{"id":4653,"date":"2019-04-04T10:39:24","date_gmt":"2019-04-04T16:39:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stgpmmenergy.wpengine.com\/who-is-my-energy-provider\/"},"modified":"2025-01-10T12:24:35","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T19:24:35","slug":"who-is-my-energy-provider","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/energyrates.ca\/fr\/alberta\/who-is-my-energy-provider\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is my Energy Provider?"},"content":{"rendered":"

How do I find my electricity or natural gas supplier?<\/h2>\n

Who is my energy provider? Sooner or later, you will need to know where your energy comes from. Whether you\u2019re moving to a new home or just want to sign up with another electricity or natural gas supplier, you will have to find out who your energy provider is.<\/p>\n

The natural gas bills. Your average kilowatt-hour (kWh) usage. The electricity supplier … Some things seem so simple that we don\u2019t even think about them in day-to-day life. Well, at least until you need to face those questions.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re having trouble trying to find who is your natural gas or energy supplier in Alberta<\/a>, you will need to take a look at some specific details on your monthly energy bills. But don\u2019t worry, EnergyRates.ca<\/a> will make it easy for you, and show you the most straightforward ways you can find out who provides you with energy.<\/p>\n

Who provides energy in Alberta?<\/h2>\n

Before you start searching for your energy provider, you should understand the difference between the wire service provider and the energy supplier (also known as the retailer)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In Alberta, two different groups provide energy for homes and businesses: retailers and wire service providers. Each one of them, however, have very different jobs in that process.<\/p>\n

Energy retailers in Alberta<\/strong><\/p>\n

The retailer is the company that sells energy to you. Think of electricity and natural gas as products: The retailer is the company that sells you those products for a specific price. These rates can change every day and are affected by many factors connected to the energy industry, including environmental issues and political decisions.<\/p>\n

The retailer is the company that provides you energy. If you want to find out who is your electricity or gas supplier, there will probably be a logo or brand name on your bill, such as Encor by EPCOR<\/a>, ENMAX<\/a>, Direct Energy<\/a>, ATCO<\/a>, Spot Power<\/a>, etc.<\/p>\n

In Alberta, consumers have the freedom to choose who they want to provide them with electricity and natural gas. Such companies fall into two main categories: the regulated-rate provider (RRO, now called ROLR)<\/a> and the competitive provider.<\/p>\n

When it comes to natural gas and electricity in Alberta, you can choose to sign up with different companies or purchase such services in an energy bundle<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, if this is your first home in the province, you are probably with the local regulated provider for each commodity, also known as the default provider. Each area has a specific regulated provider for gas and electricity, which makes it easier for you to find who could be your energy supplier.<\/p>\n

For example, in Edmonton, the Rate of Last Resort (ROLR) electricity provider is EPCOR, whereas in Calgary, the default electricity provider is ENMAX. Depending on where you live, the regulated-rate provider could be the municipality, which is what happens in the City of Lethbridge<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As you learn more about the Alberta energy market, you will start noticing that competitive and regulated retailers often belong to the same energy group. Still, they are different companies with different plans.<\/p>\n

An interesting example of such a difference is the Direct Energy case. Customers under the competitive Direct Energy plan receive a blue bill, while consumers under the Direct Energy regulated services receive a pink bill.<\/p>\n

Wire service providers in Alberta<\/strong><\/p>\n

The wire service providers (WSP) are the companies responsible for transmission and distribution. In other words, these are the companies that move energy from generators to your home.<\/p>\n

The transmission charges are related to the costs of transporting electricity from generators to high-voltage local distributors. The distribution charges, on the other hand, come from the costs of bringing energy from the local distributors to your home at a low voltage.<\/p>\n

Although the costs related to distribution and transmission fees may represent a considerable part of your monthly bills, there isn\u2019t much you can do about them. These fees are approved and regulated by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC).<\/p>\n

Seeing that Alberta is a deregulated energy market, many consumers assume that they will be able to switch their wire service provider the same way they do with retailers. However, Alberta residents can\u2019t change their wire service provider. There is a specific WSP for each region in Alberta \u2014 and their distribution and transmission rates are the same within that area, as they are wholly regulated whether by the provincial government, local municipalities or rural boards of directors.<\/p>\n

Find out below who approves and regulates the distribution and transmission costs in some Alberta regions.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Distribution rates regulated by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC):<\/strong><\/p>\n