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WASHINGTON | Cascade Natural Gas | Natural Gas – Integrated Resource Plan

The What: Cascade’s Integrated Resource Plan describes the two- to four-year and twenty-year expectation of how Cascade expects to safely serve customers’ energy needs at the lowest reasonable and safe cost. The analyses in this 12–18-month process includes existing and potential new pipelines and natural gas supply contracts (among others) as well as benefits of energy efficiency to customers. The IRP provides comprehensive and transparent insight into how Cascade plans for customers’ energy future. To view what an IRP looks like, please see Previous Years’ IRP at the bottom of the page. The Executive Summary and Key Points are designed to provide a quick, but descriptive, explanation of the process and plan.

The Who: Customers and the general public are invited to participate in a series of meetings on the variety of topics contained in the IRP, including energy efficiency and carbon emission reductions. Together, customers and the general public participating in the IRP process are called Stakeholders. Stakeholders also include the professional analytical staffs of the state utility commissions and groups representing residential and industrial customers. Community-based organizations and independent experts also attend the series of meetings.

How it works: The IRP process begins with a kick-off meeting to lay out the 12-18 month schedule of four to six meetings as well as provide an overview of what issues will be covered. These meetings are called Technical Advisory Group meetings or TAGs. Links are available to the TAG presentations, minutes, and written responses to Stakeholder’s requests and comments.

What to expect: Expectations of participants and tips for the best way for Stakeholders (including customers and the general public) are described in Cascade’s Stakeholder Engagement Design Document. This is a “living document” and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

Sign up! Join Cascade’s distribution list. You may participate in multiple ways, ranging from attending the TAG meetings (either in-person or remotely) and receiving the agendas/presentations to opportunity to comment. Do so by contacting the Supervisor of Resource Planning, Brian Robertson at either [email protected] or (509) 221-9808. You may also contact the Company’s IRP email address at [email protected]. Cascade uses MSTeams as its means to connect participants remotely. MSTeams is a free application to be used by Stakeholders including customers and the general public.

Accommodations: As shown as point #1 on page 2 of the Stakeholder Engagement Design Document, Cascade will provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. Additionally, the Company will reasonably accommodate items such as requests for meeting locations, audio and visual capabilities, and other items requested by external stakeholders. If you have a request for accommodations, please reach out to one of the contacts listed above and the Company will gladly coordinate any reasonable requests for accommodations.

Pre- and Post-IRP feedback report

IRP Public Process Timeline:
2025 IRP Targeted-TAG #1 – Thursday, January 25, 2024
Microsoft Teams Only – 9 AM PST to 10 AM PST
What is an IRP and how to get involved

2025 IRP Targeted-TAG #2 – Thursday, February 15, 2024
Microsoft Teams Only – 9 AM PST to 10 AM PST
Avoided Cost

2025 IRP Targeted-TAG #3 – Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Microsoft Teams Only – 9 AM PST to 10 AM PST
Energy Efficiency

2025 IRP Targeted-TAG #4 – Thursday, March 28, 2024
Microsoft Teams Only – 9 AM PST to 10 AM PST
Equity in the IRP

2025 IRP Targeted-TAG #5 – Thursday, April 11, 2024
Microsoft Teams Only – 9 AM PST to 10 AM PST
Distribution System Planning

2025 IRP Targeted-TAG #6 – Thursday, April 25, 2024
Microsoft Teams Only – 9 AM PST to 10 AM PST
CCA/Compliance Modeling

2025 IRP Targeted-TAG #7 – Thursday, May 16, 2024
Microsoft Teams Only – 9 AM PST to 10 AM PST
Customer/Load Forecast

2025 IRP Targeted-TAG #8 – Thursday, May 30, 2024
Microsoft Teams Only – 9 AM PST to 10 AM PST
Resource Integration

2025 IRP TAG 1 – Thursday, June 13, 2024
Location TBD – Time TBD
Process, Key Points, IRP Team, Timeline, Regional Market Outlook, Planned Scenarios and Sensitivities, Stakeholder Engagement, Demand and Customer Forecast and Non-Core Outlook, Drilling down into segments of demand forecast. Upstream Pipeline presentation.

2025 IRP TAG 2 – Thursday, July 25, 2024
Location TBD – Time TBD
Respond to TAG 1 Feedback, Distribution System Planning, Alternative Resources, Price Forecast, Avoided Costs, Current Supply Resources, Transport Issues, Carbon Impacts, Energy Efficiency, Bio-Natural Gas, Preliminary Resource Integration Results.

2025 IRP TAG 3 – Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Location TBD – Time TBD
Respond to TAG 2 feedback, Final Integration Results, finalization of plan components, Proposed new 2- to 4-year Action Plan