Docket Number	Docket Name	Company
UM 2419	NW NATURAL DEFERRAL OF COOS COUNTY PIPELINE COSTS	NORTHWEST NATURAL

Created Date	Comment Type	First Name	Last Name	Comment
1/16/2026 1:21:55 PM	Support Docket	David	Milliron	City of North Bend Letterhead January 16, 2026 Oregon Public Utility Commission Attn: Commissioners and Commission Staff 201 High Street SE, Suite 100 Salem, OR 97301 Re: Support for Transfer of Coos County Natural Gas Pipeline Ownership to NW Natural Commissioners: On behalf of the City of North Bend, I write in support of Coos County’s request for approval to transfer ownership of the Coos County Natural Gas Pipeline to Northwest Natural (NW Natural). This action is necessary to protect public safety, preserve reliable natural gas service, and ensure that critical infrastructure is maintained to the standard Oregon residents and employers rightfully expect. Coos County has advised that this pipeline serves approximately 1,900 residences and multiple major employers, including Roseburg Forest Products, Southport Lumber, and Bay Area Hospital. The community impacts of service disruption would be immediate and significant—particularly during winter conditions and for essential facilities that require reliable energy for health and safety operations. Maintaining continuous, safe service is a core public-interest objective. As a public administrator who has managed a municipal natural gas system, I am acutely aware that pipeline ownership carries substantial obligations: rigorous regulatory compliance, qualified operations and maintenance, robust emergency response capability, and ongoing integrity work to address geotechnical and environmental risks. These responsibilities are not optional; they are fundamental to preventing failures that can endanger life, property, and the environment. Coos County indicates that the pipeline’s operating costs have frequently offset revenues to the point that it rarely produced profit, and that major repairs associated with slides and riverbank failures have largely exhausted pipeline reserves. The County further indicates it has roughly $2 million remaining for repairs estimated at five to six times that amount. In practical terms, this creates an unacceptable risk that critical remediation and restoration work could be delayed or underfunded, increasing the likelihood of a service interruption and elevating the potential for a safety incident. Approval of the transfer to NW Natural provides a clear, prudent path forward. As a regulated natural gas utility, NW Natural is structured to maintain specialized staffing, established safety and integrity programs, and the financial capacity to plan, fund, and execute both near-term repairs and long-term risk mitigation. Importantly, continued regulation by the Oregon Public Utility Commission ensures ongoing oversight, enforceable safety expectations, and a stable framework for accountability and service standards. For these reasons, the City of North Bend respectfully urges the Oregon Public Utility Commission to approve Coos County’s request to transfer ownership of the Coos County Natural Gas Pipeline to NW Natural. This decision will best protect the public, support the regional economy, and place essential infrastructure in the hands of an entity equipped to maintain it safely and reliably over the long term. Sincerely, David A. Milliron, ICMA-CM City Administrator, City of North Bend cc: Commissioner John Sweet, Coos County Board of Commissioners cc: Mayor Jessica Engelke, City of North Bend
1/16/2026 3:48:15 PM	Support Docket	Jessica	Engelke	Friday, January 16, 2026 Oregon Public Utility Commission Attention: Chair Tawney and Commissioners Perkins and Power 201 High Street SE, Suite 100 Salem, OR 97301 Re: City of North Bend Support for Transfer of Coos County Natural Gas Pipeline Ownership to NW Natural Chair Tawney and Commissioners Perkins and Power: On behalf of the City of North Bend, I am writing to express the City’s formal support for Coos County’s request, and NW Natural’s application, to transfer ownership and responsibility for the Coos County Natural Gas Pipeline to NW Natural. At its meeting on Tuesday, the North Bend City Council unanimously supported this transfer as a matter of public policy, public safety, and prudent fiscal stewardship. This pipeline is essential energy infrastructure serving residents and employers throughout our region. Coos County has indicated the system provides natural gas service to approximately 1,900 residences and multiple major employers, including Roseburg Forest Products, Southport Lumber, and Bay Area Hospital. Continuity of safe and reliable natural gas service is not only a convenience; it is integral to household heating and cooking, business operations, and the stability of essential facilities that support health and emergency needs. If service is disrupted due to an inability to complete necessary repairs, the consequences would be immediate and significant for families, employers, and the broader regional economy. From a policy and fiduciary responsibility standpoint, this request presents a straightforward question of who is best positioned to manage risk and meet long-term infrastructure obligations. Coos County has stated that the pipeline has experienced significant repair demands associated with landslides and riverbank failures, and that those events have nearly exhausted the funds reserved for pipeline maintenance. The County has further indicated it retains roughly $2 million for repairs estimated to cost several multiples of that amount. When a public owner lacks the practical financial capacity to address known integrity needs on an essential system, continued ownership increases the likelihood of deferred work, escalating risk, and potential service interruption—outcomes that are not in the public interest. Approval of the transfer to NW Natural aligns responsibility with capability. As a regulated natural gas utility, NW Natural is structured to provide the specialized expertise, capital planning, and ongoing maintenance programs required for safe operation over the long term. Just as importantly, Commission oversight provides a transparent framework for accountability, safety expectations, and system reliability. In short, placing this critical asset under a regulated operator better protects customers, strengthens operational resilience, and reduces the risk that financial constraints will translate into infrastructure vulnerability. The City of North Bend respectfully urges the Oregon Public Utility Commission to approve the transfer of ownership. Doing so advances public safety, supports economic continuity for our region, and reflects sound governance by ensuring this essential system is maintained by an entity positioned to complete required remediation and sustain responsible, long-term operations. Sincerely, Jessica Engelke Mayor, City of North Bend cc: Commissioner John Sweet, Coos County Board of Commissioners cc: David A. Milliron, City Administrator, City of North Bend
1/16/2026 3:49:01 PM	Support Docket	David	Milliron	Friday, January 16, 2026 Oregon Public Utility Commission Attn: Commissioners and Commission Staff 201 High Street SE, Suite 100 Salem, OR 97301 Re: Support for Transfer of Coos County Natural Gas Pipeline Ownership to NW Natural Commissioners: On behalf of the City of North Bend, I write in support of Coos County’s request for approval to transfer ownership of the Coos County Natural Gas Pipeline to Northwest Natural (NW Natural). This action is necessary to protect public safety, preserve reliable natural gas service, and ensure that critical infrastructure is maintained to the standard Oregon residents and employers rightfully expect. Coos County has advised that this pipeline serves approximately 1,900 residences and multiple major employers, including Roseburg Forest Products, Southport Lumber, and Bay Area Hospital. The community impacts of service disruption would be immediate and significant—particularly during winter conditions and for essential facilities that require reliable energy for health and safety operations. Maintaining continuous, safe service is a core public-interest objective. As a public administrator who has managed a municipal natural gas system, I am acutely aware that pipeline ownership carries substantial obligations: rigorous regulatory compliance, qualified operations and maintenance, robust emergency response capability, and ongoing integrity work to address geotechnical and environmental risks. These responsibilities are not optional; they are fundamental to preventing failures that can endanger life, property, and the environment. Coos County indicates that the pipeline’s operating costs have frequently offset revenues to the point that it rarely produced profit, and that major repairs associated with slides and riverbank failures have largely exhausted pipeline reserves. The County further indicates it has roughly $2 million remaining for repairs estimated at five to six times that amount. In practical terms, this creates an unacceptable risk that critical remediation and restoration work could be delayed or underfunded, increasing the likelihood of a service interruption and elevating the potential for a safety incident. Approval of the transfer to NW Natural provides a clear, prudent path forward. As a regulated natural gas utility, NW Natural is structured to maintain specialized staffing, established safety and integrity programs, and the financial capacity to plan, fund, and execute both near-term repairs and long-term risk mitigation. Importantly, continued regulation by the Oregon Public Utility Commission ensures ongoing oversight, enforceable safety expectations, and a stable framework for accountability and service standards. For these reasons, the City of North Bend respectfully urges the Oregon Public Utility Commission to approve Coos County’s request to transfer ownership of the Coos County Natural Gas Pipeline to NW Natural. This decision will best protect the public, support the regional economy, and place essential infrastructure in the hands of an entity equipped to maintain it safely and reliably over the long term. Sincerely, David A. Milliron City Administrator/CEO 541-756-8536 cc: Commissioner John Sweet, Coos County Board of Commissioners cc: Mayor Jessica Engelke, City Councilors, City of North Bend
1/21/2026 4:08:03 PM	Oppose Docket	Suzanne	Porter	I urge the PUC to reject the proposal to gift the Coos County pipeline to NW Natural Gas. Repairing this pipeline is a bad investment for Oregon and NW Natural ratepayers. It serves just 2,000 customers and is at risk of slide after barely 20 years of service. It is reasonable to expect that this pipeline will continue to need repair in the years to come, and natural gas energy is an unpopular choice for new home construction. This is an excellent opportunity to transition the relatively few NNG customers served by this pipeline to electric energy.
