On May 1, 2009, Northwest Natural Gas Company issued a press release announcing its earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

The information contained herein and in the accompanying exhibit shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing of NW Natural, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, unless expressly incorporated by specific reference to such filing. The information in this report, including the exhibit hereto, shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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 Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, performance, regulatory actions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. The company's expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and are believed to have a reasonable basis. However, each such forward-looking statement involves uncertainties and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the factors described in Part I, "Forward-Looking Statements"; Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," and Part II, Item 7A "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Part I, "Forward-Looking Statements"; Part I, Item 3, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk," and Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in the company's most recent quarterly financial statements issued subsequent to the last Annual Report on Form 10-K that could cause the actual results of the company to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements.

All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral and whether made by or on behalf of the company, also are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. 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 statement.

(d) Exhibits

The following exhibits are being furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 herein.

Exhibit      Description

 99.1        Press Release of Northwest Natural Gas Company issued May 1, 2009
             (furnished and not filed).