Energy utilities have been under pressure to stem rate increases, and slimmer staffing appears to be one way they’re approaching the challenge.
PORTLAND, Ore. — This story comes from the Portland Business Journal, a KGW News partner. The full story is here.
NW Natural Holding Co., which includes the region’s biggest natural gas utility, has eliminated “about 2%” of its positions, apparently amounting to about 30 employees.
In an emailed statement, the Portland-based company said it made the cuts “to address concerns about customer affordability and reduce costs going forward.”
The company (NYSE: NWN) declined to say precisely how many employees were laid off. But in its annual report published in February, NW Natural said it had about 1,450 employees. Two percent of that figure would be 29.
NW Natural’s statement came in response to a Business Journal inquiry about the recent departure of its renewable natural gas program manager. The company didn’t directly address that position but said the cuts were “primarily in administrative areas which resulted in a smaller decarbonization department.”
“These reductions were made carefully by balancing cost considerations while ensuring safe, reliable service for our customers,” the company added.
NW Natural faces a polarizing mandate to decarbonize under an Oregon program called the Climate Protection Program. The company says renewable natural gas can reduce emissions but consumer and climate groups oppose the fuel, preferring a switch to electricity, and regulators have been skeptical.
Meanwhile, energy utilities have been under pressure to stem rate increases, and slimmer staffing appears to be one way they’re approaching the challenge.
Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR), with a workforce about twice the size of NW Natural’s, in June said it laid off 53 full-time workers, eliminated 123 contract positions and canceled plans to fill 154 open positions.