Known as the “border city” between Alberta and Saskatchewan, Lloydminster is a unique place in Canada. The city belongs to both provinces and enjoys some of the perks of being a bi-provincial municipality. Lloydminster residents thus can take advantage not only of the local spots, such as the Bud Miller All Seasons Park and the Cultural & Science Centre, but also the multiple utility options.
People in Lloydminster can take the best of Alberta’s deregulated electricity and natural gas market with additional Saskatchewan utilities. Although that’s quite a positive point if you’re looking for the cheapest energy rates, such a diverse market may also leave consumers confused. That’s why it’s so important to understand more about Lloydminster’s natural gas and power suppliers and their rates.
According to the City of Lloydminster, some of the major electricity and natural gas providers in both Alberta and Saskatchewan have services in Lloydminster, including:
Still, there is much more to Lloydminster energy rates than only natural gas and power utilities. Depending on which energy plan you select, your monthly energy costs could vary, as they can provide with you considerably different energy rates in the same city.
Read on to find out how natural gas and electricity prices can change, not only according to utility companies in Lloydminster, but also their energy plans.
Lloydminster utilities: How to find the best electricity and natural gas providers
Before you start looking for the lowest natural gas and electricity rates in Lloydminster, it’s essential to know that there are different energy plans available in the city, including regulated, fixed-rate and floating-rate plans.
Fixed energy rates: Fixed rates are ideal for consumers who prioritize budget certainty. These plans will provide you with predictable costs, and will allow you to know what to expect from your bills on a monthly basis. Usually, you have the option to fix your energy prices in one-, two-, three- or five-year plans, which would allow you to pay the same energy rates for long periods.
Floating (variable) energy rates: Floating-rate plans provide you with flexibility but also vulnerability. As energy prices change according to multiple factors, including politics, demand and environmental conditions, such flexibility may also leave you uncertain about what to expect from your monthly bills. They could come surprisingly low in a month, then more than double in the next.
If you want to find out the main differences between fixed and floating rates, here’s a full guide on the main pros and cons related to variable and fixed-rate plans.
Regulated-rate plans (RRO): The regulated provider, also known as the default provider, is ideal for people who don’t want to be in a contract for now. It’s important to note that RRO rates can change from month to month and are no longer capped by the 6.8 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) price cap for electricity by the provincial government.
Update: As of January 1st of 2025, the regulated rate in Alberta became the Rate of Last Resort (ROLR). The new rate will be set every two years, which will be 12.06 cents per kWh, and will have built-in mechanisms for customers to opt for a competitive rate or stick with the rate of last resort.
Compare natural gas and electricity rates in Lloydminster
If you’re ready to compare the cheapest available electricity and natural gas rates in Lloydminster, EnergyRates.ca can be of great use. The website is an unbiased cost-comparison tool for energy rates in Canada. It allows you to compare the major utility providers in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, including Encor by EPCOR, ENMAX, ATCO, Direct Energy, Just Energy, Spot Power, Future Now Energy and SaskEnergy.
All you have to do to compare natural gas and electricity rates is fill in your postal code and check a list of utilities and their rates. EnergyRates.ca also allows commercial energy consumers to compare rates. Small business, small or large commercial, and industrial energy consumers can even get a free custom quote based on their energy usage.
