Unique Conversations
Justin Palfreyman is VP-Strategy/Business Development of NW Natural Water. Paul Kjellander is Senior Advisor at Public Utilities Fortnightly.
NW Natural, headquartered in Portland Oregon, is a local distribution company that currently provides natural gas service to approximately 2.5 million people. It has been providing top-notch service for over one hundred sixty years.
But the word is out that a relatively newish subsidiary of that gas utility's holding company is seeking growth via acquisition of water and wastewater utilities. NW Natural Water is a much needed resource for often struggling small water utilities and even larger ones.
PUF's Paul Kjellander, a former Idaho regulator, has seen firsthand how small water utilities often struggle. He discussed the hows and whys of strategic decisions concerning these acquisitions with NW Natural VP Justin Palfreyman.
PUF: Historically, as people think about NW Natural as a utility, it's natural gas. Now NW Natural is earning a reputation as a water company. Was that a natural transition?
Justin Palfreyman: Yes. It was both a natural and deliberate transition.