Derivative Instruments Credit Rating - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Derivative [Line Items]
Unrealized losses on derivatives	$ (34,100,000)	$ 2,300,000
Collateral Posted with NW Natural Counterparties [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Additional Collateral, Aggregate Fair Value	0	0
Northwest Natural Gas Company [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Amount Not Offset Against Collateral	35,600,000	4,300,000	$ 9,400,000
Derivative liability	$ 1,300,000	$ 3,900,000	$ 1,900,000

The aggregate fair value of assets that are already posted, at the end of the reporting period, as collateral for derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features.

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Fair value, after offset of derivative liability, of financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset, before offset against an obligation to return collateral under a master netting arrangement. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Excludes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement.

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Fair value, after offset of derivative asset, of financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset, elected not to be and before offset against a right to receive collateral under a master netting arrangement. Includes liabilities elected not to be offset. Excludes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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The net change in the difference between the fair value and the carrying value, or in the comparative fair values, of derivative instruments, including options, swaps, futures, and forward contracts, held at each balance sheet date, that was included in earnings for the period.

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