NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS CO - FORM 8-K - EX-99.1 - PRESS RELEASE

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8-K - FORM 8-K - NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS CO	form8-kq42016.htm

Exhibit 99.1



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:	Feb. 27, 2017

NW Natural Reports Results for the

Three and Twelve Months Ended Dec. 31, 2016

Issues 2017 EPS Guidance

___________________________________________________


•	Reported consolidated earnings of $2.12 per share on net income of $58.9 million for 2016, compared to $1.96 per share and $53.7 million for 2015.

•

Affecting both annual periods was the environmental cost recovery docket and the implementation of the environmental cost recovery mechanism. As a result of decisions in this docket, we recorded a $2.0 million after-tax or $0.07 per share disallowance in 2016, and in 2015 we recorded a $9.1 million after-tax or $0.33 per share disallowance⁽¹⁾. Excluding these disallowances⁽²⁾, net income was $2.19 per share for 2016 and $2.29 per share for 2015 from lower other income and higher O&M expense.


•	Increased utility margin by $5.2 million for 2016 with the addition of 10,700 utility customers reflecting an annual customer growth rate of 1.5% for the year.


•	Began construction on North Mist Gas Storage Expansion Project. Project costs are estimated to be $128 million with an in-service date targeted for the winter of 2018-19.

•

Continued our legacy of excellent customer service with the highest residential customer satisfaction score among large utilities in the West and the second highest residential score in the nation in the 2016 J.D. Power Gas Utility Customer Satisfaction study. The Company also ranked first in the West and posted the second highest score in the nation in the 2016 J.D. Power Gas Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study.


•	Reduced residential customer rates to the lowest level in 15 years with a rate reduction effective Nov. 1, 2016 in both Oregon and Washington. In addition, we credited $19.4 million to customers' June bills.


•	Outlined our long-term strategy to continue safely, reliably, and affordably serving our growing customer base in our 2016 Integrated Resource Plan and have received acknowledgment of the Plan from the Oregon Commission.


•	Delivered increasing dividends for the 61^st consecutive year. The Company’s current annual indicated dividend rate is $1.88 per share.


•	Issued earnings guidance for 2017 with earnings per share expected to range from $2.05 to $2.25 per share.

___________________________________________________

PORTLAND, ORE.—Northwest Natural Gas Company, dba NW Natural (NYSE: NWN), reported earnings per share (EPS) of $2.12 on net income of $58.9 million for 2016, compared to $1.96 per share on net income of $53.7 million for 2015. Results for the year were affected by non-cash charges related to the Company's environmental regulatory proceeding in 2016 and 2015. The first quarter of 2016 included a $2.0 million after-tax, or $0.07 per share disallowance⁽¹⁾, from the OPUC's 2016 Order (2016 Order), which was related to the Company's compliance filing under the environmental mechanism. The first quarter of 2015 included a $9.1

million after-tax charge or $0.33 per share disallowance from the February 2015 OPUC Order (2015 Order) in the environmental docket.

Excluding these charges⁽²⁾on a non-GAAP basis, consolidated earnings were $2.19 per share on net income of $60.9 million for 2016, compared to $2.29 per share on net income of $62.8 million for 2015. The decrease in net income was primarily due to lower other income and higher O&M expense, offset in part by strong utility margin and improved gas storage revenues.

"This was a significant year for NW Natural with important progress on key growth initiatives such as the North Mist Expansion Project," said David H. Anderson, President and CEO. "Our core utility continued to perform well with strong margins and the highest annual customer growth rate since 2008. And I'm proud that once again the dedication of our employees led to the highest residential and business customer satisfaction score in the West according to J.D. Power and Associates. This legacy of service coupled with historically low natural gas prices and a strong customer preference for our product is creating opportunities that I am confident we can execute on for continued growth in the years to come."

^{__________________________________________________}

⁽¹⁾EPS calculation based on average diluted shares outstanding of 27.8 million for 2016 and 27.4 million for 2015 and an income tax rate of 39.5% for both periods.

⁽²⁾See tabular reconciliation of non-GAAP measures in Consolidated Results section below.

Construction Begins on North Mist Gas Storage Expansion Project

The North Mist Gas Storage Expansion Project is designed to provide long-term, no-notice underground gas storage service to support gas-fired electric generating facilities, which are integrating more wind power into their generation mix. Natural gas storage enables electric generation to adjust quickly when renewable energy - like wind and solar - rise and fall with natural variability. Through our no-notice service, the local electric company will be able to draw on our North Mist gas storage facility to meet its fueling needs and rapidly respond to changing conditions in wind generation. The reliability and flexibility of supporting resources like natural gas are vital to Oregon as we seek to move toward 50% renewable electricity by 2040.

The estimated cost of the expansion is $128 million with a targeted in-service date for the winter of 2018-19. As of Dec. 31, 2016, the Company has invested $21 million in the expansion with an additional $80 to $90 million expected in 2017 and the reminder of the expenditures in 2018.

During the fourth quarter of 2016 and early 2017, the Company began constructing the main well pad and drilling the wells. We also commenced analyzing the reservoir and began procuring materials for the project. In 2017 we anticipate continuing construction of the well pads, the compressors, and the pipeline with final construction steps, natural gas injections, and testing planned in 2018 to meet the targeted in-service date. The expansion will be rate-based under an established tariff when it is placed into service.

Full-Year and Fourth Quarter Results

Consolidated Results

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2016, NW Natural earnings increased $5.2 million or $0.16 per share compared to 2015 largely due to the non-cash charges related to the 2015 and 2016 Orders. Excluding these charges on a non-GAAP basis, net income decreased $1.9 million or $0.10 per share for the same comparative periods primarily due to several offsetting factors including a $5.5 million decrease in other income related to the recognition of equity earnings on environmental expenditures in 2015 and a $7.0 million increase in O&M expense as we resumed sustainable expense levels after temporary cost savings initiatives in 2015. These factors were offset in part by a $5.2 million increase in utility margin attributable to customer growth and a $3.9 million increase in gas storage revenues.

The full year results are summarized in the table below:



	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2016				2015
In thousands, except per share data	Amount		Per Share		Amount		Per Share		Change			Per Share Change
Net income:
Utility segment	$	54,567	$	1.96	$	53,391	$	1.95	$	1,176		$	0.01
Gas storage segment	4,303		0.16		174		0.01		4,129			0.15
Other	25		—		138		—		(113		)	—
Consolidated net income	$	58,895	$	2.12	$	53,703	$	1.96	$	5,192		$	0.16
Adjustments:
Regulatory environmental disallowance, net of taxes ($1,304 and $5,925)⁽¹⁾	1,996		0.07		9,075		0.33		(7,079		)	(0.26		)
Adjusted consolidated net income⁽¹⁾	$	60,891	$	2.19	$	62,778	$	2.29	$	(1,887	)	$	(0.10	)
Utility margin	$	376,591			$	371,392			$	5,199
Gas storage operating revenues	25,266				21,356				3,910

⁽¹⁾ Regulatory environmental disallowance of $3.3 million in 2016 was recorded in utility other income ($2.8 million) and utility O&M expense ($0.5 million). Regulatory environmental disallowance of $15.0 million in 2015 was recorded in utility O&M expense. Adjusted EPS and net income are non-GAAP financial measures based on the after-tax disallowance. EPS is calculated using the combined federal and state statutory tax rate of 39.5% and 27.8 million and 27.4 million diluted shares for the twelve months ended Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

For the three months ended Dec. 31, 2016, net income decreased $1.4 million or $0.08 per share compared to the same period in 2015 due to a $4.1 million increase in O&M expense partially offset by $1.2 million increase in utility margins and a $1.6 million decrease in interest expense due to similar trends noted for the annual period.

The fourth quarter results are summarized in the table below:



	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2016				2015
In thousands, except per share data	Amount		Per Share		Amount			Per Share			Change			Per Share Change
Net income (loss):
Utility segment	$	27,719	$	0.98	$	30,340		$	1.11		$	(2,621	)	$	(0.13	)
Gas storage segment	315		0.01		(653		)	(0.03		)	968			0.04
Other	241		0.01		18			—			223			0.01
Consolidated net income	$	28,275	$	1.00	$	29,705		$	1.08		$	(1,430	)	$	(0.08	)
Utility margin	$	119,633			$	118,457					$	1,176
Gas storage operating revenues	5,612				5,124						488

Utility Results

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2016, utility segment net income increased $1.2 million or $0.01 per share compared to 2015 due to several offsetting factors including a $5.2 million increase in utility margin reflecting customer growth and an increase in gas cost incentive sharing gains, and an $8.3 million decrease in O&M expense primarily due to the environmental disallowance in 2015. These positive factors were offset by a $8.7 million decrease in other income mainly due to the recognition of equity earnings on deferred environmental expenditures from the 2015 Order and an environmental interest disallowance from the 2016 Order. Depreciation expense also increased $1.9 million due to planned additional utility capital investments.

