Segment Information

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Disclosure Segment Information [Abstract]

Segment Information Text Block

4.       Segment Information

We operate in two primary reportable business segments, which we refer to as “utility” and “gas storage.”  We also have other investments and business activities not specifically related to one of these two reporting segments, which we aggregate and report as “other.”  We also refer to our gas storage and other business segments as “non-utility.” Our gas storage segment includes:NWN Gas Storage, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NWN Energy;Gill Ranch, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NWN Gas Storage;the non-utility portion of our underground storage facility in Oregon (Mist); and revenues from third-party asset management services. Our other segment includes NNG Financial and our equity investment in PGH, which is pursuing development ofthe Palomar pipeline project.For the periods presented, intersegment transactions were insignificant.For further discussion of our segments, see Note 4 in our 2011 Form 10-K.

The following table presents summary financial information about the reportable segments for the threemonths ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
			Non-Utility
Thousands		Utility		Gas Storage		Other		Total
2012
Net operating revenues	$	133,150	$	6,679	$	39	$	139,868
Depreciation and amortization		16,338		1,612		-		17,950
Income from operations		75,964		2,679		23		78,666
Net income		39,791		806		10		40,607
Total assets at March 31, 2012		2,424,583		286,756		15,923		2,727,262
2011
Net operating revenues	$	129,162	$	5,304	$	42	$	134,508
Depreciation and amortization		15,914		1,395		-		17,309
Income from operations		76,124		1,716		22		77,862
Net income		40,130		688		(45)		40,773
Total assets at March 31, 2011		2,304,731		244,403		22,419		2,571,553
Total assets at December 31, 2011	$	2,435,888	$	294,637	$	16,049	$	2,746,574