HAUSE / ALBERTA BUSINESS FIELD GUIDE

How to Read an Alberta Business Electricity Bill

Two companies send one bill. Know which part you can shop for, and which part follows your address.

MoneyCanadian dollars
Source check2026-10-29

An Alberta business electricity bill combines two kinds of charge from two companies. The retailer sells the energy, and you choose which retailer. The distributor delivers it, is set by your location, and has its rates approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission. Changing retailers changes the first part only.

Source: Government of Alberta, Utilities Consumer Advocate · 2026-10-29

What the official sources say

Checked 2026-10-29. Each row names its source. The publication and your account’s terms control what applies to you.

Two charges, two companies: A utility bill has two main parts: the cost of the energy used and the cost of delivering it. The retailer sells the energy and sends the bill. The delivery charges on that bill come from the distributor, not from the retailer.Source: Utilities Consumer Advocate: Understanding small business utility bills
Two kinds of retailer: A regulated retailer sets its rate with a formula the Alberta Utilities Commission approves. A competitive retailer sets its own rate, and a business that wants one has to sign a contract.Source: Utilities Consumer Advocate: Understanding small business utility bills · Utilities Consumer Advocate: How to choose a utility rate
The default rate: The Rate of Last Resort is the default electricity rate. It is 12.06¢ per kWh in Calgary and 12.01 to 12.06¢ across the default retailers, in place until December 31, 2026, and it excludes billing and delivery costs. The Commission re-evaluates it every two years, and a proposed change cannot normally exceed 10% of the existing rate.Through 2026-12-31Source: ENMAX: Understanding the Rate of Last Resort · Utilities Consumer Advocate: Default rates · Utilities Consumer Advocate: Rate of Last Resort
Who the default rate is for: EPCOR describes its Rate of Last Resort as available to small businesses and commercial operations using less than 250,000 kWh of electricity a year. The Utilities Consumer Advocate says retailers may offer customized rates to businesses above that level.Source: EPCOR: Understanding the Rate of Last Resort · Utilities Consumer Advocate: Understanding small business utility bills
What delivery includes: Delivery covers transmission, which moves power over long distances, and distribution, which moves it through the local network. The delivery part of the bill also carries municipal franchise or local access fees and rate riders. The distributor is set by location and cannot be chosen.Source: Utilities Consumer Advocate: Small business electricity delivery charges · Utilities Consumer Advocate: Understanding small business utility bills · Utilities Consumer Advocate: Retailers and distributors
Who approves delivery rates: The Alberta Utilities Commission approves transmission rates and regulates distribution rates for ENMAX in Calgary, EPCOR in Edmonton, FortisAlberta and ATCO Electric. Distribution rates in Red Deer, Lethbridge, Cardston and Ponoka are approved by local councils, and rural electrification associations approve theirs through their boards.Source: Utilities Consumer Advocate: Small business electricity delivery charges
How big delivery is: The Utilities Consumer Advocate puts transmission at around 18% and distribution at about 17% of a small business electricity bill. For a business using about 3,000 kWh and 10 kW a month in 2025, monthly distribution charges ran from $91.31 in ENMAX’s area to $178.40 in ATCO Electric’s, and transmission from $82.83 in FortisAlberta’s area to $122.45 in EPCOR’s.Source: Utilities Consumer Advocate: Small business electricity delivery charges
Demand charges depend on the distributor: The Utilities Consumer Advocate says ENMAX Power in Calgary and EPCOR Distribution & Transmission in Edmonton do not have demand charges for small business customers, while FortisAlberta and ATCO Electric apply them. A demand charge follows the distributor, so changing retailers does not change it.Source: Utilities Consumer Advocate: Understanding demand charges · Utilities Consumer Advocate: Small business electricity delivery charges
How billing demand is set: A demand meter records the highest power draw in an interval, typically 15 minutes, and the distributor multiplies it by the demand rate in dollars per kW. The billed figure can differ from the highest reading, because a rate can set a minimum or use a ratchet that keeps billing on a past peak. In the Utilities Consumer Advocate’s example, a rate with an 85% ratchet bills 42.5 kW for the next eleven months after a 50 kW peak, whatever the actual demand.Source: Utilities Consumer Advocate: Understanding demand charges
Rate classes: Rate classes group customers by how they use power, such as Small, Medium and Large General or Commercial Service, and the thresholds differ by distributor. The class is usually shown near the account information or the Site ID on the bill, and it can change when use or demand changes.Source: Utilities Consumer Advocate: Understanding rate classes
Riders and fees: A rate rider is a temporary credit or charge that the Commission approves to recover actual costs or to return an overcharge. Riders are updated monthly, quarterly or annually, and the Commission lists the active ones on its website. A Balancing Pool rider is shared by electricity consumers and is usually a credit. Municipal franchise and local access fees are set by each local government.Source: Utilities Consumer Advocate: Rate riders · Utilities Consumer Advocate: Understanding small business utility bills
Contracts and switching: A competitive contract typically runs 1 to 5 years and may carry an exit fee for leaving early. Either kind of retailer may ask for a deposit. A default retailer needs no contract and can be left at any point without penalty. Setting up a competitive plan typically takes 10 to 15 days and can take up to 90, and every competitive retailer allows a ten-calendar-day cooling-off period in which the contract can be cancelled without penalty.Source: Utilities Consumer Advocate: How to choose a retailer · Utilities Consumer Advocate: How to switch energy retailers
Fixed and variable rates: A fixed rate sets the price per kWh for the whole contract, but the monthly bill still moves with the energy used. A variable, or floating, rate is the wholesale price plus a transaction fee and changes monthly with market conditions. Some retailers let a customer switch between fixed and variable within the same term.Source: Utilities Consumer Advocate: How to choose a utility rate

What each distributor’s tariff prints

Quoted on 2026-10-30 from each distributor’s own tariff, for one small rate class each, in Canadian dollars. They are schedule figures, not a bill estimate: riders, local access fees and municipal fees are separate, and the classes’ size limits are in different units, so the four are not like for like. The tariff and the rate class on your bill control what applies.

ENMAX Power (Calgary): Rate D200, Small Commercial

Who rate D200 covers: Rate code D200, Small Commercial, is the schedule for small commercial customers of a retailer. It covers commercial sites that use less than 5,000 kWh per month and includes all unmetered services that are not on Rate Code D500.Source: ENMAX Power Corporation Distribution Tariff Rate Schedule, rates in effect as of October 1, 2026
Fixed daily charge: Under the Distribution Charge for Distribution Access Service, the D200 Service and Facilities Charge is $1.734942 per day, in Canadian dollars.Source: ENMAX Power Corporation Distribution Tariff Rate Schedule, rates in effect as of October 1, 2026
Distribution energy charge: Under the same heading, the D200 System Usage Charge is $0.013024 per kWh, in Canadian dollars.Source: ENMAX Power Corporation Distribution Tariff Rate Schedule, rates in effect as of October 1, 2026
Transmission charge on the same page: The D200 page also prints a Transmission Charge for System Access Service: a Variable Charge of $0.031577 per kWh, in Canadian dollars.Source: ENMAX Power Corporation Distribution Tariff Rate Schedule, rates in effect as of October 1, 2026
Demand charge: The D200 rate table lists a service and facilities charge per day, a system usage charge per kWh and a transmission variable charge per kWh, and no charge per kW or kVA of demand. The next class, D300 Medium Commercial, does list demand charges per day per kVA.Source: ENMAX Power Corporation Distribution Tariff Rate Schedule, rates in effect as of October 1, 2026
Effective date as printed: The schedule cover reads RATES IN EFFECT AS OF October 1, 2026. The rate pages say the distribution access and system access rates were approved in AUC Decision 30299-D01-2025, effective January 1, 2026. Riders apply to all energy delivered and the local access fee is a surcharge imposed by the City of Calgary; neither is in the figures above.Source: ENMAX Power Corporation Distribution Tariff Rate Schedule, rates in effect as of October 1, 2026

EPCOR Distribution & Transmission (Edmonton): Price Schedule DAS-SC, Commercial/Industrial under 50 kVA

Who rate DAS-SC covers: Price Schedule DAS-SC, Commercial/Industrial under 50 kVA, covers points of service with a normal maximum demand of less than 50 kVA on single or three-phase secondary-voltage service throughout the territory EPCOR serves. These services have energy meters or estimated consumption, and the rate also applies to sites for which no other rate applies.Source: EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. Distribution Access Service Tariff (DT Schedule 1), effective January 1, 2026
Fixed daily charge: The DAS-SC customer charge is $0.64111 per day, in Canadian dollars, determined for each point of service. The minimum daily charge is the customer charge.Source: EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. Distribution Access Service Tariff (DT Schedule 1), effective January 1, 2026
Distribution energy charge: The DAS-SC energy charge is $0.03351 per kWh, in Canadian dollars. The tariff says a day’s charge is the sum of the customer charge and the energy charge.Source: EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. Distribution Access Service Tariff (DT Schedule 1), effective January 1, 2026
Demand charge: The DAS-SC page says a day’s charge is the sum of the customer charge and energy charge, so it lists no demand charge. The next class, DAS-MC (50 kVA to under 150 kVA), has demand meters and its daily charge adds a demand charge per kVA.Source: EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. Distribution Access Service Tariff (DT Schedule 1), effective January 1, 2026
Transmission charge (separate tariff): EPCOR’s separate System Access Service tariff sets the SAS-SC charge for the same under 50 kVA class as an energy charge only: $0.04300 per kWh, in Canadian dollars. It is also marked 2026 INTERIM RATE, effective January 1, 2026.Source: EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. Transmission Access Service Tariff, System Access Service (DT Schedule A), effective January 1, 2026
Effective date as printed: The Distribution Access Service tariff reads Effective January 1, 2026, and the DAS-SC price schedule is headed 2026 INTERIM RATE, Effective: January 1, 2026. Local access fees, Rider DG and Rider DJ are listed as price adjustments that may apply and are not in these figures.Source: EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. Distribution Access Service Tariff (DT Schedule 1), effective January 1, 2026

FortisAlberta: Rate 41, Small General Service

Who Rate 41 covers: Rate 41, Small General Service, is available to points of service with an Expected Peak Capacity less than 75 kW that do not qualify for other end-use based rates such as residential, farm, irrigation or oil and gas service.Source: FortisAlberta Inc. Rates, Options and Riders Schedules, edition listed as Effective October 1 2026 (Rate 41 page: Effective Date January 1, 2026)
Fixed daily charge: The Rate 41 distribution Service Charge is $1.118330 per day, in Canadian dollars. The Distribution Minimum Charge is the Local Facilities Charge plus the Service Charge.Source: FortisAlberta Inc. Rates, Options and Riders Schedules, edition listed as Effective October 1 2026 (Rate 41 page: Effective Date January 1, 2026)
Distribution charges (demand based): The Rate 41 distribution table lists no per-kWh charge. It lists a System Usage Charge of $0.158148 per kW-day or $0.1423332 per kVA-day of Peak Metered Demand and a Local Facilities Charge of $0.286351 per kW-day or $0.2577159 per kVA-day of capacity, in Canadian dollars. The greater of the kW and kVA charges applies.Source: FortisAlberta Inc. Rates, Options and Riders Schedules, edition listed as Effective October 1 2026 (Rate 41 page: Effective Date January 1, 2026)
How demand is measured and billed: Peak Metered Demand is the highest metered kW or kVA demand in the billing period. The kW of Capacity is the greatest of that demand, 85% of the highest metered kW demand in the past 12 months less 50 kW, the contract minimum demand and a rate minimum of 3 kW. The kVA version uses the greater of the highest kVA demand and 85% of the past 12 months’ highest less 55.5556 kVA.Source: FortisAlberta Inc. Rates, Options and Riders Schedules, edition listed as Effective October 1 2026 (Rate 41 page: Effective Date January 1, 2026)
Transmission charges on the same page: The Rate 41 transmission table lists a System Usage Charge of $0.150213 per kW-day or $0.1351917 per kVA-day of Peak Metered Demand, a Capacity Charge of $0.120582 per kW-day or $0.1085238 per kVA-day of capacity and a Variable Charge of $0.006276 per kWh, in Canadian dollars.Source: FortisAlberta Inc. Rates, Options and Riders Schedules, edition listed as Effective October 1 2026 (Rate 41 page: Effective Date January 1, 2026)
Effective date as printed: The Rate 41 page reads Approved in AUC Decision: 30274-D01-2025 and Effective Date: January 1, 2026. The riders listed for Rate 41 (base and quarterly transmission adjustment, balancing pool allocation, municipal franchise fee and Rider A-1 municipal assessment) are separate and are not in these figures.Source: FortisAlberta Inc. Rates, Options and Riders Schedules, edition listed as Effective October 1 2026 (Rate 41 page: Effective Date January 1, 2026)

ATCO Electric: Price Schedule D21, Standard Small General Service

Who Price Schedule D21 covers: Price Schedule D21, Standard Small General Service, applies to points of service with single or three-phase electric service at secondary voltage throughout ATCO Electric’s territory. It is not applicable for any service in excess of 500 kW.Source: ATCO Electric Distribution Price Schedules (Appendix D), Approved in Decision 30300-D01-2025, Effective: 2026 01 01
Customer charge: The D21 customer charge is 38.06 ¢/day for distribution plus 32.62 ¢/day for service, and the schedule prints a total price of 70.68 ¢/day. All D21 prices are printed in cents (¢), Canadian.Source: ATCO Electric Distribution Price Schedules (Appendix D), Approved in Decision 30300-D01-2025, Effective: 2026 01 01
Demand charge: D21 charges for demand: transmission 31.58 ¢/kW/day and distribution 30.62 ¢/kW/day, a total price of 62.20 ¢/kW/day of billing demand. The schedule says a billing period’s charge is the sum of the customer charge, demand charge and energy charge.Source: ATCO Electric Distribution Price Schedules (Appendix D), Approved in Decision 30300-D01-2025, Effective: 2026 01 01
Energy charge: For the first 200 kWh per kW of billing demand the D21 energy charge is 0.58 ¢/kWh for transmission plus 4.26 ¢/kWh for distribution, a total price of 4.84 ¢/kWh. For energy in excess of 200 kWh per kW of billing demand the total price is 0.58 ¢/kWh.Source: ATCO Electric Distribution Price Schedules (Appendix D), Approved in Decision 30300-D01-2025, Effective: 2026 01 01
How billing demand is set: Billing demand is the highest of: the highest metered demand in the billing period; 85% of the difference between the highest metered demand in the past twelve months and 150 kW, if greater than zero; the estimated demand; any transmission or distribution contract demand; and 5 kilowatts.Source: ATCO Electric Distribution Price Schedules (Appendix D), Approved in Decision 30300-D01-2025, Effective: 2026 01 01
Effective date as printed: The D21 page footer reads Approved in Decision 30300-D01-2025 (Dated: December 12, 2025), Effective: 2026 01 01, Supersedes: 2025 01 01. Riders A, B, G, S and J may apply to D21 and are not in these figures.Source: ATCO Electric Distribution Price Schedules (Appendix D), Approved in Decision 30300-D01-2025, Effective: 2026 01 01

Read your bill in this order

Find the two companies. The retailer’s name is on the bill and the distributor appears with the delivery charges. Questions about the bill go to the retailer, and outages and emergencies go to the distributor.
Find the rate class near the account information or the Site ID. It decides which of the distributor’s rates apply to the site.
Read the energy line. It is the retailer’s rate multiplied by the kWh used. Note whether it is the default rate, a fixed price or a variable price, and the contract end date if there is one.
Add the retailer’s administration fee, if there is one, to the energy charge, so that two offers are compared on the same basis.
Read the delivery lines one at a time: transmission, distribution, any demand charge, municipal franchise or local access fees, and each rider. They follow the address, not the retailer.
Check whether the meter reading was actual or estimated. If the bill shows billing demand, compare it with the highest metered demand and ask the distributor how it was set.
Keep the lines separate. Alberta’s billing regulation requires each credit and charge to appear as its own line, and a total hides the line that changed.

