Electricity and Natural Gas Retailers in Medicine Hat and Outlying Areas
The utility companies owned by the city are the main suppliers of electricity and natural gas to residents of Medicine Hat, as well as inhabitants of some nearby towns and areas, including Redcliff. In these nearby areas, retailers may offer natural gas and electricity at competitive rates, depending on the locale. These energy retailers include:
- AltaGas
- ATCO Energy
- Burst Energy
- Direct Energy
- Encor by EPCOR
- ENMAX Energy
- Hudson Energy
- Just Energy
- TransAlta
- Spot Power
Due to the complicated nature of the electricity and natural gas market in the Medicine Hat area, small businesses and industrial customers interested in retail offerings are encouraged to contact us for more information.
Medicine Hat’s municipal utilities supply the city with electricity and natural gas under the Rate of Last Resort (ROLR), previously known as the RRO. In outlying areas, ROLR retailers vary widely, but include AltaGas Utilities, Direct Energy, and Medicine Hat Electric and Gas Utilities.
History of Electricity and Natural Gas in Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat has a population of 61,000 people, making it one of the larger cities in southern Alberta.
The city of Medicine Hat was born when the Canadian Pacific Railway reached the area in 1883, and made a discovery that shaped the city’s future. While drilling for sources of water to supply the company’s steam-driven locomotives, the drill rig unexpectedly caught fire and burned to the ground. Subsequent examination showed that the rig had struck natural gas.
This unplanned discovery was actually considered to be a hindrance at the time. Searches for sources of coal and water over the next decade turned up more sources of natural gas, as well as gas sands that would be developed in later years. It would ultimately turn out that Medicine Hat was sitting on more than 20.5 billion cubic metres (780 billion cubic feet) of natural gas deposits.
Thanks to Medicine Hat’s luck, the city was the first in Alberta to be supplied with natural gas. This was due in part to the fact that city leaders ultimately had to lay claim to sole drilling rights because of constant mishaps caused by residents attempting to drill water wells. The City of Medicine Hat Gas Utility was formed and has been providing Medicine Hat with natural gas service continuously since 1901. The city’s electric utility quickly followed suit in 1904, supplying electricity generated by diesel fuel, until technology was developed that allowed the city of Medicine Hat’s power plant to effectively convert natural gas to electricity.
What About Water?
In Medicine Hat, the water supply is primarily sourced from the South Saskatchewan River, which provides for a majority of the city’s needs. The complement comes from Old Man River and the Bow River. To follow the river levels and drought conditions (an extended period of drier than normal weather), there is regular communication with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (EPA).
Worried about accuracy, in 2012, The City replaced all of the analog meters, in both residential and commercial buildings, with advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), becoming the first municipality to convert all three utility meters (gas, water, electrical) at once.
Regarding water usage, the City supplies a water meter for all new building starts; however, depending on the size of the water meter required, there may be a fee applied to the utility account for the asset. On the website is possible to check the Environmental Utilities Fees/Rates/Charges Guide for information relating to Water & Wastewater servicing costs.
Another curiosity about the city and water rates is that, according to the Medicine Hat website, on average, local residential customers paid $561.00 less than customers in other Alberta cities between January and June 2025.
How to set up a water supply
According to the Medicine Hat customer service, if the water needs to be shut off for repairs or if the resident is away during the winter months, the contact number is 403-529-8176 to schedule an appointment. For emergencies, such as no water or a possible water leak, it is possible to call 403-502-8042.
If the plan is to dig or excavate in any way, it is the resident’s responsibility to submit a locate request before digging. But, if in the case you are moving to a new home, setting up the water is way easier. As the City provides water to most neighbourhoods, the place is already connected to the system. Therefore, it is just needed to contact The Medicine Hat online or in person and set up your account, as The City is responsible for managing customer service.
Medicine Hat Customer Information
- In-Person Address: 580 1 St SE – Medicine Hat, Alberta (T1A 8E6)
- Customer Care Phone: 403-529-8100
- Website: Utilities | City of Medicine Hat
