LACEY — The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has reached a provisional agreement with Kennewick-based Cascade Natural Gas that will allow the company to go ahead with a $7.2 million rate increase, according to a commission press release.

The proposed rate increase of 5.81% is significantly less than the 11.1% increase Cascade originally sought in September 2021. The settlement reached between the company and the commission also changes how Cascade is allowed to depreciate its assets to offset the increase in revenue, the press release said.

According to the commission, a typical residential natural gas customer using 54 therms of natural gas — roughly 5,400 cubic feet — will see their monthly bill increase by $1.51 to around $55.59, the press release noted.