8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

April 26, 2007

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission File No. 1-15973

Oregon	93-0256722
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

220 N.W. Second Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97209

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including area code: (503) 226-4211

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On April 30, 2007, Northwest Natural Gas Company (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that on April 26, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company promoted Executive Vice President, Gregg S. Kantor, to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer, effective May 1, 2007. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1. In his new role, Mr. Kantor, who turns 50 on April 30, will oversee utility operations and services, as well as corporate communications, regulatory affairs and purchasing.

Mr. Kantor joined the Company in 1996 as Director of Public Affairs and Communications and in 1998 was promoted to the position of Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications. He served as Senior Vice President of Public and Regulatory Affairs from 2003 to 2006 and was appointed as Executive Vice President in December 2006.

In connection with his promotion, Mr. Kantor’s salary was increased from $235,000 to $325,000 and his target incentive under the Company’s Executive Annual Incentive Plan was increased from 35 percent to 45 percent.

Mark S. Dodson will continue as Chief Executive Officer.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure

On April 26, 2007, the Company issued a press release announcing that on that date the Board of Directors of the Company extended the Company’s share repurchase program through May 31, 2008 and approved an increase in the number of shares authorized for purchase under the program to an aggregate total of up to 2.8 million shares and $100 million in value. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.2.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)	Exhibits
99.1	Press Release of Northwest Natural Gas Company announcing appointment of Gregg S. Kantor as President issued April 27, 2007.
99.2	Press Release of Northwest Natural Gas Company announcing extension of its share repurchase program issued April 26, 2007.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY
	(Registrant)
Dated: April 27, 2007	/s/ DAVID H. ANDERSON
	David H. Anderson
	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibits	Description
99.1	Press Release of Northwest Natural Gas Company announcing appointment of Gregg S. Kantor as President issued April 27, 2007.
99.2	Press Release of Northwest Natural Gas Company announcing extension of its share repurchase program issued April 26, 2007.

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 2007

NW Natural’s Board of Directors Names Gregg S. Kantor President and Chief Operating Officer

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Board of Directors of Northwest Natural Gas Company (NYSE: NWN), dba NW Natural, today announced the appointment of Gregg S. Kantor as its President and Chief Operating Officer effective May 1, 2007. The Oregon-headquartered gas utility, founded in 1859, is the region’s largest independent local distribution company.

“At its April meeting, the Board of Directors named Gregg President and Chief Operating Officer,” said Mark Dodson, NW Natural’s Chief Executive Officer. “Gregg will now be responsible for the bulk of day-to-day operations of the company and will continue to report directly to me.”

“Over the last ten years at NW Natural Gregg has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and the Board believes he is ready to assume these added responsibilities,” said Richard G. Reiten, Chairman of the Board.

Dodson added that Kantor’s appointment “will allow me to continue to focus my energies on the company’s strategic direction and opportunities for growth.”

“It is a real privilege to be given the opportunity to help lead this 148-year-old Oregon company into the future,” Kantor said. “NW Natural has a long legacy of talented, hardworking people who are deeply dedicated to serving customers and their communities. My mission is to nurture this proud tradition while working to meet the challenges of a changing industry.”

Kantor, who turns 50 on April 30, has served as NW Natural’s Executive Vice President since late 2006. Previously he held Senior Vice President and Vice President positions in Regulatory Affairs, Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. Kantor joined NW Natural in 1996 after serving in communications and community development management positions at Portland General Electric, the Bonneville Power Administration, and the Oregon governor’s office.

Dave Williams, Vice President of Utility Services and Grant Yoshihara, Vice President of Utility Operations, will now report directly to Kantor, in addition to the Regulatory Affairs, Corporate Communications, and Purchasing areas. Other members of the executive team will continue to report to Mark Dodson.

Kantor is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara and holds a masters degree from the University of Oregon. He is active in business and civic issues and serves on a number of non profit boards, including the Portland Business Alliance, United Way and the Portland Schools Foundation.

Kantor is married to Diane Kantor. They reside in Portland and have two daughters, Olivia and Sabrina.

# # #

EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 26, 2007

NW Natural Extends Share Repurchase Program

Board extends and increases program to $100 million or 2.8 million shares

PORTLAND, ORE.—The Board of Directors of Northwest Natural Gas Company, dba NW Natural (NYSE: NWN), today approved an increase in the number of shares authorized for purchase under the company’s share repurchase program to an aggregate total of up to 2.8 million shares and $100 million in value.

The repurchase program, first authorized in 2000 for up to 2 million shares and $35 million in value, has been extended annually. The current extension, effective through May 31, 2008, increases the authorization from $85 million to $100 million. Since the program’s inception through March 31, 2007, the company has repurchased nearly 1.37 million shares of common stock at a total cost of $48.1 million.

During the first quarter of 2007, the company purchased 206,700 shares as part of this program. As of March 31, 2007, the company had 27.1 million shares outstanding.

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 or performance, 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, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” and “Forward-Looking Statements” following Part II, Item 7A, in the company's 2006 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.

About NW Natural

NW Natural is headquartered in Portland, Ore., and serves over 641,000 residential and business customers in Oregon and southwest Washington. It is the largest independent natural gas utility in the Pacific Northwest. NW Natural is also one of the fastest-growing local distribution companies in the nation. The company has approximately $1.9 billion in total assets, which includes 14 Bcf of underground gas storage capacity within its service territory at Mist, Ore. The company has rate mechanisms in place that help to protect revenues from warmer than average weather and declining consumption. NW Natural has increased its dividends paid on common stock for 51 consecutive years.

CONTACT:	Northwest Natural Gas Company, Portland
	Bob Hess, 503-220-2388 (INVESTOR CONTACT)
	Bob.Hess@nwnatural.com
	or
	Steve Sechrist, 503-220-2594 (PRESS CONTACT)
	Steve.Sechrist@nwnatural.com