BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

 
In the Matter of the Requested   )
Waiver of Statutory Notice in   ) DOCKET UG-000597
Connection with the Tariff   ) ORDER APPROVING BANDED RATE
Filed by Cascade Natural                 ) TARIFF AND GRANTING LESS
Gas Corporation               ) THAN STATUTORY NOTICE
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . )

BACKGROUND

  On April 20, 2000, Cascade Natural Gas Corporation (“CNG” or “Company” ) 
filed with the Commission, under Advice No. CNG/W00-03-02,  revisions to its 
currently effective Tariff WN U-3, designated as the Original Sheet No. 687.
  
  The tariff sheet bears an effective date of May 20, 2000.  This date 
recognizes statutory notice as required.  The Company requests, however, that 
statutory notice be waived and that the tariff become effective May 11, 2000. 

 The proposal in Docket UG-000597 establishes a banded rate, optional gas 
management
service for non-residential customers who purchase their own gas supply and 
transportation agreements.  CNG will manage the transportation and delivery of 
natural gas on the interstate pipelines for customers who opt for this 
service.  These services include daily pipeline nominations, review of all 
nomination confirmations,  pipeline balancing, and monthly management reports.  
Furthermore, CNG will attempt to mitigate unused firm transportation costs for 
these customers by utilizing the natural gas capacity release market.  The 
reason for the request for less than statutory notice is to expedite 
implementation of the rates resulting from discussion and negotiation in Docket 
UG-000470 which had an original effective date of May 1, 2000.

  Since the tariff revisions filed herein are fair, just and reasonable, and 
waiver of statutory notice is not inconsis-tent with the public interest, it is 
deemed appropriate that the Company be granted the waiver it is requesting with 
an effective date of May 11, 2000.
                                                                                
                                 

       FINDINGS

  After careful examination of the tariff revisions filed herein by Cascade 
Natural Gas Company, April 20, 2000, and giving consideration to all relevant 
matters and for good cause shown, the Commission finds that the tariff 
revisions should become effective May 11, 2000.
  
 The Commission also finds, pursuant to RCW 80.28.075, that the proposed 
service is subject to effective competition from energy suppliers not regulated 
by the Commission.


O R D E R

  THE COMMISSION THEREFORE ORDERS:

  That the requested waiver of statutory notice in connection with the tariff
revisions filed herein by Cascade Natural Gas Company, April 20-, 2000, is 
hereby granted, and said tariff revisions shall become effective May 11, 2000, 
as a banded rate pursuant to RCW 80.28.075.

  That CNG will bear the burden of proof in future revenue requirement 
proceedings that:  the contracts signed pursuant to this schedule are not 
adverse to core customers, and that net income recovered under this schedule is 
maximized.
  
  DATED at Olympia, Washington, and effective this 10th day of May, 2000.

  WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION


               
                            MARILYN SHOWALTER, Chairwoman



     WILLIAM R. GILLIS, Commissioner