the following Plan year. Underpayments will be due in full on or before the April billing due date. Levelized monthly payments are determined from (a) the rates stated in Customer s respective rate schedule and (b) an estimate of Customer s projected annual usage requirements, based upon prior usage history at the service address. The Company will re-estimate the amount of Customer s level payments each succeeding year that Customer remains on the Plan. During the Plan year, monthly payment requirements will be periodically reviewed and may be adjusted to reflect rate changes, to more accurately reflect usage, or to reflect a change in service address. Level payments under the Equal Pay Plan shall not be construed as a guarantee or assurance that the annual cost of gas service will not exceed the estimate upon which they are based. Customers may terminate their Equal Pay Plan at any time. The Company may terminate a Customer s Equal Pay Plan at any time the Company determines that the Customer no longer meets all of the conditions of qualification. Upon termination of an Equal Pay Plan, the entire balance on the account will be due and payable. If a Customer s Equal Pay Plan is terminated for any reason, that Customer may not be allowed to sign up for the Equal Pay Plan again until the following May. A Customer with a delinquent collect balance on the Plan s account receivable will be subject to Disconnection of Service pursuant to Rule 11. A Disconnection of Service will not occur on Plans that have a credit balance on the Plan s accounts receivable. A Customer that is unable to make regular payments under the Plan or is unable to pay the accounts receivable balance at the end of the Plan term may be eligible for a Time Payment Agreement as described in Rule 9A. GENERAL TERMS: Service under this Schedule is governed by the terms of this Schedule, the General Rules and Regulations contained in this Tariff, any other schedules that by their terms or by the terms of this Schedule apply to service under this Schedule, and by all rules and regulations prescribed by regulatory authorities, as amended from time to time. Issued by: