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EX-5.(B) - EXHIBIT 5.(B) - NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COexhibit5bmtnfinancing.htm
8-K - FORM 8-K - NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COa8-kreportingmtnfmbissuance.htm





Exhibit 5(a)

September 13, 2017
Northwest Natural Gas Company
220 N.W. Second Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97209
Ladies and Gentlemen:
With respect to Registration Statement No. 333-214496 (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on November 8, 2016 by Northwest Natural Gas Company (the “Company”), I have reviewed such documents and records as I have deemed necessary to enable me to express an opinion on the matters covered hereby. The Registration Statement relates to, among other things, the offer and sale of $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Secured Medium Term Notes, Series B, consisting of $25,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.822% Secured Medium-Term Notes, Series B due 2027 and $75,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.685% Secured Medium-Term Notes, Series B due 2047 (the “Notes”), issued under the Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of July 1, 1946, as amended and supplemented (the “Mortgage”), between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company), as trustee (the “Trustee”).
Based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:
1. the Company is a corporation validly existing under the laws of the State of Oregon; and
2. the Notes are legally issued and binding obligations of the Company.
For purposes of the opinions set forth above, I have assumed that the Notes have been duly authenticated, in accordance with the Mortgage, by the Trustee under the Mortgage.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company on or about September 13, 2017, which will be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. In giving the foregoing consent, I do not thereby admit that I come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

This opinion is limited to the laws of the States of New York and Oregon and the federal laws of the United States. As to all matters of New York law, I have relied upon an opinion of even date herewith addressed to you by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.
 
 
Very truly yours,
 
/s/ MardiLyn Saathoff, Esq.
 
MardiLyn Saathoff, Esq.
Senior Vice President, Regulation
and General Counsel