natural gas

Backers of an initiative to halt the state’s push to end natural gas use in homes and other buildings began gathering signatures Wednesday after a Thurston County judge settled a dispute on how the measure would be described on ballots.

The November ballot could be the next battleground in the fight over Washington’s march toward ending natural gas use in homes.

NorthWestern Energy customers have paid $200 million more than they should have since 2005 because the utility’s advanced purchases of gas and electricity ended up higher than prices on the market.