1/21/2026 4:36:04 PM	Oppose Docket	Ken	Bonetti	Chair Tawney and Commissioners Perkins and Powers, I am writing to request that the Oregon Public Utility Commission oppose the proposed sale of the Coos County Pipeline by Coos County to NW Natural. The pipeline is subject to many hazards from landslide with mitigations costs rising to as much as $10 million. That is why the County is trying to unload it for $1. This pipeline has been controversial since its inception having been approved despite strong public and private property owner objections and lawsuits. Still twenty years later the line is impacting wildlife, water, private property and public safety. As you know, if NW Natural purchases the line, they will force their ratepayers to cover mitigation costs, estimated at $10 million, and any repair costs should the line be damaged. This is patently unfair to ratepayers. If any sale is to occur there should be ironclad provisions to prohibit NW Natural from shifting those costs to its ratepayers. A far better solution to this issue is to transition NW Natural's ratepayers to other energy sources and eventually close the pipeline. Coos County qualifies as an environmental justice community per ORS 756.010(5), which includes “coastal communities,” “rural communities,” “communities with limited infrastructure,” and “communities experiencing lower incomes” in its definition of environmental justice communities. Further, it is critically important to make investments in the Coos County community to reduce climate and air pollution. Transitioning ratepayers off fossil fuels would achieve this goal. Coos County rate-payers and residents want and deserve solutions and investments that make the region more economic, climate, and energy resilient. Investments can be made into microgrid planning especially for preparing for natural disasters, expanding programs to make heat pumps, solar panels, and home weatherization materials more accessible and affordable, as well as workforce development programs to support projects that bring sustainable, high-paying jobs to the region. Please deny NW Natural’s requests to put ratepayers on the hook to mitigate and/or repair this unnecessary pipeline and instead consider non-pipeline alternatives to build community resilience and electrify the end users in Coos County. Sincerely,
1/28/2026 4:37:41 PM	General (Docket-Specific)	Rogue	Climate	This comment was submitted via email and included an attachment. Because our public comment system cannot process attachments, a full version of the comment has been docketed and can be accessed in the “Actions” tab in eDockets. Ashley Audycki, South Coast Coordinator, Rogue Climate Zoe Serrano, Legislative Coordinator, Rogue Climate Jess Grady-Benson, Organizing Director, Rogue Climate
1/30/2026 12:34:01 AM	General Comment			Dear Chair Tawney and Commissioners Perkins and Powers, I am writing to voice my concerns about NW Natural’s proposal to purchase the Coos County Pipeline, and to use millions of ratepayer dollars to repair this aging gas infrastructure. Aging gas pipelines can be a community hazard causing leaks and explosions such as the one that occurred in San Bruno California. This pipeline has been controversial since it was first proposed in the late 1990s, with opponents filing multiple lawsuits citing the impacts of the project to the environment, private property and public safety. Now, as the state is working to meet its climate goals, and is increasingly pursuing building and industrial electrification, we must consider alternatives to maintaining and replacing fossil fuel infrastructure, and pursue opportunities for zonal electrification. As the Coos County Pipeline only serves a little over 2,000 customers, and as there are viable alternatives to the gas use on the coast, transitioning the pipeline customers off of fossil fuels offers an excellent chance to electrify one of the largest communities on the coast in Oregon, reducing harmful air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. As NW Natural notes in its application, Coos County qualifies as an environmental justice community per ORS 756.010(5), which includes “coastal communities,” “rural communities,” “communities with limited infrastructure,” and “communities experiencing lower incomes” in its definition of environmental justice communities. As such, it is critical that we are making investments in the Coos County community to reduce climate and air pollution, outcomes which transitioning pipeline customers off of fossil fuels would achieve. My own home is fully powered by electricity and insulation and a heat pump has made my home energy efficient. I would love to add solar power someday to further improve that efficiency. Coos County rate-payers and residents deserve solutions and investments that make the region more economic, climate, and energy resilient. Investments can be made into microgrid planning especially for preparing for natural disasters, expanding programs to make heatpumps, solar panels, and home weatherization materials more accessible, and workforce development programs to support projects that bring sustainable, high-paying jobs to the region. Please deny NW Natural’s requests to put ratepayers on the hook to repair this unnecessary pipeline and instead consider non-pipeline alternatives to build community resilience and electrify the end users in Coos County. Thank you for your consideration. Donna Bonetti 1997 Oak St. North Bend, OR 97459 Sent from my iPad
2/3/2026 12:33:14 AM	General Comment			Hello, I am not seeing our comment filed in docket UM 2419. Can you please look into this and let me know if I need to take any further action? Warmly, Zöe Serrano (she / her) Legislative Coordinator zoe@rogueclimate.org<mailto:zoe@rogueclimate.org> rogueclimate.org Book a meeting with Z öe Work: 458-299-2397 https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4wagE0p0BFGy3hxtvmlyiP4q6GD_gq21DxnL2o7dMShvb696WWlcqxsGvO6w6McmZThMctxYvs On Fri, Jan 23, 2026 at 3:12?PM Zoe Serrano <zoe@rogueclimate.org<mailto:zoe@rogueclimate.org>> wrote: Hello, Attached is our public comment for docket UM 2419. Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information. Warmly, Zöe Serrano (she / her) Legislative Coordinator zoe@rogueclimate.org<mailto:zoe@rogueclimate.org> rogueclimate.org Book a meeting with Z öe Work: 458-299-2397 https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4wagE0p0BFGy3hxtvmlyiP4q6GD_gq21DxnL2o7dMShvb696WWlcqxsGvO6w6McmZThMctxYvs