Exhibit 23 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP ------------- --------------------------------------------------------- Suite 3900 Telephone: (503) 222-1341 111 S.W. Fifth Avenue Facsimile: (503) 224-2172 Portland, Oregon 97204-3698 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-15323 of Northwest Natural Gas Company on Form S-3 of our report dated February 12, 1997, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Northwest Natural Gas Company for the year ended December 31, 1996, and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of such Registration Statement. /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP April 22, 1997