For the three months ended Dec. 31, 2016, utility segment net income decreased $2.6 million or $0.13 per share compared to the same period in 2015 due to a $4.3 million increase in O&M expense from higher payroll, contractor, and professional service expenses, partially offset by a $1.2 million increase in utility margin primarily reflecting customer growth.

Customer Growth. NW Natural achieved a customer growth rate for the trailing twelve-month period ended Dec. 31, 2016 of 1.5%, with the Company serving over 725,000 customers at year end.

Utility Volume and Margin. The following table presents key utility margin metrics:



	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
					Favorable/(Unfavorable)
(Dollars and therms in thousands)	2016		2015		Change			% Change
Gas sales and transportation deliveries (in therms)	1,084,996		1,028,612		56,384			5	%
Weather (in heating degree days)	3,551		3,458		93			3	%
Utility operating revenues	$	650,477	$	702,210	$	(51,733	)	(7	)%
Less: Cost of gas	260,588		327,305		66,717			20	%
Environmental remediation expense	13,298		3,513		(9,785		)	(279	)%
Utility margin⁽¹⁾	$	376,591	$	371,392	$	5,199		1	%

	Three Months Ended December 31,
					Favorable/(Unfavorable)
(Dollars and therms in thousands)	2016		2015		Change			% Change
Gas sales and transportation deliveries (in therms)	357,309		336,085		21,224			6	%
Weather (in heating degree days)	1,485		1,390		95			7	%
Utility operating revenues	$	227,860	$	225,538	$	2,322		1	%
Less: Cost of gas	103,042		103,568		526			1	%
Environmental remediation expense	5,185		3,513		(1,672		)	(48	)%
Utility margin⁽¹⁾	$	119,633	$	118,457	$	1,176		1	%

⁽¹⁾ In November 2015 the Company began collecting revenues from customers through the environmental mechanism. These collections are included in utility operating revenues and are offset by the amortization of environmental liabilities presented in the environmental remediation expense line in the operating expense section of the income statement. Utility margin provides a key metric in assessing the performance of the utility segment.

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2016, utility margin increased $5.2 million compared to 2015 due to a $5.7 million increase from customer growth and a $0.8 million increase in gains from our gas cost incentive sharing mechanism as a result of lower gas prices than those estimated in the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA). These increases were offset by a $1.3 million decrease in contributions from our gas reserve investments due to amortization of the investment.

Although weather overall for 2016 was comparable to 2015, deliveries increased 5% due to colder weather during our peak heating season, specifically the first quarter and December of 2016 compared to 2015. Temperatures during 2016 and 2015 were warmer than average by 17% and 18% , respectively, with 2015 experiencing record warm weather.

For the three months ended Dec. 31, 2016, utility margin increased $1.2 million compared to the same period in 2015 primarily due to a $1.7 million increase from customer growth and a $0.6 million increase from higher usage during colder weather in December 2016 from our Washington customers that do not have a weather normalization mechanism and Oregon customers who opt out of the weather normalization mechanism. These increases were offset by a $1.4 million decrease in gains from our gas cost incentive sharing mechanism.

Although we continued to experience warmer than average weather overall during the fourth quarter of 2016 with temperatures 7% above average, deliveries of natural gas increased 6% for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 as weather was 7% colder than 2015.

Gas Storage Results

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2016, the gas storage segment net income increased $4.1 million or $0.15 per share compared to 2015. For the three months ended Dec. 31, 2016, the gas storage segment net income increased $1.0 million or $0.04 per share compared to the same period in 2015. Both the annual and fourth quarter results reflected an increase in asset management revenues from our Mist facility and transportation capacity as well as slightly higher firm revenues at Gill Ranch for the 2016-17 gas storage year. In addition, lower interest expense also contributed to improved results.

Consolidated Operations

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2016, O&M expense decreased $7.5 million compared to 2015 primarily due to the $15.0 million pre-tax charge from the 2015 Order offset by higher expenses as we resumed a sustainable operating expense level in 2016 after implementing temporary cost savings initiatives in the second half of 2015. Expense increases were primarily in utility payroll and non-payroll. Payroll increased due to additional field support and customer service employees and general pay increases. Non-payroll increases were in professional services and contract work due to general customer service cost increases from system integrity work and other maintenance. For the three months ended Dec. 31, 2016, O&M expense increased $4.1 million compared to the same period in 2015 primarily due to similar trends noted for the annual period.

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2016, other income decreased $8.3 million compared to 2015 primarily due to the recognition of $5.3 million of equity earnings from deferred environmental expenses as a result of the 2015 Order. In addition, the 2016 Order resulted in a disallowance of $2.8 million. For the three months ended Dec. 31, 2016, other income was comparable to the same period in the prior year.

Cash Flows

Cash provided by operations increased $37.5 million to $222.1 million for 2016 due to an increase in working capital reflecting higher gas cost payable balances related to colder comparative weather in December 2016 and an increase in deferred tax liabilities primarily from the continued availability of bonus depreciation. These factors were partially offset by changes in deferred gas costs reflecting variances in actual natural gas market prices compared to those forecasted in the PGA and an early gas cost savings credit on customers' bills in June 2016.

Cash outflows from investing activities increased $21.3 million to $136.6 million for 2016 primarily due to higher capital expenditures from projects such as infrastructure upgrades in Clark County, Washington to support customer growth, the refurbishment of our liquefied natural gas facility in Newport, Oregon, the North Mist Expansion Project, and our on-going investment in technology.

Cash outflows from financing activities increased $11.5 million to $86.2 million for 2016 primarily due to the reduction of short-term debt and commercial paper balances partially offset by proceeds from a $53 million equity issuance in November 2016 and long-term debt issuances totaling $150 million in December 2016.

2017 Earnings Guidance

The Company initiated 2017 earnings guidance today in the range of $2.05 to $2.25 per share. This guidance assumes customer growth from our utility segment, average weather conditions, slow recovery of the gas storage market, and no significant changes in prevailing regulatory policies, mechanisms, or outcomes, or significant laws or regulations.

Dividend Declaration

The board of directors of NW Natural declared a quarterly dividend of 47 cents per share on the Company’s common stock. The dividends were paid Feb. 15, 2017 to shareholders of record on Jan. 31, 2017. The Company’s indicated annual dividend rate is $1.88 per share.

Presentation of Results

In addition to presenting the results of operations and earnings amounts in total, certain financial measures are expressed in cents per share or exclude the after-tax regulatory charges related to the Orders implementing the SRRM in 2015 and 2016, which are non-GAAP financial measures. We present net income, EPS, and O&M expense excluding the regulatory disallowance along with the GAAP measures to illustrate the magnitude of this disallowance on ongoing business and operational results. Although the excluded amounts are properly included in the determination of these items under GAAP, we believe the amount and nature of such disallowance make period to period comparisons of operations difficult or potentially confusing. Financial measures are expressed in cents per share as these amounts reflect factors that directly impact earnings, including income taxes. All references to EPS are on the basis of diluted shares. We use such non-GAAP

financial measures to analyze our financial performance because we believe they provide useful information to our investors and creditors in evaluating our financial condition and results of operations.

Conference Call Arrangements

As previously reported, NW Natural will conduct a conference call and webcast starting at 8 a.m. Pacific Time (11 a.m. Eastern Time) on Feb. 27, 2017 to review the Company's financial and operating results for the year and quarter ended Dec. 31, 2016.

To hear the conference call live, please dial 1-866-267-6789 within the United States and 1-855-669-9657 from Canada. International callers can dial 1-412-902-4110. To access the conference replay, please call 1-877-344-7529 and enter the conference identification pass code (10099417). To hear the replay from international locations, please dial 1-412-317-0088.

To hear the conference by webcast, log on to NW Natural's corporate website at www.nwnatural.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This report, and other presentations made by NW Natural from time to time, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipates," "assumes," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "believes," "estimates," "expects" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the following: plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, investments, customer growth, weather, commodity and other costs, customer rates or rate recovery, customer preference, growth, adoption of renewable energy and our ability to provide effective supporting resources, environmental remediation cost recoveries, levels and pricing of gas storage contracts, gas storage development or costs or timing related thereto, financial positions, O&M expense, capital expenditures, free cash flow levels, revenues and earnings and the timing thereof, dividends, performance, timing or effects of future regulatory proceedings or future regulatory approvals, regulatory prudence reviews, effects of regulatory mechanisms, including, but not limited to, SRRM, and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts.

Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. We caution you therefore against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future operational or financial performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are discussed by reference to the factors described in Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors", and Part II, Item 7 and Item 7A "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk" in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Part I, Items 2 and 3 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk", and Part II, Item 1A, "Risk Factors", in the Company's quarterly reports filed thereafter.

All forward-looking statements made in this report and all subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral and whether made by or on behalf of the Company, are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for the Company to predict all such factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

About NW Natural

NW Natural (NYSE:NWN) is headquartered in Portland, Ore., and provides natural gas service to more than 725,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers through 14,000 miles of mains and service lines in western Oregon and southwestern Washington. It is the largest independent natural gas utility in the Pacific Northwest with $3.1 billion in total assets. NW Natural and its subsidiaries currently own and operate underground gas storage facilities with storage capacity of approximately 31 Bcf in Oregon and California. Additional information is available at www.nwnatural.com.

# # #

Investor Contact:

Nikki Sparley

Phone: 503-721-2530

Email: n1s@nwnatural.com

Media Contact:

Melissa Moore

Phone: 503-220-2436

Email: msm@nwnatural.com



	NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY
	Financial Highlights (Unaudited)
	Fourth Quarter and Year - 2016

			Three Months Ended							Twelve Months Ended
In thousands, except per share amounts, customer, and degree day data			December 31,							December 31,
		2016			2015			Change	2016			2015			Change
Operating revenues		$	233,528		$	230,718		1%	$	675,967		$	723,791		(7)%

Operating expenses:
	Cost of gas		103,042			103,568		(1)		260,588			327,305		(20)
	Operations and maintenance		40,203			36,063		11		149,974			157,521		(5)
	Environmental remediation		5,185			3,513		48		13,298			3,513		279
	General taxes		7,205			7,128		1		30,538			30,281		1
	Depreciation and amortization		20,854			20,240		3		82,289			80,923		2
	Total operating expenses		176,489			170,512		4		536,687			599,543		(10)
Income from operations			57,039			60,206		(5)		139,280			124,248		12
Other income (expense), net			601			817		(26)		(543	)		7,747		(107)
Interest expense, net			9,945			11,509		(14)		39,128			42,539		(8)
Income before income taxes			47,695			49,514		(4)		99,609			89,456		11
Income tax expense			19,420			19,809		(2)		40,714			35,753		14
Net income		$	28,275		$	29,705		(5)	$	58,895		$	53,703		10

Common shares outstanding:
	Average diluted for period		28,202			27,473				27,779			27,417
	End of period		28,630			27,427				28,630			27,427

Per share information:
Diluted earnings per share		$	1.00		$	1.08			$	2.12		$	1.96
Dividends declared per share of common stock			0.470			0.468				1.87			1.86
Book value per share, end of period			29.71			28.47				29.71			28.47
Market closing price, end of period			59.80			50.61				59.80			50.61

Capital structure, end of period:
	Common stock equity		52.4	%		47.5	%			52.4	%		47.5	%
	Long-term debt		41.9			34.6				41.9			34.6
	Short-term debt (including amounts due in one year)		5.7			17.9				5.7			17.9
	Total		100.0	%		100.0	%			100.0	%		100.0	%

Operating statistics:
Customers - end of period			725,146			714,428		1.5%		725,146			714,428		1.5%
Utility volumes - therms:
	Residential and commercial sales		228,113			213,183				609,222			570,728
	Industrial sales and transportation		129,196			122,902				475,774			457,884
Total utility volumes sold and delivered			357,309			336,085				1,084,996			1,028,612
Utility operating revenues:
	Residential and commercial sales	$	215,701		$	212,768			$	604,390		$	644,835
	Industrial sales and transportation		17,338			17,872				59,386			71,495
	Other revenues		680			726				3,812			3,914
	Less: Revenue taxes		5,859			5,828				17,111			18,034
Total utility operating revenues			227,860			225,538				650,477			702,210
	Less: Cost of gas		103,042			103,568				260,588			327,305
	Environmental remediation expense		5,185			3,513				13,298			3,513
Utility margin, net		$	119,633		$	118,457			$	376,591		$	371,392
Degree days:
	Average (25-year average)		1,600			1,600				4,256			4,240
	Actual		1,485			1,390		7%		3,551			3,458		3%
Percent (warmer) colder than average weather			(7	)%		(13	)%			(17	)%		(18	)%



NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)				December 31,			December 31,
In thousands				2016			2015
Assets:
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	3,521		$	4,211
	Accounts receivable			66,700			68,228
	Accrued unbilled revenue			64,946			57,987
	Allowance for uncollectible accounts			(1,290	)		(870	)
	Regulatory assets			42,362			69,178
	Derivative instruments			17,031			2,719
	Inventories			54,129			70,868
	Gas reserves			15,926			17,094
	Income taxes receivable			—			7,900
	Other current assets			24,728			33,460
		Total current assets		288,053			330,775
Non-current assets:
	Property, plant, and equipment			3,208,816			3,089,380
	Less: Accumulated depreciation			947,916			906,717
		Total property, plant, and equipment, net		2,260,900			2,182,663
	Gas reserves			100,184			114,552
	Regulatory assets			357,530			370,711
	Derivative instruments			3,265			27
	Other investments			68,376			68,066
	Other non-current assets			1,493			2,616
		Total non-current assets		2,791,748			2,738,635
		Total assets	$	3,079,801		$	3,069,410
Liabilities and equity:
Current liabilities:
	Short-term debt		$	53,300		$	270,035
	Current maturities of long-term debt			39,989			24,973
	Accounts payable			85,664			73,219
	Taxes accrued			12,149			10,420
	Interest accrued			5,966			5,873
	Regulatory liabilities			40,290			29,927
	Derivative instruments			1,315			22,092
	Other current liabilities			35,844			41,148
		Total current liabilities		274,517			477,687
Long-term debt				679,334			569,445
Deferred credits and other non-current liabilities:
	Deferred tax liabilities			557,085			530,021
	Regulatory liabilities			349,319			339,287
	Pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities			225,725			223,105
	Derivative instruments			913			3,447
	Other non-current liabilities			142,411			145,446
		Total deferred credits and other non-current liabilities		1,275,453			1,241,306
Equity:
	Common stock			445,187			383,144
	Retained earnings			412,261			404,990
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(6,951	)		(7,162	)
		Total equity		850,497			780,972
		Total liabilities and equity	$	3,079,801		$	3,069,410



NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)					Year Ended December 31,
In thousands					2016			2015
Operating activities:
	Net income			$	58,895		$	53,703
	Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operations:
		Depreciation and amortization			82,289			80,923
		Regulatory amortization of gas reserves			15,525			17,991
		Deferred tax liabilities, net			32,056			26,972
		Qualified defined benefit pension plan expense			5,274			5,697
		Contributions to qualified defined benefit pension plans			(14,470	)		(14,120	)
		Deferred environmental (expenditures) recoveries, net			(10,469	)		(10,568	)
		Regulatory disallowance of prior environmental cost deferrals			3,287			15,000
		Interest income on deferred environmental expenses			—			(5,322	)
		Amortization of environmental remediation			13,298			3,513
		Other			3,225			3,709
		Changes in assets and liabilities:
			Receivables		(7,484	)		2,373
			Inventories		16,620			6,964
			Income taxes		9,467			(6,541	)
			Accounts payable		12,380			(17,175	)
			Interest accrued		93			(206	)
			Deferred gas costs		(10,204	)		31,918
			Other, net		12,365			(10,143	)
		Cash provided by operating activities			222,147			184,688
Investing activities:
	Capital expenditures				(139,511	)		(118,320	)
	Utility gas reserves				—			(1,549	)
	Proceeds from sale of assets				521			410
	Restricted cash				—			3,000
	Other				2,361			1,161
		Cash used in investing activities			(136,629	)		(115,298	)
Financing activities:
	Common stock issued, net				60,122			3,875
	Long-term debt issued				150,000			—
	Long-term debt retired				(25,000	)		(60,000	)
	Change in short-term debt				(216,735	)		35,335
	Cash dividend payments on common stock				(51,508	)		(49,243	)
	Other				(3,087	)		(4,680	)
		Cash used in financing activities			(86,208	)		(74,713	)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents					(690	)		(5,323	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period					4,211			9,534
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period				$	3,521		$	4,211

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
	Interest paid, net of capitalization			$	36,023		$	39,634
	Income taxes paid				(7,157	)		17,306

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NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS CO Reports