The steps follow the Utilities Consumer Advocate’s description of a small business bill. Your account’s own terms control.

Before you compare prices

The rate is only one part of an electricity bill. Transmission and distribution are the same for every customer in an area whichever retailer is chosen, so an offer can change only the energy rate, the administration fee and the contract terms. Put each offer’s administration fee, term, exit fee and deposit next to its rate.

Questions to ask a competitive retailer

How long is the term, and what is the exit fee if the business leaves early or moves? Is the price fixed for the whole term, or can the retailer change it? What administration fee applies, and is it inside the quoted rate? What does the rate become when a promotion ends, and what happens when the term ends? The Utilities Consumer Advocate advises reading the terms and conditions in full before signing, and asking the current retailer about notice and exit fees before switching.

What the default rate offers

The Rate of Last Resort needs no contract and can be left at any time without penalty. It is set for two years, so it does not move from month to month. Those are the facts to weigh against a competitive offer’s term and price. Whether either suits a business depends on its usage and on how much price movement it can carry.

Allow time for a switch

A switch can take 10 to 90 days, and the previous retailer is paid until the switch date. A decision tied to the end of a rate period or a contract needs to start well before it.

Where to go next

Read the original sources

This guide summarizes what the Government of Alberta, the regulator and the default retailers publish. It does not pick a rate, quote a price or judge a contract, and HAUSE is not an electricity retailer or distributor.

Questions business owners ask

What are the delivery charges for a small business in Calgary or Edmonton?

In Calgary, ENMAX Power’s tariff prints a service and facilities charge of $1.734942 a day and a system usage charge of $0.013024 per kWh for Rate D200, Small Commercial, with a transmission charge of $0.031577 per kWh. In Edmonton, EPCOR’s Price Schedule DAS-SC for sites under 50 kVA prints a customer charge of $0.64111 a day and an energy charge of $0.03351 per kWh, with $0.04300 per kWh for transmission in its separate tariff. These are schedule figures in Canadian dollars, not a bill estimate, and riders and fees are separate.

Do small businesses in Calgary or Edmonton pay demand charges?

The Utilities Consumer Advocate says ENMAX Power in Calgary and EPCOR Distribution & Transmission in Edmonton do not have demand charges for small business customers. FortisAlberta and ATCO Electric do apply them. Which applies depends on the distributor and the rate class shown on the bill.

Does changing my electricity retailer change my delivery charges?

No. The distributor is set by location, and the Utilities Consumer Advocate says transmission and distribution charges are the same for all consumers in an area whichever retailer they use. A new retailer changes the energy rate, the administration fee and the contract terms.

Does a fixed rate mean a fixed bill?

No. A fixed rate fixes the price per kWh for the term. The bill still rises and falls with the energy used, and delivery charges, riders and any demand charge are separate lines.

How long does it take to switch retailers?

The Utilities Consumer Advocate says setting up a competitive plan typically takes 10 to 15 days and can take up to 90. Every competitive retailer allows a ten-calendar-day cooling-off period in which the contract can be cancelled for any reason without penalty, and the previous retailer is paid until the switch date.

What if the business uses more than 250,000 kWh a year?

The Utilities Consumer Advocate says retailers may offer customized rates to businesses above 250,000 kWh a year, and EPCOR describes its Rate of Last Resort as for businesses below that level. Ask retailers directly, and ask the distributor which rate class the site is in.