Utilities in Alberta
In Alberta, you typically have two options when purchasing electricity and natural gas. You can stay with a Default Retailer, or you can sign a contract with a Competitive Retailer to secure a Competitive Rate for your energy. Depending on where you live, you may receive water through your municipality or a private utility.

Default Retailers
If you have not signed a contract for natural gas or electricity, assume you are being served by a Default Retailer.
The Default Retailer rates are reviewed and approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) in Alberta and reflect current market prices. Sometimes, you'll save money on energy bills. Other times, you'll end up paying more.
The Rate of Last Resort is the default rate for electricity, it will remain stable until December 31, 2026. The Default Rate Tariff is the default rate for natural gas, this rate may change monthly depending on market conditions.
Learn more.
The Default Retailer rates are reviewed and approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) in Alberta and reflect current market prices. Sometimes, you'll save money on energy bills. Other times, you'll end up paying more.
The Rate of Last Resort is the default rate for electricity, it will remain stable until December 31, 2026. The Default Rate Tariff is the default rate for natural gas, this rate may change monthly depending on market conditions.
Learn more.
Rate of Last Resort (ROLR)
- The Rate of Last Resort is the default rate for electricity, it will remain stable until December 31, 2026.
- Effective January 1, 2025, the Rate of Last Resort (RoLR) replaced the Regulated Rate Option (RRO) in Alberta for electricity customers.
- This change was made in order to ensure stability and predictability for customers on the regulated rate and to increase awareness among consumers.
- Learn more about the ROLR.
Cost Comparison Tool
- You have the power to choose between a default retailer rate company or a competitive rate company to be your electricity and natural gas provider.
- Using UCA's Cost Comparison Tool, you can compare rates and retailer products based upon an estimated consumption. See your results in as little as 60 seconds.
- Get started!
Competitive Retailers
Any company that sells electricity and/or natural gas in Alberta’s deregulated market is a Competitive Retailer. If you choose a Competitive Retailer, you and the retailer will enter into a contract for an agreed upon price and length of time. During this time, your energy rates will be either fixed, variable, or a combination of both.
With a fixed rate, your bills will still vary each month but the price you pay per unit of energy (per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity and/or per gigajoule (GJ) of natural gas) will remain the same, or "fixed". If you select a fixed rate, your utility company is guaranteeing that your utility rate will stay the same for a specified period of time.
With a variable rate (also known as a floating rate), energy prices are based on current market conditions for electricity and natural gas. This means that the price you pay per kWh of electricity and/or per GJ of natural gas will depend on how much electricity or natural gas currently costs.
Learn more.
With a fixed rate, your bills will still vary each month but the price you pay per unit of energy (per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity and/or per gigajoule (GJ) of natural gas) will remain the same, or "fixed". If you select a fixed rate, your utility company is guaranteeing that your utility rate will stay the same for a specified period of time.
With a variable rate (also known as a floating rate), energy prices are based on current market conditions for electricity and natural gas. This means that the price you pay per kWh of electricity and/or per GJ of natural gas will depend on how much electricity or natural gas currently costs.
Learn more.

Potential benefits of a Competitive Retailer
- Includes: Independent gas marketers, Electricity retailers, and Companies that sell both power and gas.
- You can choose a fixed price: Your price stays the same for a set time, even if market prices go up.
- Protection from sudden price increases: Fixed prices can help avoid big monthly bill changes.
- Peace of mind: Knowing your price in advance makes budgeting easier.
- You can bundle services: Some companies sell electricity and natural gas together on one bill.
- Potential Drawbacks: Competitive retailers may charge more to cover marketing, may have cancellation fees, and fixed prices may not go down when the market price drops.
A short video to understanding Utility Bills

Water and sewage services
Depending on whether you live in an urban or rural community, water and sewage services will be provided by either your municipality (if you live in an urban center) or by a private utility (for rural communities).
For more information, visit your local municipality's website.