NW Natural Ranks Highest in the Western U.S.

PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwire - October 1, 2008) - Northwest Natural Gas Company, dba NW Natural (NYSE: NWN), has earned the highest overall score in the Western U.S. according to the 2008 J.D. Power and Associates Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM). NW Natural also received the highest score in the nation. The company scored 699 points -- 19 points higher than 2007.

The J.D. Power and Associates study ranks 60 gas-only and gas-and-electric utilities regionally serving between 224,000 and 5 million residential customers. Last year, NW Natural ranked highest in the Western Region and second in the nation for customer satisfaction.

This year J.D. Power and Associates surveyed close to 30,000 gas customers about their satisfaction with local utilities. The study, now in its seventh year, measures satisfaction across six factors: image, communications, price and value, billing and payment, customer service and field service.

"We're very proud of receiving the top score in the nation. There's no greater honor for us than to know our customers feel we are doing a good job," said Mark Dodson, NW Natural CEO. "We know volatile energy prices and the uncertainties of our economy make things tough on our customers. We remain absolutely focused on providing safe, reliable and affordable service, while doing everything we can to help our customers conserve."

Dodson said customers are having a positive response to company initiatives, including:

More communication about safety and energy efficiency. NW Natural has taken its energy efficiency and safety message to customers through bill inserts, advertising and earned media. Last year alone, NW Natural customers saved enough energy to heat 4,300 homes for a year through increased energy efficiency and conservation activities, and about 10,000 children participated in the company's "Safe at Home" program, which educates students in grades four, five and six about natural gas safety.

More payment options. More NW Natural customers are using online payment options than ever before. Survey results show that having a variety of payment options is more satisfying to customers. Increasingly, NW Natural customers are choosing to pay and receive their bills online.

Community involvement. NW Natural's tag line is, "We grew up here." The company is an active participant in every community it serves in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Its philanthropy program focuses on helping kids and families at risk. Its signature blue awnings, which it makes available at no cost, provide shelter from sun and rain at local gatherings of all sizes.

About NW Natural

NW Natural is headquartered in Portland, Ore., and serves about 657,000 residential and business customers in Oregon and Southwest Washington. It is the largest independent natural gas utility in the Pacific Northwest and is one of the fastest-growing local distribution companies in the nation. For more information about NW Natural, please visit nwnatural.com.

Contact Information: Contacts: Kim Heiting kah@nwnatural.com 503-220-2366 Bob Hess bob.hess@nwnatural.com 503-220-2388